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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 済む | すむ | verb | to finish; to be settled | 仕事はもう済みました。 | The work is already finished. |
| 温室 | おんしつ | noun | greenhouse | 温室で花を育てる。 | We grow flowers in a greenhouse. |
| 温帯 | おんたい | noun | temperate zone | 日本は温帯にあります。 | Japan is in the temperate zone. |
| 温泉 | おんせん | noun | hot spring | 温泉に入った。 | I went into a hot spring. |
| 港 | みなと | noun | port; harbor | 港に船がいます。 | There is a ship in the port. |
| 湖 | みずうみ | noun | lake | この湖は大きいです。 | This lake is big. |
| 湯 | ゆ | noun | hot water | 湯をください。 | Please give me hot water. |
| 湿る | しめる | verb | to get damp | 服が少し湿っている。 | The clothes are a little damp. |
| 湿度 | しつど | noun | humidity | 湿度が高いですね。 | The humidity is high, isn't it? |
| 湿気 | しっけ | noun | humidity; dampness | 今日は湿気が多い。 | It is very humid today. |
| 準備 | じゅんび | noun | preparation | 旅行の準備をします。 | I prepare for the trip. |
| 滑る | すべる | verb | to slip | 雪で足が滑りました。 | My foot slipped on the snow. |
| 漁業 | ぎょぎょう | noun | fishing industry | この町は漁業がさかんです。 | Fishing is active in this town. |
| 演劇 | えんげき | noun | play; drama | 週末に演劇を見ました。 | I watched a play on the weekend. |
| 漢和 | かんわ | noun | Chinese-Japanese | 漢和辞典を使う。 | I use a Chinese-Japanese dictionary. |
| 漫画 | まんが | noun | manga; comic book | 私は漫画を読みます。 | I read manga. |
| 漬ける | つける | verb | to pickle; to soak | きゅうりを塩で漬けます。 | I pickle cucumbers with salt. |
| 潜る | もぐる | verb | to dive; to go under | 海に 潜ります。 | I dive into the sea. |
| 激増 | げきぞう | noun | sharp increase | 物価が激増しました。 | Prices increased sharply. |
| 火 | ひ | noun | fire | 火を消してください。 | Please put out the fire. |
| 火事 | かじ | noun | fire; fire accident | 近くで火事がありました。 | There was a fire nearby. |
| 火傷 | やけど | noun | burn | 手に 火傷を しました。 | I burned my hand. |
| 火口 | かこう | noun | crater; vent | 火口から煙が出ています。 | Smoke is coming out of the crater. |
| 火山 | かざん | noun | volcano | この山は火山です。 | This mountain is a volcano. |
| 災難 | さいなん | noun | accident; misfortune | 大きな災難にあいました。 | I had a big misfortune. |
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.
