JLPT N4 Vocabulary List

Over 1,100 words with readings, romaji, and English meanings

JLPT N4 builds on the basics from N5 and turns them into Japanese you can actually use. It is the level where you can start describing your day, making plans, shopping, asking for directions, and holding a simple back-and-forth conversation.

What JLPT N4 covers

The vocabulary spreads out into everyday life: hobbies, travel and transport, weather, work and school routines, shopping and money, and feelings. You add around 700 new words, including plenty of useful loanwords. The kanji count roughly triples to about 300, so reading starts to feel less like sounding out hiragana one character at a time and more like reading real Japanese.

Grammar and particles at this level

N4 grammar revolves around the te-form. It links actions, makes requests, describes what someone is doing, and asks permission, and it takes real practice before it becomes automatic. Around it you will meet plain and casual speech for the first time, the potential form for saying what you can do, and how to make comparisons.

How to study N4

The te-form is the main thing to get right at N4. Drill it until the conjugation comes without thinking, because most of the grammar that follows assumes you already know it. Beyond that, start reading very simple material like graded readers or children’s stories, so new words show up in real sentences instead of sitting alone on a flashcard.

Planning to sit the N4 exam? Test dates, fees, and registration for your country are on the official JLPT website.

All N4 words

relationship, connection

to head for, to go towards

そんなsonna

such, like that (near the listener)

to remain, to be left

驚くおどろくodoroku

to be surprised, to be astonished

変えるかえるkaeru

to change (something), to alter

other than, except for

programme (on TV or radio)

to collect (something), to gather

～代～だい～dai

fee (suffix)

見えるみえるmieru

to be visible, to be seen

to sleep, to fall asleep

to go through, to pass

to fix (something), to correct

to be finished, to end

unreasonable, impossible

to get better, to be cured

to go down, to come down

折るおるoru

to break (a bone or branch), to fold

errand, something to do

sales floor, department (in a shop)

cherry blossom, cherry tree

to stop (something), to turn off

ワンピースwanpiisu

dress (one-piece)

大勢おおぜいoozei

a lot of people, crowd

差すさすsasu

to put up (an umbrella)

禁煙きんえんkin'en

quitting smoking, no smoking

consultation, discussion

to line up, to stand in a row

still a long way to go

employee, staff member

to turn (something), to spin

あんなanna

such, like that (far from both)

先々週せんせんしゅうsensenshuu

the week before last

倍ばいbai

double, twice as much

cherry blossom viewing

to commute, to attend (regularly)

用意よういyoui

getting ready

先々月せんせんげつsensengetsu

the month before last

to stop (of rain or noise), to cease

今夜こんやkon'ya

tonight, this evening

to cloud over, to get cloudy

和室わしつwashitsu

Japanese-style room

案内あんないannai

guidance, showing around

研究室けんきゅうしつkenkyuushitsu

way (of doing something)

~ or less, ~ and under

安心あんしんanshin

relief, peace of mind

end (of a street or corridor)

from now on, after this

葉はha

leaf

さっきsakki

a moment ago, just now

to look for (something you want)

to take (something) down

to exchange, to convert

thanks to you (polite), thankfully

選挙せんきょsenkyo

election

性格せいかくseikaku

personality, character

卒業式そつぎょうしきsotsugyoushiki

to resemble, to be similar

as it is, remaining unchanged

聞こえるきこえるkikoeru

to be heard, to be audible

counter for pairs (of shoes or socks)

to run away, to escape

騒ぐさわぐsawagu

to make a noise, to make a fuss

to treat (someone to a meal)

駅員えきいんekiin

station staff

奨学金しょうがくきんshougakukin

to fasten, to tighten

適当てきとうtekitou

suitable, appropriate

kendo (Japanese fencing)

横断歩道おうだんほどうoudanhodou

above ground, ground level

過ぎるすぎるsugiru

to pass, to go past

迎えるむかえるmukaeru

to welcome, to meet (someone arriving)

scheduled time, appointed time

holding back, restraint

intended for (suffix)

thing (abstract), matter

製品せいひんseihin

product (manufactured)

地方ちほうchihou

region, the provinces

温かいあたたかいatatakai

warm (of food or feelings)

何もなにもnanimo

nothing, not anything

particle (in grammar)

給料きゅうりょうkyuuryou

salary, pay

面接めんせつmensetsu

interview (for a job or school)

代わりかわりkawari

substitute, replacement

承知しょうちshouchi

consent, understanding

深いふかいfukai

deep (depth or thoughts)

進むすすむsusumu

to go forward, to advance

office work, clerical work

どんどんdondon

rapidly, more and more

to move (to another place), to transfer

折れるおれるoreru

to snap, to be broken (of a bone or branch)

熊くまkuma

bear

落ちるおちるochiru

to fall (from a height), to drop

not a bit, not in the least

to think about, to consider

羨ましいうらやましいurayamashii

salaryman (office worker)

ひげhige

beard, moustache

こうkou

like this, in this way

to be fixed, to be repaired

to lose (a match), to be beaten

クリーニング屋クリーニングやkuriininguya

day off (weekend or holiday)

港みなとminato

port, harbour

気持ち悪いきもちわるいkimochiwarui

to burn, to be grilled

蛇へびhebi

snake

一行いっこうikkou

party (travelling group)

medicine (the science)

壊すこわすkowasu

to break (something), to destroy

効くきくkiku

to be effective

隅すみsumi

corner (inside a room)

昼間ひるまhiruma

daytime, during the day

思い出すおもいだすomoidasu

to recall, to remember

winning (a championship), victory

助かるたすかるtasukaru

to be saved, to be a help

宝くじたからくじtakarakuji

lottery, lottery ticket

getting ready (to go out)

interest (in something)

準備じゅんびjunbi

preparation

一生懸命いっしょうけんめいisshoukenmei

with all one's might

そろそろsorosoro

it's about time, soon

過去形かこけいkakokei

past tense

成績せいせきseiseki

results, marks (at school)

to get dark, to come to an end

通つうtsuu

expert, connoisseur

この間このあいだkonoaida

the other day, recently

続けるつづけるtsuzukeru

to continue (something), to keep up

to grill (something), to bake

what kind of, what sort of

to lie down, to stretch out

壊れるこわれるkowareru

to break, to be broken

Other JLPT levels

JLPT N5 JLPT N3 JLPT N2 JLPT N1

JLPT N4 questions

Why does N4 have fewer new words than N5?

Because much of N4 is about combining and conjugating words you already know rather than learning entirely new ones. The exam adds around 700 new vocabulary items, bringing the cumulative total to roughly 1,500.

How many kanji are in N4?

About 300 cumulative, including the roughly 100 from N5. That is enough to start reading short, simple texts without constant lookups.

Can I skip N4 and study for N3?

Many people do, especially if they only care about the higher certificates. But the N4 grammar, the te-form above all, is essential. Skip the exam if you like, but do not skip the material.