JLPT N4 Vocabulary List

This is the list of words you need to study for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level N4.

上がる (agaru): to rise, to ascend

挨拶 (aisatsu): greeting, salutation

味 (aji): flavor, taste

赤ちゃん (akachan): baby, infant​

赤ん坊 (akanbou): baby, infant​

案内 (annai): guidance, leading (the way)

安心 (anshin): relief, peace of mind​

安全 (anzen): safety

浅い (asai): shallow, superficial​

足音 (ashioto): sound of footsteps

遊び (asobi): playing

集る (atsumaru): to gather, to collect, to assemble​

集める (atsumeru): to collect, to assemble, to gather​

合う (au): to fit, to match, to suit

謝る (ayamaru): to apologize

倍 (bai): twice, double​, times

番組 (bangumi): program (e.g. TV)

場所 (basho): place, location

別 (betsu): different, another

美術館 (bijutsukan): art gallery, art museum​

びっくり (bikkuri): to be surprised

僕 (boku): I, me

貿易 (boueki): trade (foreign)​

部長 (buchou): head of a section or department

ぶどう (budou): grape

文学 (bungaku): literature

文化 (bunka): culture, civilization

文法 (bunpou): grammar

血 (chi): blood

力 (chikara): force, strength, vigor

地理 (chiri): geography

中学校 (chuugakkou): junior high school

注意 (chuui): caution, being careful

注射 (chuusha): injection

駐車場 (chuushajou): parking lot

大分 (daibu): considerably, greatly

大学生 (daigakusei): university student

大事 (daiji): important, serious, crucial​

大体 (daitai): general, substantially

だから (dakara): so, therefore

駄目 (dame): no good, useless

暖房 (danbou): (indoor) heating​

男性 (dansei): man, male

電報 (denpou): telegram

電灯 (dentou): electric light​

どんどん (dondon): rapidly, continuously

泥棒 (dorobou): thief, burglar, robber, theft​

動物園 (doubutsuen): zoo

道具 (dougu): tool, implement

枝 (eda): branch, bough

遠慮 (enryo): constraint, restraint, modesty

選ぶ (erabu): to choose, to select

不便 (fuben): inconvenience

増える (fueru): to increase, to multiply

深い (fukai): deep, profound

復習 (fukushuu): review, revision

複雑 (fukuzatsu): complex, complicated

踏む (fumu): to step on, to tread on​

船 (fune): ship, boat

布団 (futon): futon

太る (futoru): to grow fat

普通 (futsuu): general, ordinary, usual​

頑張る (ganbaru): to hang on, to do one’s best

原因 (gen’in): cause, origin, source​

下宿 (geshuku): boarding, lodging

技術 (gijutsu): technology, engineering​

ご馳走 (gochisou): feast, treating (someone)​

塵 (gomi): rubbish, trash, garbage

ご覧になる (goran ni naru): to see, to look, to watch​

ご存じ (gozonji): knowing

ご主人 (goshujin): your husband

具合 (guai): condition, state, health

軍人 (gunjin): military personnel, soldier

葉 (ha): leaf

拝見 (haiken): seeing, look at

歯医者 (haisha): dentist

始める (hajimeru): to start, to begin

はっきり (hakkiri): clearly, plainly

運ぶ (hakobu): to carry, to transport

花見 (hanami): cherry blossom viewing

反対 (hantai): opposition, resistance

払う (harau): to pay

発音 (hatsuon): pronunciation

林 (hayashi): woods, forest

恥ずかしい (hazukashii): shy, embarrassed

変 (hen): strange, odd, peculiar

返事 (henji): reply, answer, response​

酷い (hidoi): cruel, heartless

冷える (hieru): to grow cold
ひげ (hige): mustache, beard

非常に (hijou ni): very, extremely

光 (hikari): light, beam

光る (hikaru): to shine, to glitter

引き出し (hikidashi): drawer

引き出す (hikidasu): to pull out, to take out

引っ越す (hikkosu): to move (house)

