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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 合う | あう | verb | to match; to suit | この服は私に合います。 | These clothes suit me. |
| 合同 | ごうどう | noun | joint; combination | 二つの会社が合同しました。 | The two companies merged. |
| 合流 | ごうりゅう | noun | merging; joining together | この道で川が合流します。 | The rivers join on this road. |
| 合理 | ごうり | noun | rationality | その計画は合理です。 | That plan is rational. |
| 向かう | むかう | verb | to head toward; to go toward | 駅に向かいます。 | I head toward the station. |
| 君 | きみ | pronoun | you; dear | 君は元気ですか。 | Are you well? |
| 君 | くん | suffix | Mr.; Ms. | 田中君は来ました。 | Mr. Tanaka came. |
| 周り | まわり | noun | surroundings; around | 周りに人がいます。 | There are people around. |
| 味 | あじ | noun | taste | このスープは味がいいです。 | This soup tastes good. |
| 味わう | あじわう | verb | to taste; to enjoy | この料理を味わってください。 | Please enjoy this dish. |
| 味噌 | みそ | noun | miso | 味噌汁を飲みます。 | I drink miso soup. |
| 咥える | くわえる | verb | to hold in the mouth | 犬が骨をくわえています。 | The dog is holding a bone in its mouth. |
| 品物 | しなもの | noun | goods; item | この品物は高いです。 | This item is expensive. |
| 唇 | くちびる | noun | lip | 唇が乾いています。 | My lips are dry. |
| 喜ぶ | よろこぶ | verb | be glad; rejoice | みんなが喜びました。 | Everyone was happy. |
| 嗅ぐ | かぐ | verb | to smell | 花のにおいを嗅ぎました。 | I smelled the flowers. |
| 噛む | かむ | verb | to bite; chew | よく噛んで食べてください。 | Please chew well and eat. |
| 器具 | きぐ | noun | equipment | 実験に必要な器具をそろえました。 | I prepared the equipment needed for the experiment. |
| 器械 | きかい | noun | machine; apparatus | この器械は古い。 | This machine is old. |
| 囁く | ささやく | verb | to whisper | 彼は小さく囁きました。 | He whispered softly. |
| 四季 | しき | noun | four seasons | 日本には四季があります。 | Japan has four seasons. |
| 四捨五入 | ししゃごにゅう | noun | rounding off numbers | この数字は四捨五入します。 | This number will be rounded off. |
| 四角 | しかく | noun | square | 四角をかきました。 | I drew a square. |
| 四角い | しかくい | adjective | square-shaped | この箱は四角いです。 | This box is square-shaped. |
| 回る | まわる | verb | to turn; to go around | 地球は太陽の周りを回ります。 | The Earth goes around the sun. |
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.
