JLPT N4 Vocabulary List

You need around 684 words for the JLPT N4 — the upper-beginner level: everyday conversations and basic reading. The full list is below, ordered by how common each word is in everyday Japanese, and every word links into our dictionary for full meanings, readings, and example sentences.

A note on "official": the JLPT stopped publishing lists in 2010, so every N4 vocabulary list — ours included — is reconstructed from past exams and established prep materials. Treat it as the working set you should recognise to pass comfortably.

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JLPT N4 vocabulary with readings and meanings, ordered by how common each word is
Word	Reading	Meaning
地震	じしん	earthquake
形	かたち	form; shape; figure
為	ため	good; advantage; benefit
行う	おこなう	to perform; to do; to conduct oneself
区	く	ward; district; section
経済	けいざい	economics; business; finance
政治	せいじ	politics; government
思う	おもう	to think; to consider; to believe
間	あいだ	space (between); gap; interval
会議	かいぎ	meeting; conference; session
世界	せかい	the world; society; the universe
関係	かんけい	relation; relationship; connection
国際	こくさい	international
受ける	うける	to receive; to get
考える	かんがえる	to consider; to think about
女性	じょせい	woman; female
以上	いじょう	not less than; ... and more; ... and upwards
必要	ひつよう	necessary; needed; essential
子	こ	child
力	ちから	force; strength; might
内	うち	inside; within
時代	じだい	period; epoch; era
社会	しゃかい	society; public
場合	ばあい	case; situation
決める	きめる	to decide; to choose; to determine
続く	つづく	to continue; to last; to go on
生活	せいかつ	living; life (one's daily existence); livelihood
社長	しゃちょう	company president; manager; director
続ける	つづける	to continue; to keep up; to keep on
仕舞う	しまう	to finish; to close; to do something completely
予定	よてい	plans; arrangement; schedule
始める	はじめる	to start; to begin; to commence
計画	けいかく	plan; project; schedule
戦争	せんそう	war
程	ほど	degree; extent; bounds
亜細亜	アジア	Asia (esp. "the Far East")
式	しき	equation; formula; expression
開く	ひらく	to open (e.g. a bank-account, festival, etc.)
研究	けんきゅう	study; research; investigation
妻	つま	wife
自由	じゆう	freedom; liberty; as it pleases you
反対	はんたい	opposition; resistance; antagonism
呉れる	くれる	to give; to let one have; to do for one
特別	とくべつ	special
意見	いけん	opinion; view; comment
貿易	ぼうえき	trade (foreign)
員	いん	member
試合	しあい	match; game; bout
説明	せつめい	explanation; exposition
増える	ふえる	to increase; to multiply
理由	りゆう	reason; pretext; motive
別	べつ	distinction; difference; different
教育	きょういく	training; education
技術	ぎじゅつ	art; craft; technique
貰う	もらう	to receive; to take; to accept
最近	さいきん	most recent; these days; right now
通り	とおり	avenue; street; way
放送	ほうそう	broadcast; broadcasting
文化	ぶんか	culture; civilization; civilisation
進む	すすむ	to advance; to go forward
利用	りよう	use; utilization; utilisation
運動	うんどう	motion; exercise
市民	しみん	citizen; townspeople
変わる	かわる	to change; to be transformed; to be altered
許り	ばかり	approximately; about
生産	せいさん	production; manufacture
用	よう	task; business
気	き	spirit; mind; heart
島	しま	island
残る	のこる	to remain; to be left
心	こころ	mind; heart; spirit
厳しい	きびしい	severe; strict; rigid
輸入	ゆにゅう	importation; import; introduction
男性	だんせい	man; male
伝える	つたえる	to convey; to report; to transmit
最後	さいご	last; end; conclusion
殆ど	ほとんど	mostly; nearly; practically
比べる	くらべる	to compare; to make a comparison
決まる	きまる	to be decided; to be settled
倍	ばい	twice; double
高校	こうこう	senior high school
最も	もっとも	most; extremely
米	こめ	(husked grains of) rice
見える	みえる	to be seen; to be in sight
選ぶ	えらぶ	to choose; to select