飛行場 (hikoujou): airfield, airport

開く (hiraku): to open, to undo​

昼間 (hiruma): daytime, during the day

拾う (hirou): to pick up

昼休み (hiruyasumi): lunch break

久しぶり (hisashiburi): it’s been a while

褒める (homeru): to praise, to admire

翻訳 (honyaku): translation

星 (hoshi): star

ほとんど (hotondo): mostly, nearly

法律 (houritsu): law

一度 (ichido): once, one time

医学 (igaku): medical science, medicine

苛める (ijimeru): to bully, to torment

以上 (ijou): not less than, beyond

以下 (ika): not exceeding, below

意見 (iken): opinion, view, comment​

生きる (ikiru): to live, to exist​

以内 (inai): within, inside of

田舎 (inaka): rural area, countryside

祈る (inoru): to pray, to wish​

一杯 (ippai): full, a lot

石 (ishi): stone, gem, jewel

一生懸命 (isshoukenmei): very hard, with utmost effort

急ぐ (isogu): to hurry, to rush

糸 (ito): thread, yarn, string

邪魔 (jama): hindrance, obstacle

字 (ji): character (i.e. kanji)​

時代 (jidai): period, epoch, era, age​

事故 (jiko): accident, incident, trouble​

事務所 (jimusho): office

神社 (jinja): Shinto shrine​

人口 (jinkou): population

地震 (jishin): earthquake

辞典 (jiten): dictionary

自由 (jiyuu): freedom, liberty

女性 (josei): woman, female

準備 (junbi): preparation, set up

十分 (juubun): plenty, enough, sufficient

住所 (juusho): address

壁 (kabe): wall, partition​

課長 (kachou): section manager, section chief​

帰り (kaeri): return, coming back​

変える (kaeru): to change, to alter

科学 (kagaku): science

鏡 (kagami): mirror, looking-glass​

海岸 (kaigan): coast, beach​

会議 (kaigi): meeting, conference

会議室 (kaigishitsu): conference room

会場 (kaijou): assembly hall, meeting place

会話 (kaiwa): conversation

火事 (kaji): fire, conflagration​

掛ける (kakeru): to hang, to hoist, to raise

格好 (kakkou): shape, form, figure

構う (kamau): to mind, to care about

髪 (kami): hair (on the head)​

噛む (kamu): to bite, to chew, to gnaw​

家内 (kanai): (my) wife

必ず (kanarazu): always, without exception

悲しい (kanashii): sad, sorrowful​

金持ち (kanemochi): rich person​

考える (kangaeru): to think about

関係 (kankei): relation, relationship, connection

彼女 (kanojo): she, her

簡単 (kantan): simple, easy, uncomplicated​

顔 (kao): face, look

彼 (kare): he, him

彼ら (karera): they, them

形 (katachi): form, shape, figure

硬い (katai): hard, solid, tough​

片付ける (katazukeru): to tidy up, to put in order

勝つ (katsu): to win, to gain victory​

乾く (kawaku): to get dry

代わり (kawari): substitute, replacement

変わる (kawaru): to change, to be transformed

通う (kayou): to go back and forth between

飾る (kazaru): to decorate, to ornament

毛 (ke): hair, fur, wool​

怪我 (kega): injury, hurt

計画 (keikaku): plan, project

経験 (keiken): experience

警察 (keisatsu): police

経済 (keizai): economics, economy

見物 (kenbutsu): sightseeing, watching

喧嘩 (kenka): quarrel, brawl, fight

研究 (kenkyuu): study, research, investigation​

研究室 (kenkyuushitsu): laboratory

消しゴム (keshogomu): eraser

景色 (keshiki): scenery, landscape​

気 (ki): spirit, mind, heart​

厳しい (kibishii): severe, strict, rigid

気分 (kibun): feeling, mood

機会 (kikai): chance, opportunity​

危険 (kiken): danger, peril, hazard​

聞こえる (kikoeru): to be heard, to be audible​

決る (kimaru): to be decided, to be settled​

決める (kimeru): to decide, to choose

君 (kimi): you, buddy, pal

気持ち (kimochi): feeling, sensation, mood​

近所 (kinjo): neighborhood

季節 (kisetsu): season

汽車 (kisha): train

規則 (kisoku): rule, regulation​

きっと: surely, undoubtedly

心 (kokoro): mind, heart, spirit​

国内 (kokunai): internal, domestic​

国際 (kokusai): international

細かい (komakai): small, fine, minute

米 (kome): rice

込む (komu): to be crowded, to be packed​

今度 (kondo): this time, next time

この間 (kono aida): the other day, lately

この頃 (kono goro): recently, nowadays

今夜 (kon’ya): this evening, tonight​

これから (kore kara): after this

故障 (koshou): breakdown, out of order

答え (kotae): answer, reply, response

事 (koto): thing, matter

小鳥 (kotori): small bird, songbird​

校長 (kouchou): principal, headmaster​

講堂 (koudou): auditorium, lecture hall​

郊外 (kougai): suburb, outskirts​

講義 (kougi): lecture

