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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 薄める | うすめる | verb | to dilute | 水でジュースを薄める。 | I dilute the juice with water. |
| 薄暗い | うすぐらい | adjective | dim; dark | 部屋が薄暗い。 | The room is dim. |
| 薬 | kusuri | noun | medicine | 薬を飲みました。 | I took medicine. |
| 薬指 | くすりゆび | noun | ring finger | 薬指に指輪をはめました。 | I put a ring on my ring finger. |
| 虫 | むし | noun | insect | 虫が飛んでいます。 | An insect is flying. |
| 蚊 | か | noun | mosquito | 蚊にさされました。 | I got bitten by a mosquito. |
| 蛇口 | じゃぐち | noun | faucet; tap | 蛇口をひねってください。 | Please turn the faucet. |
| 蛍光灯 | けいこうとう | noun | fluorescent light | 蛍光灯が切れました。 | The fluorescent light burned out. |
| 血 | ち | noun | blood | 血が出ました。 | Blood came out. |
| 血圧 | けつあつ | noun | blood pressure | 血圧を測りました。 | I measured my blood pressure. |
| 血液 | けつえき | noun | blood | 血液を調べます。 | We examine the blood. |
| 行う | おこなう | verb | do; carry out | 会議を行います。 | We will hold the meeting. |
| 行事 | ぎょうじ | noun | event; activity | 学校で大きな行事があります。 | There is a big event at school. |
| 行列 | ぎょうれつ | noun | line; queue | 駅で長い行列ができています。 | A long line is forming at the station. |
| 衣食住 | いしょくじゅう | noun | food, clothing, and shelter | 衣食住は大切です。 | Food, clothing, and shelter are important. |
| 表 | おもて | noun | front; surface | 表に名前を書いてください。 | Please write your name on the front. |
| 被せる | かぶせる | verb | to cover; to put on top of | 花に土を被せる。 | I cover the flower with soil. |
| 裁縫 | さいほう | noun | sewing | 母は裁縫が上手です。 | My mother is good at sewing. |
| 裂く | さく | verb | to tear; to split | 紙を二つに裂きました。 | I tore the paper in two. |
| 裏 | うら | noun | back; reverse side | 紙の裏に書いてください。 | Please write on the back of the paper. |
| 裏口 | うらぐち | noun | back entrance | 裏口から入った。 | I entered through the back door. |
| 裏返す | うらがえす | verb | to turn over; to reverse | 紙を裏返す。 | I turn the paper over. |
| 補う | おぎなう | verb | to make up for; to supplement | 足りない分を補います。 | I will make up for the missing amount. |
| 複雑 | ふくざつ | adjective | complicated | その問題は複雑だ。 | That problem is complicated. |
| 西洋 | せいよう | noun | the West; Western countries | 西洋の音楽が好きです。 | I like Western music. |
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.