線	せん	line; stripe; stria
迎える	むかえる	to go out to meet
事故	じこ	accident; incident; trouble
歴史	れきし	history
産業	さんぎょう	industry
月	つき	moon
客	きゃく	guest; visitor
筈	はず	expectation that something took place, will take place or was in some state; it should be so; bound to be
先ず	まず	first (of all); to start with; about
安全	あんぜん	safety
急	きゅう	urgent; sudden; abrupt
特に	とくに	particularly; especially
出席	しゅっせき	attendance; presence; appearance
輸出	ゆしゅつ	export
集める	あつめる	to collect; to assemble; to gather
番組	ばんぐみ	program (e.g. TV); programme
光	ひかり	light
死	し	death; decease
人口	じんこう	population
原因	げんいん	cause; origin; source
場所	ばしょ	place; location; spot
生きる	いきる	to live; to exist
以外	いがい	with the exception of; excepting
そんな	そんな	such (about the actions of the listener, or about ideas expressed or understood by the listener); like that; that sort of
空港	くうこう	airport
将来	しょうらい	future (usually near); prospects
亜米利加	アメリカ	America
事務所	じむしょ	office
気持ち	きもち	feeling; sensation; mood
送る	おくる	to send (a thing); to dispatch; to despatch
過ぎる	すぎる	to pass through; to pass by; to go beyond
ビル	ビル	building
斯う	こう	in this way (used for something or someone close to the speaker, including the speaker himself, or for the opinions of the speaker); thus; such
警察	けいさつ	police
紹介	しょうかい	introduction; referral
合う	あう	to come together; to merge; to unite
変える	かえる	to change; to alter; to vary
深い	ふかい	deep; profound; thick
経験	けいけん	experience
部長	ぶちょう	head (chief, director) of a section or department
連絡	れんらく	to contact; to get in touch
上がる	あがる	to rise; to go up; to come up
最初	さいしょ	beginning; outset; first
港	みなと	harbour; harbor; port
準備	じゅんび	preparation; setup; arrangements
打つ	うつ	to hit; to strike; to knock
以下	いか	not exceeding; and downward; ... and below
其れに	それに	besides; moreover
向かう	むかう	to face
森	もり	forest
工場	こうじょう	factory; plant; mill
戻る	もどる	to turn back; to return; to go back
親	おや	parent; parents
君	きみ	you; buddy; pal
夢	ゆめ	dream
相談	そうだん	consultation; discussion
競争	きょうそう	competition; contest
寺	てら	temple (Buddhist)
集まる	あつまる	to gather; to collect; to assemble
危険	きけん	danger; peril; hazard
科学	かがく	science
調べる	しらべる	to examine; to investigate; to check up
此れから	これから	after this
会場	かいじょう	assembly hall; meeting place; venue
クラブ	クラブ	club (e.g. golf, tennis)
心配	しんぱい	worry; concern; anxiety
音	おと	sound; noise; report
動く	うごく	to move; to stir; to shift
席	せき	seat
船	ふね	ship; boat; watercraft
けど	けど	but; however; although
普通	ふつう	general; ordinary; usual
林	はやし	woods; forest; copse
卒業	そつぎょう	graduation; completion (e.g. of a course)
起こす	おこす	to raise; to cause; to wake someone
込む	こむ	to be crowded; to be packed
コンピュータ	コンピュータ	computer
葉	は	leaf
試験	しけん	examination; test; study
亡くなる	なくなる	to die
旨い	うまい	skillful; clever; expert
専門	せんもん	speciality; specialty; subject of study
法律	ほうりつ	law
勿論	もちろん	of course; certainly; naturally
運転	うんてん	operation; motion; driving
矢っ張り	やっぱり	also; as I thought; still
機会	きかい	chance; opportunity
製	せい	-made; make
途中	とちゅう	on the way; en route
約束	やくそく	arrangement; promise; appointment
止める	やめる	to stop; to cease; to end
以内	いない	within; inside of; less than
裏	うら	bottom (or another side that is hidden from view); undersurface; opposite side
スーパー	スーパー	super
見つかる	みつかる	to be found; to be discovered
失敗	しっぱい	failure; mistake; blunder
彼女	かのじょ	she; her
工業	こうぎょう	(manufacturing) industry
挨拶	あいさつ	greeting; greetings; salutation
例えば	たとえば	for example; e.g.
医学	いがく	medical science; medicine
課長	かちょう	section manager; section chief
落ちる	おちる	to fall down; to drop; to fall (e.g. rain)
壁	かべ	wall; barrier