工業 (kougyou): (manufacturing) industry​

工場 (koujou): factory, plant, mill

高校 (koukou): senior high school, high school​

高校生 (koukousei): senior high school student​

公務員 (koumuin): government worker, public servant

交通 (koutsuu): traffic, transportation

壊れる (kowareru): to be broken

壊す (kowasu): to break, to destroy

首 (kubi): neck

雲 (kumo): cloud

比べる (kuraberu): to compare

暮れる (kureru): to get dark, to grow dark​

草 (kusa): grass, weed, herb

空気 (kuuki): air, atmosphere​

空港 (kuukou): airport

怖い (kowai): scary, frightening

客 (kyaku): guest, visitor​

教育 (kyouiku): education, schooling

教会 (kyoukai): church

興味 (kyoumi): interest, curiosity

競争 (kyousou): competition, contest

急 (kyuu): sudden, abrupt, unexpected​

急行 (kyuukou): moving at high speed​

間違える (machigaeru): to make a mistake

参る (mairu): to go, to come (humble)

真面目 (majime): seriousness, earnestness

負ける (makeru): to lose, to be defeated

漫画 (manga): cartoon, comic

間に合う (maniau): to be in time for

真中 (mannaka): middle, center

または (matawa): or, otherwise

周り (mawari): surroundings, neighbourhood

回る (mawaru): to turn, to revolve

まず (mazu): first of all

召し上がる (meshiagaru): to eat, to drink

珍しい (mezurashii): unusual, rare, curious​

見える (mieru): to be seen, to be in sight

港 (minato): harbor, port

見つかる (mitsukaru): to be found

見つける (mitsukeru): to discover, to find

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湖 (mizuumi): lake

もちろん (mochiron): of course, certainly

戻る (modoru): to return, to go back

森 (mori): forest

もし (moshi): if, in case

申し上げる (moushiageru): to say, to tell (humble)

申す (mousu): to say, to be called (humble)

もうすぐ (mousugu): soon, shortly

迎える (mukaeru): to go out to meet

向かう (mukau): to face, to go towards

昔 (mukashi): olden days, former

無理 (muri): unreasonable, impossible

虫 (mushi): insect, bug

息子 (musuko): son

娘 (musume): (my) daughter, girl

投げる (nageru): to throw, to cast away

中々 (nakanaka): very, considerably

泣く (naku): to cry, to weep

無くなる (nakunaru): to be lost, to be missing

亡くなる (nakunaru): to die

治る (naoru): to be cured

直る (naoru): to get mended

直す (naosu): to fix, to repair

慣れる (nareru): to get used to

鳴る (naru): to sound, to ring

なるほど (naru hodo): I see!, That’s right!

寝坊 (nebou): sleeping in late

値段 (nedan): price, cost

眠い (nemui): sleepy, drowsy

眠る (nemuru): to sleep

熱心 (nesshin): zeal, enthusiasm

熱 (netsu): heat

苦い (nigai): bitter

逃げる (nigeru): to escape, to run away

二階建て (nikaidate): two-storied building​

日記 (nikki): diary, journal

人形 (ningyou): doll

匂い (nioi): scent, smell

似る (niru): to resemble, to look like

喉 (nodo): throat

残る (nokoru): to remain, to be left

乗り換える (norikaeru): to transfer (trains), to change (bus, train)​

乗り物 (norimono): vehicle, conveyance

濡れる (nureru): to get wet

塗る (nuru): to paint, to plaster

盗む (nusumu): to steal​

入学 (nyuugaku): entry to school or university

入院 (nyuuin): hospitalization

落ちる (ochiru): to fall down, to drop

踊り (odori): dance

驚く (odoroku): to be surprised, to be astonished​

踊る (odoru): to dance

お祝い (oiwai): congratulations, celebration

お嬢さん (ojousan): (your) daughter, young lady

可笑しい (okashii): funny, strange, odd

行う (okonau): to perform, to do

怒る (okoru): to get angry, to get mad​

起こす (okosu): to raise, to wake, to cause

億 (oku): hundred million

屋上 (okujou): rooftop

贈り物 (okurimono): present, gift

遅れる (okureru): to be late, to be delayed

送る (okuru): to send, to dispatch

お祭り (omatsuri): festival, feast, carnival​

お見舞い (omimai): calling on someone who is ill

お土産 (omiyage): present, souvenir​

玩具 (omocha): toy, plaything

思い出す (omoidasu): to recall, to remember

表 (omote): surface, face, front, outside

思う (omou): to think, to consider

お礼 (orei): thanks, gratitude

折れる (oreru): to break, to be broken

折る (oru): to break, to fracture

押し入れ (oshiire): closet

仰る (ossharu): to say, to speak

お宅 (otaku): your house, your home, your family

音 (oto): sound, noise

落とす (otosu): to drop, to let fall

夫 (otto): husband

お釣り (otsuri): change (for a purchase)

