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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 縛る | しばる | verb | to tie; to bind | 荷物をひもで縛った。 | I tied the luggage with a rope. |
| 縞 | しま | noun | stripe | このシャツは青い縞がある。 | This shirt has blue stripes. |
| 缶詰 | かんづめ | noun | canned food | 缶詰を開けた。 | I opened the canned food. |
| 美しい | うつくしい | adjective | beautiful | 美しい花ですね。 | What a beautiful flower. |
| 美術館 | びじゅつかん | noun | art museum | 美術館で絵を見た。 | I saw paintings at the art museum. |
| 羨ましい | うらやましい | adjective | envious | あの車が羨ましい。 | I envy that car. |
| 羨む | うらやむ | verb | to envy | 友だちの成功を羨む。 | I envy my friend's success. |
| 習慣 | しゅうかん | noun | habit; custom | 早く寝るのはいい習慣です。 | Going to bed early is a good habit. |
| 翻訳 | ほんやく | noun | translation | この文を翻訳してください。 | Please translate this sentence. |
| 考える | かんがえる | verb | to think | よく考えてください。 | Please think carefully. |
| 耕地 | こうち | noun | cultivated land | この地域には耕地が多いです。 | There is a lot of cultivated land in this area. |
| 聞こえる | きこえる | verb | can be heard | 音が聞こえます。 | I can hear a sound. |
| 肯定 | こうてい | noun | affirmation; approval | 彼はその意見に肯定しました。 | He agreed with that opinion. |
| 育てる | そだてる | verb | raise; bring up | 子どもを育てています。 | I am raising a child. |
| 育児 | いくじ | noun | childcare; raising children | 育児は大変です。 | Childcare is hard. |
| 背中 | せなか | noun | back | 背中がかゆいです。 | My back is itchy. |
| 背負う | せおう | verb | to carry on one's back | 子どもを 背負います。 | I carry the child on my back. |
| 胡椒 | こしょう | noun | pepper | 胡椒を少し入れてください。 | Please add a little pepper. |
| 脂 | あぶら | noun | fat; grease | 肉の脂が多い。 | The meat has a lot of fat. |
| 腕 | うで | noun | arm | 腕が痛いです。 | My arm hurts. |
| 腰掛け | こしかけ | noun | seat; chair | 窓のそばに腰掛けがあります。 | There is a seat by the window. |
| 腰掛ける | こしかける | verb | to sit down | ここに腰掛けてください。 | Please sit down here. |
| 自治 | じち | noun | self-government | この町は自治が進んでいる。 | This town has advanced self-government. |
| 自然科学 | しぜんかがく | noun | natural science | 彼は自然科学を勉強しています。 | He is studying natural science. |
| 自由 | じゆう | noun | freedom; liberty | この学校は自由です。 | This school is free. |
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.
