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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 自習 | じしゅう | noun | self-study | 今日は図書館で自習します。 | I will study by myself at the library today. |
| 自衛 | じえい | noun | self-defense | 自衛が大切です。 | Self-defense is important. |
| 至急 | しきゅう | adverb | immediately; urgently | 至急、連絡してください。 | Please contact me urgently. |
| 致す | いたす | verb | to do (humble) | 私がいたします。 | I will do it. |
| 興味 | きょうみ | noun | interest; curiosity | 日本に興味があります。 | I am interested in Japan. |
| 舟 | ふね | noun | boat | 舟に乗った。 | I got on the boat. |
| 艶 | つや | noun | shine; gloss | 髪に 艶が あります。 | My hair has a shine. |
| 花 | hana | noun | flower | 花がきれいです。 | The flowers are beautiful. |
| 花見 | はなみ | noun | cherry blossom viewing | 週末に花見をします。 | We will go cherry blossom viewing on the weekend. |
| 芸能 | げいのう | noun | entertainment; performing arts | 芸能ニュースを見ました。 | I watched entertainment news. |
| 苦い | にがい | adjective | bitter | この薬は苦いです。 | This medicine is bitter. |
| 苦心 | くしん | noun | effort; hardship | 彼は苦心して問題を解きました。 | He worked hard to solve the problem. |
| 苦情 | くじょう | noun | complaint | 店に苦情を言いました。 | I complained to the store. |
| 英和 | えいわ | noun | English-Japanese | 英和辞典を使います。 | I use an English-Japanese dictionary. |
| 英文 | えいぶん | noun | English text | この英文は少し難しいです。 | This English text is a little difficult. |
| 茂る | しげる | verb | to grow thick | 木が庭で茂っています。 | The trees are growing thickly in the garden. |
| 草 | くさ | noun | grass | 庭に草がたくさんあります。 | There is a lot of grass in the yard. |
| 荒い | あらい | adjective | rough; violent | 今日は風が荒いです。 | The wind is rough today. |
| 落し物 | おとしもの | noun | lost item | お落し物を届けた。 | I turned in a lost item. |
| 落す | おとす | verb | drop; let fall | 財布を落としました。 | I dropped my wallet. |
| 落る | おちる | verb | fall; drop down | 木の葉が落ちます。 | The leaves fall from the tree. |
| 落着く | おちつく | verb | calm down | ここで落ち着こう。 | Let's calm down here. |
| 葉 | は | noun | leaf | 木の葉が落ちた。 | The tree leaves fell. |
| 著す | あらわす | verb | to write; to publish | 彼は本を著しました。 | He wrote and published a book. |
| 蓋 | ふた | noun | lid; cover | 鍋の 蓋を しめます。 | I close the pot lid. |
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.
