JLPT N4 · Vocabulary
JLPT N4 vocabulary list
524 Japanese words at the N4 level — each with its reading, meaning, part of speech, example sentences, and a memory hook. Tap any word for the full breakdown.
踏むふむ
To step on, to tread onすっとすっと
Straight, quickly; lightly盗むぬすむ
To steal, to rob大抵たいてい
Generally, usually, mostlyとうとうとうとう
Finally, at lastガソリンガソリン
Gasoline, petrol鳴るなる
To sound, to ringしっかりしっかり
Firmly, steadily, reliably生きるいきる
To live, to exist苦いにがい
Bitter沸くわく
To boil, to come to a boil意見いけん
Opinion, view, ideaやはりやはり
As expected, as I thought漫画まんが
Comic book, cartoon, mangaステレオステレオ
Stereo (audio system)医学いがく
Medical science, medicineテキストテキスト
Text; textbook折るおる
To fold; to break or bendうかがううかがう
To ask, inquire; humbly visit聞こえるきこえる
To be audible, to be heard僕ぼく
I (masculine, mostly informal)必ずかならず
Surely, certainly, always壊すこわす
To break, to destroy, to tear down怒るおこる
To get angry, to scold床屋とこや
Barber shop, barberオートバイオートバイ
Motorcycle運動うんどうする
Exercise, physical activity, movement運動うんどうする
To exercise, take physical activity止むやむ
To cease, to stop (rain, wind)もしもし
If, supposing表おもて
Front, surface, outside, public side大学生だいがくせい
University student, college student運転手うんてんしゅ
Driver (by profession)予習よしゅう
Preparing lessons in advance心配しんぱいする
To worry; be anxious about別べつ
Different, separate, another非常にひじょうに
Extremely, veryお宅おたく
Someone else's house or home (polite)柔らかいやわらかい
Soft, tender (texture)拾うひろう
To pick up, to find～ございます～ございます
To be, to exist (polite)比べるくらべる
To compare, to contrastほとんどほとんど
Almost, mostly, nearlyつもりつもり
Intention, plan郊外こうがい
Suburbs, outskirtsだめだめ
No good, useless, hopeless売り場うりば
Sales counter, sales floor正月しょうがつ
New Year, New Year's Day規則きそく
Rule, regulationうんうん
Yes, yeah (informal)発音はつおん
Pronunciation焼くやく
To bake, to grill, to roast屋上おくじょう
Rooftop, roof of a building失礼しつれい
Impoliteness; Excuse me (polite)ごみごみ
Trash, garbage, rubbishアフリカアフリカ
Africa点てん
Point, score, mark, dot一生懸命いっしょうけんめい
With all one's might, very hard今度こんど
This time, next time, soon機会きかい
Opportunity, chance複雑ふくざつ
Complicated, complex彼かれ
He; boyfriendいらっしゃるいらっしゃる
To be, go, or come (honorific)布団ふとん
Futon; bedding, mattress大事だいじ
Important, valuable; serious matter贈り物おくりもの
A gift, a present泥棒どろぼう
Thief, burglar注意ちゅうい
Caution, attention, care; warning台風たいふう
Typhoon日ひ
Sun, sunshine, day～軒～けん
Counter for houses/buildingsそうそう
That's right; is that so?通るとおる
To pass by, go through過ぎるすぎる
To exceed, to go beyondレポートレポート
Report (written)葉は
Leaf必要ひつよう
Necessary, needed課長かちょう
Section manager地震じしん
Earthquakeするとすると
Then, and; thereupon止めるやめる
To stop, to quit, to give upガラスガラス
Glass (material, pane)～学部～がくぶ
University department, faculty厳しいきびしい
Strict, severe, hard, rigorousエスカレーターエスカレーター
Escalator人口じんこう
Population月つき
Moon, month絹きぬ
Silkちっともちっとも
Not at all, not a bit深いふかい
Deep, profound壊れるこわれる
To break, to be broken揺れるゆれる
To sway, to shake落るおちる
To fall, to dropできるだけできるだけ
As much as possible; if at all possible悲しいかなしい
Sad, sorrowful中学校ちゅうがっこう
