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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 炒る | いる | verb | to roast; to fry | ごまを炒る。 | I roast the sesame seeds. |
| 点 | てん | noun | point; score | テストで100点を取りました。 | I got 100 points on the test. |
| 為 | ため | noun | for; because of | 勉強のために来ました。 | I came here to study. |
| 為替 | かわせ | noun | exchange; remittance | 為替を送った。 | I sent a remittance. |
| 無くなる | なくなる | verb | to disappear; to be lost | 財布が無くなりました。 | My wallet is gone. |
| 無理 | むり | na-adjective | impossible; unreasonable | 今日はそれは無理です。 | That is impossible today. |
| 焦がす | こがす | verb | to burn; to scorch | パンを焦がしてしまいました。 | I ended up burning the bread. |
| 焦げる | こげる | verb | to burn; to get scorched | ごはんが焦げました。 | The rice got burned. |
| 焼く | やく | verb | to grill; to bake; to burn | 魚を焼きます。 | I grill fish. |
| 焼ける | やける | verb | to burn; to be burned | パンが焼けました。 | The bread is baked. |
| 煎る | いる | verb | to roast; to fry | 豆を煎る。 | I roast the beans. |
| 煙い | けむい | adjective | smoky; irritating to the eyes | この部屋は煙いです。 | This room is smoky. |
| 煙突 | えんとつ | noun | chimney | 家の煙突から煙が出ています。 | Smoke is coming out of the house chimney. |
| 熱 | ねつ | noun | fever | 熱が少しあります。 | I have a slight fever. |
| 父母 | ふぼ | noun | parents | 父母は毎日、私を助けてくれます。 | My parents help me every day. |
| 片付く | かたづく | verb | to be put away; to be tidied up | 部屋が片付く。 | The room gets tidied up. |
| 片付ける | かたづける | verb | tidy up; put away | 部屋を片付けます。 | I tidy up the room. |
| 片仮名 | かたかな | noun | katakana | この単語は片仮名で書きます。 | This word is written in katakana. |
| 片寄る | かたよる | verb | to lean; to be偏る | 意見が片寄ることがあります。 | Opinions can become biased. |
| 片道 | かたみち | noun | one way | 片道の切符を買いました。 | I bought a one-way ticket. |
| 特に | とくに | adverb | especially | 今日は特に寒いです。 | It is especially cold today. |
| 特別 | とくべつ | adjective | special | 今日は特別な日です。 | Today is a special day. |
| 特急 | とっきゅう | noun | express train | 特急で東京へ行きます。 | I will go to Tokyo by express train. |
| 献立 | こんだて | noun | menu; meal plan | 今日の献立はカレーです。 | Today's menu is curry. |
| 玄関 | genkan | noun | entrance; front door | 玄関で待っています。 | I am waiting at the entrance. |
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.
