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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 騒がしい | さわがしい | adjective | noisy; loud | 外が騒がしいです。 | It is noisy outside. |
| 騒ぐ | さわぐ | verb | to make noise; to be noisy | 子どもたちが騒いでいます。 | The children are making noise. |
| 驚かす | おどろかす | verb | surprise | 友だちを驚かした。 | I surprised my friend. |
| 驚く | おどろく | verb | be surprised | その知らせに驚きました。 | I was surprised by the news. |
| 高い | takai | adjective | expensive; high | この本は高いです。 | This book is expensive. |
| 高層 | こうそう | noun | high-rise | 高層ビルが見えます。 | I can see a high-rise building. |
| 高度 | こうど | noun | height; degree | この山は高度が高いです。 | This mountain is at a high altitude. |
| 高校 | こうこう | noun | high school | 高校で英語を勉強します。 | I study English in high school. |
| 高校生 | こうこうせい | noun | high school student | 弟は高校生です。 | My younger brother is a high school student. |
| 高等 | こうとう | noun | advanced; higher | 高等学校に通っています。 | I go to a high school. |
| 高等学校 | こうとうがっこう | noun | high school | 高等学校に通っています。 | I attend high school. |
| 高級 | こうきゅう | adjective | high-class; expensive | この店は高級です。 | This shop is high-class. |
| 髪 | かみ | noun | hair | 髪が長いです。 | My hair is long. |
| 鳴る | なる | verb | to ring; to sound | ベルが鳴った。 | The bell rang. |
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.