終わり (owari): the end

親 (oya): parent, parents

歴史 (rekishi): history

連絡 (renraku): to contact, to get in touch​

利用 (riyou): use, utilization

理由 (riyuu): reason, motive

留守 (rusu): absence, being away from home​

旅館 (ryokan): Japanese-style lodging

両方 (ryouhou): both, both sides

寂しい (sabishii): lonely, lonesome, solitary

下がる (sagaru): to come down, to get lower

探す (sagasu): to search, to look for

下げる (sageru): to hang, to lower

最後 (saigo): last, final, latest

最近 (saikin): most recent, these days

最初 (saisho): beginning, first

坂 (saka): slope, hill

盛ん (sakan): popular, prosperous

さっき (sakki): some time ago, just now

昨夜 (sakuya): last night

産業 (sangyou): industry

さ来月 (saraigetsu): month after next​

さ来週 (saraishuu): week after next​

差し上げる (sashiageru): to give, to offer

騒ぐ (sawagu): to make noise, to rustle

触る (sawaru): to touch, to feel​

政治 (seiji): politics, government​

生活 (seikatsu): living, life

生産 (seisan): production, manufacture

西洋 (seiyou): the west, Western countries​

世界 (sekai): the world, society

席 (seki): seat

線 (sen): line, stripe, stria​

背中 (senaka): back (of body)​

先輩 (senpai): senior (at work or school)

