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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 休業 | きゅうぎょう | noun | closing of business; suspension of work | 今日は店が休業です。 | The store is closed today. |
| 休講 | きゅうこう | noun | class cancellation | 先生が病気で休講になりました。 | The class was canceled because the teacher was sick. |
| 休養 | きゅうよう | noun | rest; recuperation | 病気のあと、休養が必要です。 | After being sick, you need rest. |
| 会場 | かいじょう | noun | venue; event hall | 会場は駅の近くです。 | The venue is near the station. |
| 会社 | kaisha | noun | company | 会社で働いています。 | I work at a company. |
| 会話 | かいわ | noun | conversation | 日本語で会話します。 | We speak in Japanese. |
| 会議 | かいぎ | noun | meeting; conference | 午後に会議があります。 | There is a meeting in the afternoon. |
| 会議室 | かいぎしつ | noun | meeting room | 会議室で話しましょう。 | Let's talk in the meeting room. |
| 会館 | かいかん | noun | hall; public building | 駅の近くに会館があります。 | There is a hall near the station. |
| 伝える | つたえる | verb | to tell; to inform | 先生に名前を伝えました。 | I told the teacher my name. |
| 伯母さん | おばさん | noun | aunt | 伯母さんに会った。 | I met my aunt. |
| 伯父さん | おじさん | noun | uncle | 伯父さんは東京に住んでいる。 | My uncle lives in Tokyo. |
| 似る | にる | verb | to resemble | この子は母親に似ています。 | This child looks like their mother. |
| 住居 | じゅうきょ | noun | residence; dwelling | この辺りは住居が多いです。 | There are many residences in this area. |
| 住所 | じゅうしょ | noun | address | 住所を書いてください。 | Please write your address. |
| 何々 | なになに | expression | such and such; so-and-so | 何々を持ってきてください。 | Please bring such and such things. |
| 余る | あまる | verb | to remain; to be left over | ご飯が少し余る。 | A little rice is left over. |
| 佚 | いつ | noun | time; when | いつ会いますか。 | When will we meet? |
| 作成 | さくせい | noun | creation; preparation | 資料を作成します。 | I will prepare the materials. |
| 作者 | さくしゃ | noun | author; creator | この本の作者はだれですか。 | Who is the author of this book? |
| 作製 | さくせい | noun | manufacture; making | 部品を作製しました。 | I made the parts. |
| 例えば | たとえば | expression | for example | 例えば、りんごが好きです。 | For example, I like apples. |
| 便利 | benri | adjective | convenient | この駅は便利です。 | This station is convenient. |
| 係わる | かかわる | verb | to be related to | この仕事は安全に係わります。 | This work is related to safety. |
| 個体 | こたい | noun | individual; organism | この動物は一つの個体です。 | This animal is one individual. |
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.