大事	だいじ	important; valuable; serious matter
彼ら	かれら	they (usually male); them
表	おもて	surface
確か	たしか	certain; sure; definite
出発	しゅっぱつ	departure
積もり	つもり	intention; plan
運ぶ	はこぶ	to carry; to transport; to move
遅れる	おくれる	to be late; to be delayed; to fall behind schedule
文学	ぶんがく	literature
入院	にゅういん	hospitalization; hospitalisation
様	さま	Mr, Mrs or Ms
楽しむ	たのしむ	to enjoy (oneself)
ちゃん	ちゃん	suffix for familiar person
簡単	かんたん	simple; easy; brief
タイプ	タイプ	type; kind; sort
はっきり	はっきり	clearly; plainly; distinctly
今度	こんど	now; this time; next time
注意	ちゅうい	caution; being careful; attention (heed)
昔	むかし	olden days; former
ソフト	ソフト	soft
学部	がくぶ	department of a university
戴く	いただく	to receive; to get; to accept
用意	ようい	preparation; arrangements; provision
投げる	なげる	to throw; to cast away
交通	こうつう	traffic; transportation; communication
嬉しい	うれしい	happy; glad; pleasant
無理	むり	unreasonable; impossible; overdoing
石	いし	stone
だから	だから	so; therefore
阿弗利加	アフリカ	Africa
小学校	しょうがっこう	primary school; elementary school; grade school
一度	いちど	once; one time; on one occasion
味	あじ	flavor; flavour; taste
瓦斯	ガス	gas
負ける	まける	to lose; to be defeated
小説	しょうせつ	novel; (short) story
美しい	うつくしい	beautiful; lovely
息子	むすこ	son
育てる	そだてる	to raise; to rear; to bring up
捨てる	すてる	to throw away; to cast aside; to abandon
高校生	こうこうせい	senior high school student
食事	しょくじ	meal
似る	にる	to resemble; to look like; to take after
勝つ	かつ	to win; to gain victory
下がる	さがる	to hang down; to abate; to retire
張る	はる	to stick; to paste; to affix
中中	なかなか	very; considerably; easily
驚く	おどろく	to be surprised; to be astonished
複雑	ふくざつ	complex; complicated
必ず	かならず	always; without exception; necessarily
落とす	おとす	to drop; to lose; to let fall
入学	にゅうがく	entry to school or university; matriculation
立てる	たてる	to stand up; to put up; to set up
残念	ざんねん	deplorable; bad luck; regret
訪ねる	たずねる	to visit
通う	かよう	to go back and forth; to ply between
チェック	チェック	check; plaid
頑張る	がんばる	to persevere; to persist; to keep at it
急ぐ	いそぐ	to hurry; to rush; to hasten
又は	または	or; otherwise
払う	はらう	to pay (e.g. money, a bill, one's taxes, etc.)
美術館	びじゅつかん	art gallery; art museum
住所	じゅうしょ	address (e.g. of house); residence; domicile
見付ける	みつける	to discover; to find (e.g. an error in a book); to come across
ピアノ	ピアノ	piano
割合	わりあい	rate; ratio; percentage
確り	しっかり	firmly; tightly; reliable
怪我	けが	injury (to animate object); hurt
招待	しょうたい	invitation
空気	くうき	air; atmosphere
下げる	さげる	to hang; to lower; to move back
コンサート	コンサート	concert
若し	もし	if; in case; supposing
倒れる	たおれる	to fall; to collapse; to drop
喜ぶ	よろこぶ	to be delighted; to be glad; to be pleased
やっと	やっと	at last; at length
星	ほし	star; any light-emitting (or reflecting) heavenly body (except for the sun and the moon)
代わり	かわり	substitute; replacement; substituting
下さる	くださる	to give; to confer
血	ち	blood; consanguinity
珍しい	めずらしい	unusual; rare; curious
決して	けっして	never; by no means; decidedly
治す	なおす	to cure; to heal
気分	きぶん	feeling; mood
校長	こうちょう	principal; headmaster
看護婦	かんごふ	(female) nurse
可笑しい	おかしい	funny; amusing; comical
笑う	わらう	to laugh
事	こと	thing; matter
中学校	ちゅうがっこう	junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
季節	きせつ	season
硝子	ガラス	glass; pane
熱	ねつ	heat
台風	たいふう	typhoon; hurricane
楽しみ	たのしみ	enjoyment; pleasure; diversion
止める	とめる	to stop (something or someone); to turn off
飾る	かざる	to decorate; to ornament; to adorn
郊外	こうがい	suburb; outskirts
聞こえる	きこえる	to be heard; to be audible
包む	くるむ	to wrap up; to tuck in; to pack
探す	さがす	to search (for something lost); to seek (a suspect in a crime)