Junior high schoolガスガス
Gas (fuel, utility, or substance)祈るいのる
To pray, to wish盛んさかん
Prosperous, thriving, popularアルバイトアルバイト
Part-time job起こすおこす
To wake someone up, to cause致すいたす
To do (humble form of する)噛むかむ
To bite, to chew赤ちゃんあかちゃん
Baby, infant浅いあさい
Shallow, superficial嘘嘘
Lie; falsehood小説しょうせつ
Novel, fiction親おや
Parentそれにそれに
Moreover; besides; in addition西洋せいよう
The West, Western countries思うおもう
To think, to feel, to believeパート (タイム)パート (タイム)
Part-time work (often short hours)時代じだい
Age, era, period申し上げるもうしあげる
(Humble) to say, to tell～式～しき
~ ceremony; ~ style, format出席しゅっせきする
To attend; attendance出席しゅっせきする
Attendance, to attend～家～か
Person specialized in ~; ~ist, ~er迎えるむかえる
To welcome; to meet; to greet触るさわる
To touch, to feel建て～だて
~ storied (building); built as社長しゃちょう
President of a company動物園どうぶつえん
Zoo, zoological garden捕まえるつかまえる
To catch, to seize, to arrest季節きせつ
Season (of the year)寄るよる
To drop by, to stop in, to visit決まるきまる
To be decided, to be settled開くひらく
To open, to hold (an event)逃げるにげる
To escape, to run away, to fleeだからだから
So; therefore; that's why残念ざんねん
Regrettable, too bad, a shame畳たたみ
Tatami mat, Japanese straw mat丁寧ていねい
Polite, courteous, careful, thorough地理ちり
Geography, topographyさっきさっき
A little while ago; just now怖いこわい
Scary, frightening, afraid包むつつむ
To wrap, to cover, to encloseなるべくなるべく
If possible; as much as possible無理むり
Unreasonable, impossible, overdoing itサンドイッチサンドイッチ
Sandwich会議室かいぎしつ
Conference room, meeting room品物しなもの
Goods, articles, items, merchandise人形にんぎょう
Doll, puppet, figurine利用りよう
Use, utilization, making use of飾るかざる
To decorate, to adorn, to display止めるとめる
To stop, to halt, to park恥ずかしいはずかしい
Ashamed, embarrassed, shyいくら～てもいくら～ても
No matter how much one ~用事ようじ
Errand, business, thing to take care ofビルビル
Buildingけんかするけんかする
To quarrel; fight頑張るがんばる
To do one's best, to work hard, to hang on投げるなげる
To throw, to pitch, to cast away故障こしょうする
To break down, to malfunction力ちから
Strength, power, ability受けるうける
To take, to receive, to accept気分きぶん
Feeling, mood間違えるまちがえる
To make a mistake, to get wrongそんなそんな
Such; that sort of星ほし
Star場合ばあい
Case, situation, occasionやっとやっと
At last; finally足りるたりる
To be sufficient, to be enough行うおこなう
To carry out; to conduct; to performぶどうぶどう
Grapes無くなるなくなる
To disappear; to be lost; to run out準備じゅんびする
To prepare; preparation準備じゅんびする
Preparation, getting ready世界せかい
The world; society住所じゅうしょ
Address; residence再来月さらいげつ
The month after next林はやし
Woods; grove; small forest倍ばい
Double; twice; -fold痩せるやせる
To lose weight, to become thin戦争せんそう
War, conflict決めるきめる
To decide, to determine, to set調べるしらべる
To check, to look up, to investigate寝坊ねぼう
Oversleeping, sleeping in lateパパパパ
Papa, daddy光るひかる
To shine, to glitter, to glow夫おっと
Husband (one's own)雲くも
Cloud坂さか
Slope, hill, incline～(て) しまう～(て) しまう
To end up doing; to finish doing completely飛行場ひこうじょう
Airport, airfield柔道じゅうどう
Judo (martial art)決してけっして
Never, by no means事務所じむしょ
Office, business office連絡れんらく
