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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 昼 | hiru | noun | noon; daytime | 昼に会いましょう。 | Let's meet at noon. |
| 昼休み | ひるやすみ | noun | lunch break | 昼休みに外へ出た。 | I went outside during lunch break. |
| 昼間 | ひるま | noun | daytime | 昼間は暑いです。 | It is hot during the daytime. |
| 時代 | じだい | noun | era; age | 昔の時代が好きです。 | I like old times. |
| 時速 | じそく | noun | speed per hour | この車の時速は100キロです。 | This car's speed is 100 kilometers per hour. |
| 時間 | jikan | noun | time | 時間がありません。 | I don't have time. |
| 時間割 | じかんわり | noun | timetable; class schedule | 時間割を見てください。 | Please look at the timetable. |
| 普通 | ふつう | adjective | normal; usual | 今日は普通の日です。 | Today is a normal day. |
| 景色 | けしき | noun | scenery | この景色はとてもきれいです。 | This scenery is very beautiful. |
| 暖まる | あたたまる | verb | to warm up | 部屋が暖まった。 | The room warmed up. |
| 暖める | あたためる | verb | to warm; to heat | スープを暖める。 | Warm up the soup. |
| 暖房 | だんぼう | noun | heating | 暖房をつけます。 | I turn on the heater. |
| 暮れる | くれる | verb | to get dark | 六時ごろに外が暮れます。 | It gets dark outside around six o'clock. |
| 暴れる | あばれる | verb | to act violently; to rage | 子どもが暴れている。 | The child is acting wildly. |
| 曲線 | きょくせん | noun | curve; curved line | この道は曲線が多いです。 | This road has many curves. |
| 書取 | かきとり | noun | dictation; writing practice | 書取の練習をしました。 | I practiced dictation. |
| 書留 | かきとめ | noun | registered mail | 書留で送りました。 | I sent it by registered mail. |
| 最初 | さいしょ | noun | first; beginning | 最初に名前を書いてください。 | Please write your name first. |
| 最後 | さいご | noun | last; end | 最後まで見ました。 | I watched until the end. |
| 最近 | さいきん | adverb | recently | 最近忙しいです。 | I've been busy recently. |
| 月日 | つきひ | noun | time; days and months | 月日が 早く 過ぎます。 | Time passes quickly. |
| 月末 | げつまつ | noun | end of the month | 月末に給料が入ります。 | My salary comes at the end of the month. |
| 月給 | げっきゅう | noun | monthly salary | 月給が上がりました。 | My monthly salary went up. |
| 有無 | うむ | noun | presence or absence | 参加の有無を知らせてください。 | Please let me know whether you will participate or not. |
| 有難い | ありがたい | adjective | thankful; grateful | 手伝ってくれてありがたいです。 | I am grateful that you helped me. |
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.
