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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 公共 | こうきょう | noun | public | 公共の場所でたばこを吸いません。 | I do not smoke in public places. |
| 公務 | こうむ | noun | official duties | 父は公務で出かけました。 | My father went out on official duty. |
| 公務員 | こうむいん | noun | government worker | 兄は公務員です。 | My older brother is a government worker. |
| 公園 | kōen | noun | park | 公園で子どもが遊んでいます。 | Children are playing in the park. |
| 公害 | こうがい | noun | pollution | 公害が問題です。 | Pollution is a problem. |
| 公式 | こうしき | noun | official; formula | これは公式の発表です。 | This is an official announcement. |
| 公正 | こうせい | adjective | fair; just | 公正な判断が大切です。 | Fair judgment is important. |
| 公衆 | こうしゅう | noun | the public | 公衆の前で話しました。 | I spoke in front of the public. |
| 公表 | こうひょう | noun | announcement; public statement | 結果は明日公表されます。 | The results will be announced tomorrow. |
| 具合 | ぐあい | noun | condition; health | 今日は具合が悪いです。 | I don't feel well today. |
| 兼ねる | かねる | verb | to serve two purposes; to combine | この仕事は勉強も兼ねる。 | This job also serves as study. |
| 円周 | えんしゅう | noun | circumference | 円周を測ります。 | We measure the circumference. |
| 再三 | さいさん | adverb | repeatedly | 再三お願いしました。 | I asked repeatedly. |
| 再来年 | さらいねん | noun | the year after next | 再来年に日本へ行きます。 | I will go to Japan the year after next. |
| 再来月 | さらいげつ | noun | the month after next | 再来月に旅行します。 | I will travel the month after next. |
| 再来週 | さらいしゅう | noun | the week after next | 再来週は忙しいです。 | I am busy the week after next. |
| 写す | うつす | verb | to copy; to photograph | 黒板をノートに写しました。 | I copied the blackboard into my notebook. |
| 写る | うつる | verb | to be reflected; to appear in a photo | 私が写真に写る。 | I appear in the photo. |
| 写生 | しゃせい | noun | sketching from life | 公園で写生をしました。 | I did a sketch in the park. |
| 冠 | かんむり | noun | crown | 王様は 冠を かぶっています。 | The king is wearing a crown. |
| 冷える | ひえる | verb | to get cold | 部屋が冷えてきた。 | The room has gotten cold. |
| 冷ます | さます | verb | to cool something | お茶を少し冷まします。 | I cool the tea a little. |
| 冷める | さめる | verb | to cool down | スープが冷めました。 | The soup has cooled down. |
| 冷房 | れいぼう | noun | air conditioning | 冷房をつけてください。 | Please turn on the air conditioning. |
| 冷蔵庫 | reizōko | noun | refrigerator | 冷蔵庫に牛乳があります。 | There is milk in the refrigerator. |
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.