Contact, communication, getting in touch小学校しょうがっこう
Elementary school客きゃく
Guest, customer, visitor昔むかし
Old days, past, long ago美しいうつくしい
Beautiful, lovely, pretty捨てるすてる
Throw away, discard, abandonなさるなさる
To do (honorific form of する)事こと
Thing, matter, fact, eventどんどんどんどん
Quickly and steadily; rapidly試合しあい
Match, game, contest適当てきとう
Suitable, appropriate; roughly/anyhow素晴らしいすばらしい
Wonderful, terrific, splendid美術館びじゅつかん
Art museum, art gallery文法ぶんぽう
Grammar終わりおわり
The end, conclusion壁かべ
Wall一度いちど
Once, one timeお礼おれい
Thanks, gratitude, thank-you gift親切しんせつ
Kind, thoughtful知らせるしらせる
To notify, to let someone know歯医者はいしゃ
Dentist, dental doctor熱心ねっしん
Enthusiastic, eager, devoted始めるはじめる
To start, to beginもらうもらう
To receive, to be given泣くなく
To cry, to weep治るなおる
To recover, to be cured, to heal熱ねつ
Fever, temperature, body heatお祭りおまつり
Festival, fair, matsuri水道すいどう
Water supply, plumbing, waterworks匂いにおい
Smell, odor, scentベルベル
Bell赤ん坊あかんぼう
Baby, infantおかしいおかしい
Strange; odd; funny; amusing事故じこ
Accident, mishap変へん
Strange, weird, odd辞典じてん
Dictionary, reference book残るのこる
To remain, to be left over立てるたてる
To stand something up, to erectくれるくれる
To give (to me); to do for me～員～いん
Member of ~, ~er原因げんいん
Cause, origin, source驚くおどろく
To be surprised, to be astonished頂く頂く
To eat, drink, or receive (humble)祖母そぼ
Grandmother (one's own)場所ばしょ
Place, location, spot答こたえ
Answer, response, replyもちろんもちろん
Of course, certainly, naturally漬けるつける
To soak, to pickle, to steep受付うけつけ
Reception desk, receptionistスクリーンスクリーン
Screen (display, movie)増えるふえる
To increase, to multiplyまたはまたは
Or, alternativelyけがするけがする
To get injured, to be hurt以下いか
Less than, and below選ぶえらぶ
To choose, to select～ばかり～ばかり
Just (did); only, nothing but心こころ
Heart, mind, spiritサラダサラダ
Salad届けるとどける
To deliver, to hand over挨拶挨拶
Greeting, salute景色けしき
Scenery, landscape, view確かたしか
Certain, sure; if I recall correctlyステーキステーキ
Steak食料品しょくりょうひん
Foodstuff, groceries森もり
Forest, woods以内いない
Within, not more than予定よてい
Plan, schedule, arrangementオーバーオーバー
Overcoat; over, exceeding, exaggeration乾くかわく
To become dry, to dry思い出すおもいだす
To recall, to remember踊るおどる
To dance細かいこまかい
Small, fine, detailed塗るぬる
To paint, to plaster, to spread onご主人ごしゅじん
(Someone's) husband, polite珍しいめずらしい
Rare, unusual, uncommon公務員こうむいん
Civil servant, public servant, government workerお嬢さんおじょうさん
(Someone's) daughter, young lady, polite用意ようい
Preparation, readiness探すさがす
To search for, to look for, to seek形かたち
Shape, form運転うんてんする
To drive a vehicleすっかりすっかり
Completely, entirelyアナウンサーアナウンサー
Announcer, broadcasterお土産おみやげ
Souvenir, gift from a trip消しゴムけしゴム
Eraser (for pencil)旅館りょかん
Traditional Japanese inn海岸かいがん
Coast, seashore寂しいさびしい
Lonely, lonesome育てるそだてる
To raise, bring up, nurture味噌みそ
Miso, fermented soybean pasteお祝いおいわい
Congratulation, celebration, gift乗り物のりもの
Vehicle, means of transportation案内あんないする
To guide, show someone around連れるつれる
To take, lead (a person) along技術ぎじゅつ
Technology, technique, skill小鳥ことり
Small bird下宿げしゅく
Boarding house, lodgingジャムジャム