ずっと	ずっと	continuously in some state (for a long time, distance); throughout; all along
湖	みずうみ	lake
逃げる	にげる	to escape; to run away
正しい	ただしい	right; just; correct
興味	きょうみ	interest (in something)
この間	このあいだ	the other day; lately; recently
遊び	あそび	playing
テニス	テニス	tennis
値段	ねだん	price; cost
答え	こたえ	response; reply; answer
会話	かいわ	conversation
慣れる	なれる	to grow accustomed (to); to get too familiar with; to get used (to)
格好	かっこう	shape; form; posture
其れで	それで	and; thereupon; because of that
運転手	うんてんしゅ	driver; chauffeur
枝	えだ	branch; bow; bough
凄い	すごい	terrible; dreadful
仕方	しかた	way; method; means
連れる	つれる	to lead; to take (a person)
暫く	しばらく	little while; short while; moment
建てる	たてる	to build; to construct
駄目	だめ	no good; not serving its purpose; useless
済む	すむ	to finish; to end; to be completed
是非	ぜひ	certainly; without fail
故障	こしょう	break-down; failure; fault
思い出す	おもいだす	to recall; to remember
通る	とおる	to go by; to go past; to go along
揺れる	ゆれる	to shake; to sway
僕	ぼく	I; me
踏む	ふむ	to step on; to tread on
怖い	こわい	scary; frightening; eerie
訳	わけ	conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause
海岸	かいがん	coast; beach
酷い	ひどい	cruel; awful; severe
先輩	せんぱい	senior (at work or school); superior; elder
教会	きょうかい	church
趣味	しゅみ	hobby; pastime
焼く	やく	to bake; to grill
新聞社	しんぶんしゃ	newspaper company
安心	あんしん	relief; peace of mind
届ける	とどける	to deliver; to forward; to send
毛	け	hair; fur
素晴らしい	すばらしい	wonderful; splendid; magnificent
盛ん	さかん	popular
引き出す	ひきだす	to pull out; to take out; to draw out
腕	うで	arm
世話	せわ	looking after; help; aid
大分	だいぶ	considerably; greatly; a lot
足りる	たりる	to be sufficient; to be enough
移る	うつる	to move (house); to transfer (department)
予約	よやく	reservation; appointment; booking
翻訳	ほんやく	translation
泣く	なく	to cry; to weep; to sob
神社	じんじゃ	Shinto shrine
どんどん	どんどん	drumming (noise)
柔道	じゅうどう	judo
プレゼント	プレゼント	present; gift
人形	にんぎょう	doll; puppet; figure
回り	まわり	circumference; perimeter; edge
レポート	レポート	report; paper
漫画	まんが	cartoon; comic; comic strip
苛める	いじめる	to tease; to torment; to persecute
出来るだけ	できるだけ	as much as one can; as much as possible; if at all possible
細かい	こまかい	small
盗む	ぬすむ	to steal
熱心	ねっしん	zeal; enthusiasm
駐車場	ちゅうしゃじょう	parking lot; parking place
公務員	こうむいん	government worker; public (civil) servant
為さる	なさる	to do
終わり	おわり	the end
すっかり	すっかり	all; completely; thoroughly
怒る	おこる	to get angry; to get mad
鏡	かがみ	mirror
案内	あんない	information; guidance; leading
アルバイト	アルバイト	part-time job; side job
其れ程	それほど	to that degree; extent
尋ねる	たずねる	to ask; to enquire; to inquire
近所	きんじょ	neighbourhood; neighborhood
湯	ゆ	hot water
オーバー	オーバー	overcoat
お蔭	おかげ	(your) backing; assistance; thanks or owing to
水道	すいどう	water service; water supply
優しい	やさしい	tender; kind; gentle
規則	きそく	rules; regulations; conventions
雲	くも	cloud
指	ゆび	finger; toe; digit
赤ちゃん	あかちゃん	baby; infant
虫	むし	insect; bug; cricket
砂	すな	sand; grit
習慣	しゅうかん	custom; habit; manners
承知	しょうち	acknowledgment; acknowledgement; awareness
正月	しょうがつ	New Year; New Year's Day; the first month
ガソリン	ガソリン	gasoline; petrol
光る	ひかる	to shine; to glitter; to be bright
草	くさ	grass; weed; herb
売り場	うりば	place where things are sold; point of sale; POS
一生懸命	いっしょうけんめい	very hard; with utmost effort; with all one's might
吃驚	びっくり	to be surprised; to be amazed; to be frightened
祈る	いのる	to pray; to wish
寂しい	さびしい	lonely; lonesome; solitary
パート	パート	part
適当	てきとう	suitable; proper; appropriate
髪	かみ	hair (on the head)
全然	ぜんぜん	not at all (with neg. verb)
糸	いと	thread; yarn; string
具合	ぐあい	condition; state; manner
噛む	かむ	to bite; to chew; to gnaw
踊る	おどる	to dance (orig. a hopping dance)
