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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 記号 | きごう | noun | symbol; sign | この記号の意味を教えてください。 | Please tell me the meaning of this symbol. |
| 訪ねる | たずねる | verb | visit | 友だちを訪ねます。 | I visit a friend. |
| 訳 | わけ | noun | reason; meaning | どういう訳ですか。 | What is the reason? |
| 試合 | しあい | noun | match; game | 明日試合があります。 | There is a game tomorrow. |
| 試験 | しけん | noun | exam; test | 来週試験があります。 | There is an exam next week. |
| 説明 | せつめい | noun | explanation | 先生の説明はわかりやすいです。 | The teacher’s explanation is easy to understand. |
| 課程 | かてい | noun | course; curriculum | この課程は一年です。 | This course lasts one year. |
| 課税 | かぜい | noun | taxation | 新しい課税が始まります。 | New taxation will begin. |
| 課長 | かちょう | noun | section manager | 課長に会いました。 | I met the section manager. |
| 調べる | しらべる | verb | to check; to investigate | 名前を調べてください。 | Please check the name. |
| 請う | こう | verb | to ask; to beg | 助けを請いました。 | I asked for help. |
| 謙虚 | けんきょ | adjective | humble | 彼はとても謙虚です。 | He is very humble. |
| 謙遜 | けんそん | noun | modesty | 彼はいつも謙遜します。 | He is always modest. |
| 講堂 | こうどう | noun | auditorium | 講堂で式があります。 | There is a ceremony in the auditorium. |
| 講師 | こうし | noun | lecturer; teacher | 講師の話を聞きました。 | I listened to the lecturer. |
| 講義 | こうぎ | noun | lecture | 今日の講義は長かったです。 | Today's lecture was long. |
| 謝る | あやまる | verb | to apologize | 遅れて、謝りました。 | I apologized for being late. |
| 警備 | けいび | noun | security; guard | 会場の警備は厳しいです。 | Security at the venue is strict. |
| 警察 | けいさつ | noun | police | 警察に電話しました。 | I called the police. |
| 貝 | かい | noun | shellfish; shell | 海で貝を見つけました。 | I found a shell at the beach. |
| 負ける | まける | verb | to lose | 試合に負けた。 | I lost the game. |
| 貨物 | かもつ | noun | cargo; freight | 貨物が駅に着いた。 | The cargo arrived at the station. |
| 買う | kau | verb | to buy | 本を買いました。 | I bought a book. |
| 貸し出し | かしだし | noun | lending; loan | 本の貸し出しは無料です。 | Book lending is free. |
| 貸家 | かしや | noun | house for rent | この貸家は広いです。 | This house for rent is spacious. |
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.
