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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 凄い | すごい | adjective | amazing; great | この景色はすごいです。 | This view is amazing. |
| 凍える | こごえる | verb | to freeze; to be chilled | 外で手が凍えました。 | My hands froze outside. |
| 出席 | しゅっせき | noun | attendance | 今日は出席します。 | I will attend today. |
| 出発 | しゅっぱつ | noun | departure | 明日出発します。 | We leave tomorrow. |
| 別 | べつ | adjective | different; another | それは別の話です。 | That is another story. |
| 別れる | わかれる | verb | separate; break up | 二人は別れました。 | The two broke up. |
| 利用 | りよう | noun | use; utilization | このカードを利用できます。 | You can use this card. |
| 刺さる | ささる | verb | to be stuck in; to pierce | トゲが指に刺さりました。 | A thorn got stuck in my finger. |
| 刺す | さす | verb | to stab; to prick | 指を針で刺しました。 | I pricked my finger with a needle. |
| 刺身 | さしみ | noun | sashimi | 私は刺身が好きです。 | I like sashimi. |
| 刻む | きざむ | verb | to carve; to engrave | 名前を木に刻みました。 | I carved my name into the wood. |
| 剃る | そる | verb | to shave | ひげを 剃ります。 | I shave my beard. |
| 剃刀 | かみそり | noun | razor | 新しい剃刀を買った。 | I bought a new razor. |
| 削る | けずる | verb | to shave; to reduce | 鉛筆を削りました。 | I sharpened the pencil. |
| 削除 | さくじょ | noun | deletion | 古いデータを削除しました。 | I deleted the old data. |
| 割れる | われる | verb | break; split | コップが割れました。 | The cup broke. |
| 割合 | わりあい | noun | rate; ratio | この店は割合に安いです。 | This shop is fairly cheap. |
| 力 | ちから | noun | strength; power | 力が強いです。 | The strength is great. |
| 功績 | こうせき | noun | achievement; merit | 彼の功績は大きいです。 | His achievement is great. |
| 加熱 | かねつ | noun | heating | 食べ物を加熱します。 | I heat the food. |
| 加速 | かそく | noun | acceleration | 車が加速しました。 | The car accelerated. |
| 加速度 | かそくど | noun | acceleration | この車は加速度が大きいです。 | This car has strong acceleration. |
| 効力 | こうりょく | noun | effect; power | この薬には効力があります。 | This medicine has an effect. |
| 勇ましい | いさましい | adjective | brave; heroic | 彼はとても勇ましいです。 | He is very brave. |
| 動く | うごく | verb | to move | 机を少し動かしてください。 | Please move the desk a little. |
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.
