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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 射す | さす | verb | to shine in; to come through | 朝日が部屋に射します。 | Morning sunlight shines into the room. |
| 将来 | しょうらい | noun | future | 将来は先生になりたいです。 | I want to become a teacher in the future. |
| 尋ねる | たずねる | verb | ask; inquire | 駅の場所を尋ねました。 | I asked where the station is. |
| 小学校 | しょうがっこう | noun | elementary school | 妹は小学校に通っています。 | My younger sister goes to elementary school. |
| 小指 | こゆび | noun | little finger | 小指をけがしました。 | I hurt my little finger. |
| 小父さん | おじさん | noun | middle-aged man | 駅でおじさんに会った。 | I met a middle-aged man at the station. |
| 小説 | しょうせつ | noun | novel | この小説はおもしろいです。 | This novel is interesting. |
| 小遣い | こづかい | noun | allowance; pocket money | 毎月、小遣いをもらいます。 | I get pocket money every month. |
| 小鳥 | ことり | noun | small bird | 小鳥が木にいます。 | A small bird is in the tree. |
| 届ける | とどける | verb | to deliver | 荷物を家に届けました。 | I delivered the package to the house. |
| 屋上 | おくじょう | noun | rooftop | 屋上で休みました。 | I rested on the rooftop. |
| 屋外 | おくがい | noun | outdoors | 今日は屋外で遊びます。 | We will play outdoors today. |
| 屑 | くず | noun | waste; scraps | この紙くずを捨ててください。 | Please throw away this paper scrap. |
| 展覧会 | てんらんかい | noun | exhibition | 美術館で展覧会があります。 | There is an exhibition at the art museum. |
| 山 | yama | noun | mountain | 山に登ります。 | I climb a mountain. |
| 山林 | さんりん | noun | forest area | 山林を歩きました。 | We walked through the forest area. |
| 島 | しま | noun | island | 小さい島に住んでいます。 | I live on a small island. |
| 崩す | くずす | verb | to break; to change into cash | 千円札を崩してもらいました。 | I had a 1,000-yen bill broken into smaller bills. |
| 崩れる | くずれる | verb | to collapse; to fall apart | 古い家が崩れました。 | The old house collapsed. |
| 川 | kawa | noun | river | 川のそばを歩きます。 | I walk by the river. |
| 工事 | こうじ | noun | construction work | 駅の工事が始まりました。 | Construction work at the station has started. |
| 工員 | こういん | noun | factory worker | 彼は工員です。 | He is a factory worker. |
| 工場 | こうじょう | noun | factory | 父は工場で働いています。 | My father works at a factory. |
| 工夫 | くふう | noun | idea; device | いい工夫を思いつきました。 | I came up with a good idea. |
| 工業 | こうぎょう | noun | industry | この町は工業がさかんです。 | Industry is active in this town. |
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.
