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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 王女 | おうじょ | noun | princess | 王女は城に住んでいます。 | The princess lives in the castle. |
| 珍しい | めずらしい | adjective | rare; unusual | これは珍しい花です。 | This is a rare flower. |
| 現に | げんに | adverb | actually; in fact | 現に彼は来ました。 | In fact, he came. |
| 理由 | りゆう | noun | reason | 理由を教えてください。 | Please tell me the reason. |
| 琴 | こと | noun | koto; Japanese harp | 祖母は琴を弾きます。 | My grandmother plays the koto. |
| 瓦 | かわら | noun | roof tile | 瓦が古くなった。 | The roof tiles got old. |
| 甘やかす | あまやかす | verb | to spoil; to pamper | 子どもを甘やかす。 | Spoil a child. |
| 生きる | いきる | verb | to live | 元気に生きています。 | I am living well. |
| 生き生き | いきいき | adverb | lively; vividly | 子どもたちは生き生きしています。 | The children are lively. |
| 生け花 | いけばな | noun | flower arrangement | 母は生け花を習っています。 | My mother is learning flower arrangement. |
| 生活 | せいかつ | noun | life; living | 東京で生活しています。 | I live in Tokyo. |
| 生産 | せいさん | noun | production | この工場は車を生産しています。 | This factory produces cars. |
| 産地 | さんち | noun | place of production | このみかんの産地は愛媛です。 | The production area of these mandarins is Ehime. |
| 産業 | さんぎょう | noun | industry | この町は産業が多いです。 | This town has many industries. |
| 用 | よう | noun | business; errand | ちょっと用があります。 | I have a little errand. |
| 用事 | ようじ | noun | errand; business | 今日は用事があります。 | I have something to do today. |
| 用意 | ようい | noun | preparation | 旅行の用意をします。 | I prepare for the trip. |
| 田舎 | いなか | noun | countryside; rural area | 田舎で育ちました。 | I grew up in the countryside. |
| 申し上げる | もうしあげる | verb | to say politely | ごあいさつを申し上げます。 | I would like to offer my greetings. |
| 申す | もうす | verb | to say; to be called | 山田と申します。 | My name is Yamada. |
| 男性 | だんせい | noun | man; male | あの男性は先生です。 | That man is a teacher. |
| 留守 | るす | noun | not at home; away | 母は今、留守です。 | My mother is away now. |
| 番組 | ばんぐみ | noun | program; show | この番組は毎週見ています。 | I watch this program every week. |
| 畳 | たたみ | noun | tatami mat | 部屋に畳があります。 | There is a tatami mat in the room. |
| 病気 | byōki | noun | illness; sickness | 弟は病気です。 | My younger brother is sick. |
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.