拾う	ひろう	to pick up; to find; to gather
眠る	ねむる	to sleep (not necessarily lying down)
屹度	きっと	surely; undoubtedly; almost certainly
両方	りょうほう	both sides; both parties
植える	うえる	to plant; to grow
匂い	におい	odour; odor; scent
都合	つごう	circumstances; condition; convenience
申し上げる	もうしあげる	to say; to tell; to state
悲しい	かなしい	sad; sorrowful
坂	さか	slope; hill
水泳	すいえい	swimming
二階建て	にかいだて	two-storied building
スーツ	スーツ	suit
日記	にっき	diary; journal
知らせる	しらせる	to notify; to advise; to inform
背中	せなか	back (of body)
帰り	かえり	return; coming back
講義	こうぎ	lecture
変	へん	strange; odd; peculiar
そんなに	そんなに	so much; so; like that
間に合う	まにあう	to be in time for
店員	てんいん	shop assistant; employee; clerk
手伝う	てつだう	to help; to assist; to take part in
壊す	こわす	to break; to destroy; to demolish
退院	たいいん	leaving hospital; discharge from hospital
割れる	われる	to break; to be smashed
叱る	しかる	to scold
動物園	どうぶつえん	zoo; zoological gardens
道具	どうぐ	implement; tool; means
返事	へんじ	reply; answer; response
久しぶり	ひさしぶり	a long time (since the last time); it's been a while (since I last saw, mailed, etc., you)
難い	かたい	difficult; hard
褒める	ほめる	to praise; to admire; to speak well
西洋	せいよう	the west; Western countries
会議室	かいぎしつ	conference room; council room
鳴る	なる	to sound; to ring; to resound
硬い	かたい	hard; solid; tough
アルコール	アルコール	alcohol
玩具	おもちゃ	toy
研究室	けんきゅうしつ	laboratory
塗る	ぬる	to paint; to plaster; to lacquer
恥ずかしい	はずかしい	shy; ashamed; embarrassed
真ん中	まんなか	middle; centre; center
注射	ちゅうしゃ	injection
騒ぐ	さわぐ	to make noise; to make racket; to be noisy
真面目	まじめ	diligent; serious; honest
展覧会	てんらんかい	exhibition
昼間	ひるま	daytime; during the day; time from sunrise until sunset
参る	まいる	to go; to come; to call
踊り	おどり	dance
隅	すみ	corner; nook; recess
丁寧	ていねい	polite; courteous; careful
オートバイ	オートバイ	motorcycle
そろそろ	そろそろ	slowly; quietly; steadily
遠く	とおく	far away; distant; at a distance
壊れる	こわれる	to be broken; to break
祖父	そふ	grandfather
致す	いたす	to do
食料品	しょくりょうひん	foodstuff; groceries
着物	きもの	clothing; clothes
田舎	いなか	rural area; countryside; the sticks
受付	うけつけ	reception (desk); information desk
ベル	ベル	bell
随分	ずいぶん	very; extremely; surprisingly
伊達	だて	elegance; dandyism; sophistication
寄る	よる	to visit; to drop in; to approach
金持ち	かねもち	rich person
滑る	すべる	to glide; to slide (e.g. on skis); to slip
旅館	りょかん	Japanese hotel; inn; ryokan
役に立つ	やくにたつ	to be helpful; to be useful
別れる	わかれる	to be divided; to part from; to separate
浅い	あさい	shallow; superficial
折る	おる	to break; to fracture; to break off
暮れる	くれる	to get dark
嘘	うそ	lie; falsehood; incorrect fact
数学	すうがく	mathematics; arithmetic
講堂	こうどう	auditorium
辞典	じてん	dictionary
あんな	あんな	such (about something or someone distant from both speaker and listener, or about a situation unfamiliar to both speaker and listener); so; that
すると	すると	thereupon; hereupon
火事	かじ	fire; conflagration
祖母	そぼ	grandmother
特急	とっきゅう	limited express (train, faster than an express)
治る	なおる	to be cured; to get well; to be healed
布団	ふとん	futon (quilted Japanese-style mattress laid out on the floor)
間違える	まちがえる	to make a mistake (in); to commit an error (e.g. in calculation)
親切	しんせつ	kindness; gentleness
喉	のど	throat
仰っしゃる	おっしゃる	to say; to speak; to tell
地理	ちり	geography
屋上	おくじょう	rooftop
喧嘩	けんか	quarrel; brawl; fight
下着	したぎ	underwear
柔らかい	やわらかい	soft; tender; limp
苦い	にがい	bitter
構う	かまう	to mind; to care about; to be concerned about
成るべく	なるべく	as much as possible; wherever practicable
留守	るす	absence; being away from home
棚	たな	shelf; shelves; ledge
引き出し	ひきだし	drawer
君	くん	Mr (junior); master; boy
折れる	おれる	to break; to be broken; to snap

