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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 楽しみ | たのしみ | noun | something to look forward to | 旅行が楽しみです。 | I'm looking forward to the trip. |
| 楽む | たのしむ | verb | enjoy | 音楽を楽しみます。 | I enjoy music. |
| 楽器 | がっき | noun | musical instrument | 彼は楽器を弾きます。 | He plays a musical instrument. |
| 概論 | がいろん | noun | general theory; overview | 今日は概論を勉強します。 | Today we will study the overview. |
| 構造 | こうぞう | noun | structure; construction | この建物の構造は複雑です。 | The structure of this building is complex. |
| 機会 | きかい | noun | chance; opportunity | いい機会がありました。 | I had a good chance. |
| 機関車 | きかんしゃ | noun | locomotive | 機関車が走っている。 | The locomotive is running. |
| 櫛 | くし | noun | comb | 櫛で髪をとかします。 | I comb my hair with a comb. |
| 欧米 | おうべい | noun | Europe and America; the West | 欧米の文化を学びます。 | I study Western culture. |
| 歌謡 | かよう | noun | popular songs | 歌謡番組を見た。 | I watched a song program. |
| 止む | やむ | verb | to stop; to cease | 雨が止みました。 | The rain stopped. |
| 止める | とめる | verb | to stop; to turn off | 車を止めてください。 | Please stop the car. |
| 止める | やめる | verb | to quit; to stop doing | たばこをやめました。 | I quit smoking. |
| 正しい | ただしい | adjective | correct; right | 正しい答えです。 | It is the correct answer. |
| 歯医者 | はいしゃ | noun | dentist | 歯医者に行きます。 | I am going to the dentist. |
| 歴史 | れきし | noun | history | 日本の歴史を勉強します。 | I study Japanese history. |
| 死体 | したい | noun | dead body | 死体が見つかった。 | A dead body was found. |
| 残る | のこる | verb | to remain; to be left | ケーキが少し残った。 | A little cake was left. |
| 残念 | ざんねん | adjective | too bad; disappointing | 試合に負けて残念です。 | It's disappointing that we lost the game. |
| 殻 | から | noun | shell; husk | 卵の殻をむいた。 | I peeled the eggshell. |
| 毎日 | mainichi | noun | every day | 毎日日本語を勉強します。 | I study Japanese every day. |
| 比べる | くらべる | verb | to compare | 二つの写真を比べます。 | I compare the two photos. |
| 毛 | け | noun | hair | 妹は毛が長いです。 | My younger sister has long hair. |
| 毛皮 | けがわ | noun | fur | このコートは毛皮です。 | This coat is fur. |
| 毛糸 | けいと | noun | wool yarn | 毛糸でマフラーを作ります。 | I make a scarf with wool yarn. |
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.
