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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 研究室 | けんきゅうしつ | noun | laboratory | 研究室で先生に会いました。 | I met the teacher in the laboratory. |
| 砕く | くだく | verb | to crush; to break into pieces | 氷を砕いてください。 | Please crush the ice. |
| 砕ける | くだける | verb | to break into pieces; to become casual | ガラスが砕けました。 | The glass broke into pieces. |
| 硬 | かたい | adjective | hard; stiff | この石は硬いです。 | This stone is hard. |
| 碁 | ご | noun | go; the board game | 父と碁を打ちます。 | I play go with my father. |
| 確か | たしか | adjective | sure; probably | 確かにそうです。 | That is certainly true. |
| 確率 | かくりつ | noun | probability; rate | 合格の確率は高いです。 | The chance of passing is high. |
| 磁石 | じしゃく | noun | magnet | 磁石でクリップをくっつけた。 | I stuck the clip on with a magnet. |
| 社会 | しゃかい | noun | society | 社会のルールを学びます。 | I learn the rules of society. |
| 社会科学 | しゃかいかがく | noun | social science | 社会科学を学んでいます。 | I am studying social science. |
| 社説 | しゃせつ | noun | editorial | 新聞の社説を読みました。 | I read the newspaper editorial. |
| 社長 | しゃちょう | noun | company president; boss | 社長は会議に出ました。 | The company president attended the meeting. |
| 祈る | いのる | verb | to pray | 合格を祈ります。 | I pray for success. |
| 祖母 | そぼ | noun | grandmother | 祖母と話しました。 | I talked with my grandmother. |
| 祖父 | そふ | noun | grandfather | 祖父は元気です。 | My grandfather is well. |
| 神様 | かみさま | noun | god; deity | 神様にお願いした。 | I made a wish to God. |
| 神社 | じんじゃ | noun | shrine | 週末に神社へ行きました。 | I went to a shrine on the weekend. |
| 祭日 | さいじつ | noun | holiday | 明日は祭日です。 | Tomorrow is a holiday. |
| 私鉄 | してつ | noun | private railway | 私鉄で町へ行きます。 | I will go to town by private railway. |
| 科学 | かがく | noun | science | 科学を勉強しています。 | I am studying science. |
| 移る | うつる | verb | to move; to change places | 来月、大阪に移ります。 | Next month, I will move to Osaka. |
| 移転 | いてん | noun | moving; relocation | 会社が駅の近くに移転した。 | The company moved near the station. |
| 稽古 | けいこ | noun | practice; training | 毎日稽古をしています。 | I practice every day. |
| 空 | sora | noun | sky | 空が青いです。 | The sky is blue. |
| 空く | あく | verb | to become empty | 席が空きました。 | A seat became available. |
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.
