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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 教科書 | kyōkasho | noun | textbook | 教科書を開いてください。 | Please open your textbook. |
| 教育 | きょういく | noun | education | 教育は大切です。 | Education is important. |
| 教養 | きょうよう | noun | culture; education | 彼は教養が豊かです。 | He is well educated. |
| 敬う | うやまう | verb | to respect | 先生を敬う。 | I respect my teacher. |
| 敬語 | けいご | noun | polite language | 敬語を使って話します。 | I speak using polite language. |
| 数学 | すうがく | noun | math | 数学は少しむずかしいです。 | Math is a little difficult. |
| 敷く | しく | verb | to lay; to spread | 床にじゅうたんを敷きます。 | I lay a carpet on the floor. |
| 敷地 | しきち | noun | site; grounds | この敷地は広いです。 | This site is large. |
| 文化 | ぶんか | noun | culture | 日本の文化を学ぶ。 | I learn about Japanese culture. |
| 文学 | ぶんがく | noun | literature | 文学が好きです。 | I like literature. |
| 文法 | ぶんぽう | noun | grammar | 文法を勉強しています。 | I am studying grammar. |
| 料理 | ryōri | noun | cooking; dish | 母は料理が上手です。 | My mother is good at cooking. |
| 斬る | きる | verb | to cut | 包丁で野菜を斬ります。 | I cut the vegetables with a kitchen knife. |
| 新聞社 | しんぶんしゃ | noun | newspaper company | 父は新聞社で働いています。 | My father works at a newspaper company. |
| 旅館 | りょかん | noun | Japanese inn | 旅館に泊まりました。 | I stayed at a Japanese inn. |
| 日 | ひ | noun | day; sun | 今日はいい日です。 | Today is a nice day. |
| 日記 | にっき | noun | diary | 毎日、日記を書いています。 | I write in my diary every day. |
| 早速 | さっそく | adverb | at once; right away | 早速、始めましょう。 | Let's start right away. |
| 明き | あき | noun | opening; vacancy | この店には空きがある。 | This shop has an opening. |
| 明け方 | あけがた | noun | dawn; early morning | 明け方に雨がやんだ。 | The rain stopped at dawn. |
| 明日 | あす | noun | tomorrow | 明日、試験があります。 | I have an exam tomorrow. |
| 昔 | むかし | noun | long ago; in the old days | 昔、この町は静かでした。 | Long ago, this town was quiet. |
| 星 | ほし | noun | star | 夜に星を見た。 | I saw stars at night. |
| 映す | うつす | verb | to project; to reflect | 写真を壁に映す。 | I project the picture onto the wall. |
| 映る | うつる | verb | to be reflected; to show | テレビに顔が映る。 | My face appears on the TV. |
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.
