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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 心配 | しんぱい | noun | worry; concern | 試験が心配です。 | I'm worried about the exam. |
| 必ず | かならず | adverb | surely; 반드시 | 必ず来てください。 | Please be sure to come. |
| 必要 | ひつよう | noun | necessary | 水が必要です。 | Water is necessary. |
| 忘れ物 | わすれもの | noun | something left behind | 忘れ物をしました。 | I left something behind. |
| 応ずる | おうずる | verb | to respond; to comply | 彼はすぐに要求に応じました。 | He quickly responded to the request. |
| 応対 | おうたい | noun | reception; dealing with people | 店員の応対が親切でした。 | The clerk's service was kind. |
| 応接 | おうせつ | noun | reception; receiving guests | 客の応接をしました。 | We received the guests. |
| 応援 | おうえん | noun | support; cheering | みんなでチームを応援しました。 | We all cheered for the team. |
| 応用 | おうよう | noun | application; practical use | この知識を応用します。 | I will apply this knowledge. |
| 快晴 | かいせい | noun | clear weather | 今日は快晴です。 | It is clear weather today. |
| 怒る | おこる | verb | to get angry | 父はすぐ怒ります。 | My father gets angry quickly. |
| 怖い | こわい | adjective | scary; afraid | この映画は怖いです。 | This movie is scary. |
| 思いっ切り | おもいっきり | adverb | as hard as possible | 思いっ切り走った。 | I ran as hard as I could. |
| 思い付く | おもいつく | verb | come up with | いい考えを思い付いた。 | I came up with a good idea. |
| 思い出す | おもいだす | verb | remember | 名前を思い出しました。 | I remembered the name. |
| 思い掛けな | おもいがけない | adjective | unexpected | 思い掛けない知らせだった。 | It was unexpected news. |
| 思い込む | おもいこむ | verb | assume; think | 彼は来ないと思い込んでいた。 | I had assumed he wouldn't come. |
| 思う | おもう | verb | think; feel | そう思います。 | I think so. |
| 怠る | おこたる | verb | neglect | 宿題を怠った。 | I neglected my homework. |
| 急 | きゅう | adjective | urgent; sudden | 急な用事があります。 | I have an urgent errand. |
| 急ぐ | いそぐ | verb | to hurry | 急いで駅へ行きます。 | I will hurry to the station. |
| 急行 | きゅうこう | noun | express train | 急行に乗りました。 | I got on the express train. |
| 怪しい | あやしい | adjective | suspicious; strange | その人は少し怪しいです。 | That person is a little suspicious. |
| 恋しい | こいしい | adjective | dear; missed | 家族が恋しいです。 | I miss my family. |
| 恐縮 | きょうしゅく | expression | I'm sorry to trouble you | お手数をおかけして恐縮ですが、もう一度お願いします。 | I'm sorry to trouble you, but please do it once more. |
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.
