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.
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Choose a practical next step when you are ready.
Browse the Full List
| Word | Reading | Type | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| あらすじ | あらすじ | noun | summary; outline | 映画のあらすじを読みました。 | I read the summary of the movie. |
| アルコール | アルコール | noun | alcohol | アルコールは飲みません。 | I don't drink alcohol. |
| アルバイト | アルバイト | noun | part-time job | アルバイトをしています。 | I have a part-time job. |
| あれこれ | あれこれ | adverb | this and that; various | あれこれ考えています。 | I am thinking about this and that. |
| あわただしい | あわただしい | adjective | busy; hurried | 朝はいつもあわただしいです。 | Mornings are always busy. |
| あわてる | あわてる | verb | to panic; to hurry | 彼はあわてて出かけました。 | He left in a hurry. |
| アンテナ | アンテナ | noun | antenna | 屋根にアンテナがあります。 | There is an antenna on the roof. |
| あんな | あんな | adjective | that kind of | あんな人は知りません。 | I don't know that kind of person. |
| い | い | expression | See you later. | いってらっしゃい。 | See you later. |
| いきなり | いきなり | adverb | suddenly | 彼はいきなり立ち上がりました。 | He stood up suddenly. |
| イコール | イコール | noun | equal sign; equals | 2と2はイコール4です。 | 2 and 2 equals 4. |
| いじめる | いじめる | verb | to bully; to tease | 子どもをいじめてはいけません。 | You must not bully children. |
| いただく | いただく | verb | to receive; to eat/drink (humble) | 先生から本をいただきました。 | I received a book from my teacher. |
| いちいち | いちいち | adverb | one by one; every single thing | いちいち説明します。 | I will explain each one. |
| いっていらっし | いっていらっし | expression | Have a good trip. | いっていらっしゃい。 | Have a good trip. |
| いってまいりま | いってまいりま | expression | I will go and come back. | いってまいります。 | I will go and come back. |
| いってらっしゃ | いってらっしゃ | expression | See you later. | いってらっしゃい。 | See you later. |
| いつのまにか | いつのまにか | adverb | before long; unnoticed | いつのまにか雨がやんでいた。 | Before long, the rain had stopped. |
| いっぱい | いっぱい | adverb | full; a lot | お腹がいっぱいです。 | I am full. |
| いよいよ | いよいよ | adverb | finally; at last | いよいよ試験の日だ。 | The exam day is finally here. |
| いらっしゃる | いらっしゃる | verb | to be; to come; to go (honorific) | 先生はもういらっしゃいます。 | The teacher is already here. |
| インキ | インキ | noun | ink | インキが手についた。 | Ink got on my hand. |
| インタビュー | インタビュー | noun | interview | 先生にインタビューした。 | I interviewed the teacher. |
| ウーマン | ウーマン | noun | woman | そのウーマンは親切だ。 | That woman is kind. |
| ウール | ウール | noun | wool | このセーターはウールです。 | This sweater is wool. |
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.