戦争 (sensou): war

説明 (setsumei): explanation, exposition​

世話 (sewa): looking after, help

社長 (shachou): company president

社会 (shakai): society, public, community

市 (shi): city

試合 (shiai): match, game

しばらく: little while, short while

叱る (shikaru): to scold

仕方 (shikata): way, method, means

試験 (shiken): examination, exam, test​

しっかり: tightly, firmly, securely

島 (shima): island

市民 (shimin): citizen, citizenry, public​

品物 (shinamono): goods, article, thing​

新聞社 (shinbunsha): newspaper company

心配 (shinpai): worry, concern, anxiety

親切 (shinsetsu): kindness, gentleness​

調べる (shiraberu): to examine, to investigate

知らせる (shiraseru): to notify, to advise, to inform​

下着 (shitagi): underwear

支度 (shitaku): preparation, arrangements​

失礼 (shitsurei): discourtesy, impoliteness​

失敗 (shippai): failure, mistake, blunder​

食事 (shokuji): meal

食料品 (shokuryouhin): foodstuff, groceries​

小学校 (shougakkou): primary school

紹介 (shoukai): introduction, presentation

小説 (shousetsu): novel, (short) story​

将来 (shourai): future, prospects

招待 (shoutai): invitation

趣味 (shumi): hobby, pastime

出発 (shuppatsu): departure

出席 (shusseki): attendance, presence

習慣 (shuukan): habit, custom

祖母 (sobo): grandmother

育てる (sodateru): to raise, to rear, to bring up

祖父 (sofu): grandfather

そんな (sonna): such

それで (sore de): and, thereupon

それほど (sore hodo): to that degree

それに (sore ni): besides, in addition

そろそろ (sorosoro): soon, momentarily

卒業 (sotsugyou): graduation

相談 (soudan): consultation, discussion

素晴らしい (subarashii): wonderful, splendid

滑る (suberu): to glide, to slide

水道 (suidou): water supply, water service

過ぎる (sugiru): to pass through, to pass by

凄い (sugoi): terrible, dreadful​, amazing

水泳 (suiei): swimming

すっかり (sukkari): all, completely, totally

空く (suku): to become empty

隅 (sumi): corner, nook, recess​

済む (sumu): to finish, to end

砂 (suna): sand, grit​

進む (susumu): to advance, to go forward​

捨てる (suteru): to throw away, to cast away

数学 (suugaku): mathematics

正しい (tadashii): right, correct

退院 (taiin): discharge from hospital​

大抵 (taitei): mostly, ordinarily

たまに (tama ni): occasionally, once in a while​

棚 (tana): shelf, shelves

楽しみ (tanoshimi): enjoyment, pleasure

楽む (tanoshimu): to enjoy (oneself)​

倒れる (taoreru): to fall, to collapse

足りる (tariru): to be sufficient, to be enough​

確か (tashika): sure, certain, positive

足す (tasu): to add, to top up

多数 (tasuu): large number, many​

畳 (tatami): tatami mat

立てる (tateru): to stand up

建てる (tateru): to build, to construct​

訪ねる (tazuneru): to visit, to call on

尋ねる (tazuneru): to ask, to enquire

手袋 (tebukuro): glove, mitten, mitt​

丁寧 (teinei): polite, courteous, careful​

適当 (tekitou): suitable, proper, fit

点 (ten): point, dot, spot

天 (ten): sky

店員 (ten’in): shop assistant, clerk

天気予報 (tenkiyohou): weather forecast

展覧会 (tenrankai): exhibition

寺 (tera): temple (Buddhist)​

手伝う (tetsudau): to help, to assist, to aid​

届ける (todokeru): to deliver, to send

床屋 (tokoya): barbershop, barber​

特別 (tokubetsu): special

特に (toku ni): particularly, especially​

特急 (tokkyuu): limited express

泊まる (tomaru): to stay at (e.g. hotel)​

遠く (tooku): far away, distant

通る (tooru): to go by, to go past

取り替える (torikaeru): to exchange, to replace​

とうとう (toutou): finally, at

都合 (tsugou): circumstances, convenience​

捕まえる (tsukamaeru): to catch, to arrest

月 (tsuki): moon

付く (tsuku): to be attached, to adhere

妻 (tsuma): wife

連れる (tsureru): to lead, to take (a person)​

釣る (tsuru): to fish, to lure in

伝える (tsutaeru): to convey, to report

包む (tsutsumu): to wrap up, to tuck in

続ける (tsuzukeru): to continue, to keep up

続く (tsuzuku): to continue, to last, to go on​

腕 (ude): arm

植える (ueru): to plant, to grow, to raise​​

動く (ugoku): to move, to stir, to shift

受ける (ukeru): to receive, to get​

受付 (uketsuke): reception (desk), information desk​

旨い (umai): delicious, appetizing

運動 (undou): exercise, motion

運転 (unten): operation, operating

運転手 (untenshu): driver, chauffeur​

裏 (ura): reverse side, rear, back

嬉しい (ureshii): happy, glad

売り場 (uriba): sales floor, counter (in shop)​

嘘 (uso): lie, falsehood

打つ (utsu): to hit, to strike, to knock

美しい (utsukushii): beautiful, lovely​

移る (utsuru): to move (house), to transfer (department)​

写す (utsusu): to transcribe, to duplicate

別れる (wakareru): to part, to separate

沸かす (wakasu): to boil, to heat​

訳 (wake): reason, cause

沸く (waku): to grow hot, to boil

笑う (warau): to laugh

割れる (wareru): to break, to be smashed

割合 (wariai): rate, ratio

忘れ物 (wasuremono): something forgotten

やはり (yahari): as expected

焼ける (yakeru): to be roasted

焼く (yaku): to burn, to roast, to bake

役に立つ (yaku ni tatsu): to be helpful, to be useful​

約束 (yakusoku): promise, agreement

止める (yameru): to stop

止む (yamu): to cease, to stop

優しい (yasashii): tender, kind, gentle

痩せる (yaseru): to become thin, to slim

やっと (yatto): at last

柔らかい (yawarakai): soft, tender

用 (you): business, task, errand

汚れる (yogoreru): to get dirty

喜ぶ (yorokobu): to be delighted

寄る (yoru): to approach, to drop by

予習 (yoshuu): preparation for a lesson​

予定 (yotei): plans, arrangement

用意 (youi): preparation, arrangements

用事 (youji): tasks, things to do

予約 (yoyaku): reservation, appointment

湯 (yu): hot water

指 (yubi): finger, toe

指輪 (yubiwa): (finger) ring

夢 (yume): dream

輸入 (yunyuu): import, importation

揺れる (yureru): to shake, to sway

輸出 (yushutsu): export

夕食 (yuushoku): evening meal, dinner​

残念 (zannen): deplorable, regret, bad luck

随分 (zuibun): very, extremely, surprisingly