You’ve graduated from survival Japanese-ordering ramen, introducing yourself, navigating train stations. Now you’re hungry for more: describing your weekend, explaining why you’re running late, and actually following a simple anime scene without subtitles. That’s N4 territory, and this vocabulary list is built exactly for it. We’ve gathered around 1500 practical words that show up on the JLPT N4 and in everyday life, skipping the obscure terms you’ll never use. It’s vocabulary that earns its keep. Pair these words with JLPT N4 grammar to build fuller sentences.
Ready for a little vocabulary adventure? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable JLPT N4 Japanese vocabulary list PDF PDF and the free downloadable printable JLPT N4 Japanese PDF flashcards.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Japanese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve already locked a few of these N4 words into memory? The quick quiz below will show you what you know and which ones could use a second glance-no pressure, just a friendly check-in.
Keep building your Japanese
Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 中学校 | ちゅうがっこう | noun | junior high school | 弟は中学校に通っています。 | My younger brother goes to junior high school. |
| 中指 | なかゆび | noun | middle finger | 中指をけがしました。 | I injured my middle finger. |
| 久しぶり | ひさしぶり | expression | long time no see | 久しぶりに会いました。 | We met for the first time in a long while. |
| 乗り換える | のりかえる | verb | to transfer; to change trains | 駅で電車を乗り換えます。 | I change trains at the station. |
| 乗り物 | のりもの | noun | vehicle | この乗り物は速いです。 | This vehicle is fast. |
| 乗る | noru | verb | to ride; to get on | バスに乗ります。 | I get on the bus. |
| 乗る / 降りる | 乗る is to get on, 降りる is to get off. | verb | to get on / to get off | 電車に 乗ります。 | I get on the train. |
| 乾かす | かわかす | verb | to dry | 洗濯物を乾かす。 | I dry the laundry. |
| 乾く | かわく | verb | to dry | 洗濯物が乾きました。 | The laundry dried. |
| 乾杯 | かんぱい | expression | cheers | みんなで乾杯した。 | We all toasted. |
| 乾燥 | かんそう | noun | dryness; drying | 空気が乾燥している。 | The air is dry. |
| 乾電池 | かんでんち | noun | dry cell battery | 乾電池を交換した。 | I replaced the dry cell battery. |
| 予定 | よてい | noun | plan; schedule | 来週の予定はありますか。 | Do you have any plans for next week? |
| 予定 / 約束 | 予定 is a plan or schedule, 約束 is a promise or appointment. | noun | plan / appointment | 明日の 予定が あります。 | I have plans for tomorrow. |
| 予約 | よやく | noun | reservation | レストランを予約しました。 | I made a reservation at the restaurant. |
| 予習 | よしゅう | noun | preparation for class | 明日のために予習します。 | I study ahead for tomorrow. |
| 争う | あらそう | verb | to fight; to compete | 二人は席を争いました。 | The two people fought over the seat. |
| 事務所 | じむしょ | noun | office | 事務所で働いています。 | I work in an office. |
| 事故 | じこ | noun | accident | 大きい事故がありました。 | There was a big accident. |
| 二階建て | にかいだて | noun | two-story building | あの家は二階建てです。 | That house is a two-story building. |
| 五十音 | ごじゅうおん | noun | the Japanese syllabary | 五十音を覚えました。 | I memorized the Japanese syllabary. |
| 井戸 | いど | noun | well | 昔、この村には井戸があった。 | Long ago, there was a well in this village. |
| 亡くなる | なくなる | verb | to pass away | 祖父は去年亡くなりました。 | My grandfather passed away last year. |
| 交差 | こうさ | noun | crossing; intersection | 道がここで交差します。 | The roads cross here. |
| 交替 | こうたい | noun | rotation; changeover | 夜勤は二人で交替します。 | We take turns on the night shift. |
Free JLPT N4 Japanese Vocabulary PDF and Flashcard Downloads
Grab the purple button for the JLPT N4 Japanese vocabulary list PDF and the teal button for the JLPT N4 Japanese PDF flashcards. Both downloads are 100% free, with no signup required.
