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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 強気 | つよき | adjective | strong-minded; aggressive | 彼は いつも 強気です。 | He is always aggressive. |
| 形 | かたち | noun | shape; form | この形はきれいです。 | This shape is nice. |
| 形容動詞 | けいようどうし | noun | na-adjective | 「静か」は形容動詞です。 | "Shizuka" is a na-adjective. |
| 形容詞 | けいようし | noun | adjective | 「大きい」は形容詞です。 | "Ōkii" is an adjective. |
| 形式 | けいしき | noun | form; style | この形式で書いてください。 | Please write in this format. |
| 役に立つ | やくにたつ | expression | useful; helpful | この本は役に立ちます。 | This book is useful. |
| 彼 | かれ | noun | he; boyfriend | 彼は先生です。 | He is a teacher. |
| 彼ら | かれら | pronoun | they | 彼らは公園にいます。 | They are in the park. |
| 彼女 | かのじょ | noun | she; girlfriend | 彼女は学生です。 | She is a student. |
| 往復 | おうふく | noun | round trip | 東京まで往復で三時間かかります。 | It takes three hours round trip to Tokyo. |
| 待ち合わせ | まちあわせる | noun | meeting up; appointment | 駅で友だちと待ち合わせをした。 | I met up with my friend at the station. |
| 後輩 | こうはい | noun | junior; underclassman | あの人は私の後輩です。 | That person is my junior. |
| 従姉妹 | いとこ | noun | cousin | 従姉妹と買い物に行った。 | I went shopping with my cousin. |
| 御中 | おんちゅう | expression | to the attention of | 株式会社山田 御中 | To: Yamada Co., Ltd. |
| 御主人 | ごしゅじん | noun | husband | 御主人はお元気ですか。 | How is your husband? |
| 御免 | ごめん | expression | sorry; excuse me | ごめん、遅れた。 | Sorry, I was late. |
| 御手洗 | おてあらい | noun | toilet | お手洗いはどこですか。 | Where is the toilet? |
| 御無沙汰 | ごぶさた | noun | long time no see; neglecting to write | ごぶさたしています。 | It has been a long time. |
| 御覧 | ごらん | expression | look; see | ちょっとごらん。 | Take a look. |
| 御辞儀 | おじぎ | noun | bow | 先生に御辞儀をした。 | I bowed to the teacher. |
| 御馳走 | ごちそう | noun | feast; treat | 今日はおいしい御馳走を食べました。 | Today I ate a delicious feast. |
| 復習 | ふくしゅう | noun | review; practice study | 毎晩、漢字を復習する。 | I review kanji every night. |
| 心 | こころ | noun | heart; mind | 心が落ち着きません。 | My mind won't settle down. |
| 心当たり | こころあたり | noun | clue; idea | その話に心当たりがあります。 | I have a clue about that story. |
| 心得る | こころえる | verb | to understand; to know well | この仕事は心得ています。 | I know this job well. |
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.