Jam (fruit preserve)招待しょうたいする
To invite鏡かがみ
Mirrorはずはず
Should be, ought to be (expectation)法律ほうりつ
Law進むすすむ
To advance, to proceed楽むたのしむ
To enjoy貿易ぼうえき
Trade, commerce反対はんたい
Opposition; to oppose申すもうす
To say (humble form of 言う)試験しけん
Examination; test真面目まじめ
Serious; diligent; earnest店員てんいん
Shop clerk; store employee今夜こんや
Tonight; this evening会話かいわ
Conversation空気くうき
Air, atmosphere交通こうつう
Traffic, transportation喜ぶよろこぶ
To rejoice, to be delighted急行きゅうこう
Express train or bus皆みな
Everyone, all味あじ
Flavor, taste空港くうこう
Airport手袋てぶくろ
Gloves校長こうちょう
Principal, headmaster of a school踊りおどり
Dance, dancing (noun form)興味きょうみ
Interest, curiosity in something引っ越すひっこす
To move (to a new residence)冷房れいぼう
Air conditioning, room cooling都合つごう
Circumstances, convenience, schedule遠慮えんりょする
To hold back, refrain, hesitate差し上げるさしあげる
To humbly give気持ちきもち
Feeling, mood, sensation祖父そふ
Grandfather (one's own)港みなと
Harbor, port予約よやく
Reservation, booking凄いすごい
Amazing, terrific, great入学にゅうがくする
To enter a school, enroll片付けるかたづける
To tidy up; to put away写すうつす
To copy; to photograph部長ぶちょう
Department head; section manager足すたす
To add; to supplement教会きょうかい
Church彼らかれら
They (usually male)男性だんせい
Man; male教育きょういく
Education, upbringing女性じょせい
Woman, female米こめ
Uncooked rice, rice grains邪魔じゃま
Hindrance, obstruction, interruption国際こくさい
International, between nations再来週さらいしゅう
The week after next夢ゆめ
A dream喉のど
Throat; neck最近さいきん
Recently; nowadays周りまわり
Surroundings; around歴史れきし
History不便ふべん
Inconvenient血ち
Blood毛け
Hair, fur, or body hair例えばたとえば
For example, e.g.中々なかなか
Very, quite, rather随分ずいぶん
Extremely, very, awfully押し入れおしいれ
Closet, storage cupboard電灯でんとう
Electric light, lamp叱るしかる
To scold, to tell off講堂こうどう
Auditorium, assembly hall沸かすわかす
To boil (water), to heat up特にとくに
Especially, particularly計画けいかくする
To plan, to make a plan通りとおり
Street, avenue下着したぎ
Underwear引き出しひきだし
Drawer遊びあそび
Play, playing; recreation支度したくする
To prepare, get ready見えるみえる
To be visible, can be seen十分じゅうぶん
Enough, sufficient音おと
Sound, note遠くとおく
Distant place, far away大体だいたい
Approximately; mostly; generally折れるおれる
To break in two; to fold; to turn a corner正しいただしい
Correct; right; proper輸入ゆにゅう
Import (goods); bringing something in返事へんじ
Reply; answer; response産業さんぎょう
Industry; manufacturing/economic sector伝えるつたえる
To convey; to tell; to transmit (a message)お金持ちかねもち
Rich person; wealthy person説明せつめい
Explanation; making something clear島しま
Island道具どうぐ
Tool; implement; utensil滑るすべる
To slide; to slip; to glide以上いじょう
More than; and above; that's all特急とっきゅう
Limited express train妻つま
Wife (one's own)政治せいじ
Politics, government市民しみん
Citizen, city resident負けるまける
To lose, be defeated指輪ゆびわ
Finger ring田舎いなか
Countryside, rural area見つけるみつける
To find, discover高校生こうこうせい
High school student講義こうぎ
Lecture (university)昼休みひるやすみ
Lunch break, noon recess忘れ物わすれもの
Forgotten item, left-behind belonging腕うで
Arm訳わけ
Reason, explanation, circumstance承知しょうちする
To consent, to understand and comply日記にっき
Diary, journal高校; 高等学校こうこう