How to actually learn N4 vocabulary

Work top to bottom. The list is ordered by how common each word is, so early study hours convert into real comprehension as fast as possible.
Let the words carry the kanji. Vocabulary is the natural vehicle for the N4 kanji — a character met inside three words sticks; a character memorised from a list does not.
Review daily with spaced repetition. Vocabulary is a pure retention problem, and spaced repetition turns it into a short daily habit instead of an endless cramming cycle.
Know the timeline. For what these word counts mean in months and years, see how long it takes to learn Japanese.

Think you know them? Our free JLPT N4 practice test — 100 questions across vocabulary, grammar, and reading — shows you exactly where you stand.

Every word on this list is drillable

A list shows you the mountain; it does not climb it. In Nihongo Master, this vocabulary is taught along an ordered path from N5 through N1, with spaced-repetition drills that decide what you review each day, an AI teacher that explains mistakes in plain English, and a built-in dictionary for every word above.

The dictionary and kana charts are free, and the full course comes with a 14-day free trial you can cancel anytime before it ends.

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Frequently asked questions

How many words do you need for the JLPT N4?

This list contains 684 words for JLPT N4. The JLPT has not published official vocabulary lists since 2010, so every N4 list — ours included — is based on past exams and established prep materials. Treat it as the working set you should recognise to pass comfortably.

Should I learn vocabulary or kanji first for the N4?

Together. Words are how kanji stick: a character learned inside three real words is far more durable than one memorised from a list of meanings. Work through this vocabulary list and the kanji come with it.

How should I memorise JLPT N4 vocabulary?

Daily spaced repetition, in short sessions. Vocabulary is a pure retention problem, and frequency beats intensity. Every word on this list links into our dictionary, where you can add it to a study list and drill it.

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