High school似るにる
To resemble, to be similar to暖房だんぼう
Heating, heater留守るす
Being away from home, absence割合わりあい
Rate, ratio, proportion寺てら
Buddhist temple慣れるなれる
To grow accustomed to, to get used to普通ふつう
Common, usual, ordinary手伝うてつだう
To help, to assist息子むすこ
Son (one's own)お子さんおこさん
Child (someone else's, polite)会場かいじょう
Venue, meeting place, hall笑うわらう
To laugh, to smile運ぶはこぶ
To carry, to transport文学ぶんがく
Literature光ひかり
Lightお見舞いおみまい
Visiting the sick, get-well visit～様～さま
Honorific title; Mr., Mrs., Ms.ご存じごぞんじ
To know (honorific)下るさがる
To go down; to drop; to decrease褒めるほめる
To praise; to compliment空くすく
To be empty; to be less crowded最ももっとも
Most (superlative)最後さいご
The last, the end値段ねだん
Price, cost退院たいいんする
To be discharged from the hospital展覧会てんらんかい
Exhibition, art show久しぶりひさしぶり
It's been a long time汽車きしゃ
Train (originally steam train)遅れるおくれる
To be late, to fall behind見つかるみつかる
To be found, to be discovered召し上がるめしあがる
To eat or drink (honorific)太るふとる
To gain weight, to get fat注射ちゅうしゃ
Injection, shot様よう
Way, manner, appearance, kind最初さいしょ
Beginning, first, the start安心あんしん
Peace of mind, relief集めるあつめる
To collect, to gather直すなおす
To fix, to correct, to repair続くつづく
To continue, to last先輩せんぱい
Senior, mentor, older member約束やくそく
Promise, appointment, arrangement世話せわする
To look after, to care for近所きんじょ
Neighborhood; vicinity将来しょうらい
Future; prospects数学すうがく
Mathematics文化ぶんか
Culture; civilization払うはらう
To pay; to brush away焼けるやける
To burn; to be roasted; to get sunburned君きみ
You (informal, used by men)冷えるひえる
To grow cold, to cool downこの間このあいだ
The other day, recently続けるつづける
To continue, to keep doing落すおとす
To drop, to lose明日あす
Tomorrow出発しゅっぱつする
Departure, to depart拝見はいけんする
To look at, to see (humble)割れるわれる
To break, to split背中せなか
Back (of the body)新聞社しんぶんしゃ
Newspaper company, press office回る、回すまわる、まわす
To go around; to turn something～君～くん
Name suffix for boys, young men眠いねむい
Sleepy, drowsy濡れるぬれる
To get wet, become damp倒れるたおれる
To collapse, fall down, or break down考えるかんがえる
To think, consider, or ponder向かうむかう
To face, head toward, or confront自由じゆう
Free; freedom仕方しかた
Way, method of doing something首くび
Neck程ほど
Degree, extent, limit代わりかわり
Substitute, replacement; instead失敗しっぱい
Failure, mistake工業こうぎょう
Manufacturing industry移るうつる
To move (house), to transfer, to change研究室けんきゅうしつ
Laboratory; professor's office工場こうじょう
Factory, plant紹介しょうかい
Introduction舟ふね
Ship, boat動くうごく
To move, to be in motion虫むし
Insect, bug植えるうえる
To plant両方りょうほう
Both, both sides汚れるよごれる
To become dirty水泳すいえい
Swimming経験けいけんする
To experience勝つかつ
To win砂すな
Sand警察けいさつ
Police; police station取り替えるとりかえる
To exchange; to replace急ぐいそぐ
To hurry; to rush簡単かんたん
Simple; easy参るまいる
To go; to come (humble)全然ぜんぜん
Not at all; entirely特別とくべつ
Special; exceptional復習ふくしゅう
Review, revision of lessons間に合うまにあう
To be in time for, to make it役に立つやくにたつ
To be useful, to be helpful真中まんなか
Middle, center戻るもどる
To return, to come back研究けんきゅう
Research, study, investigation草くさ
Grass込むこむ
To be crowded, packedこの頃このごろ
These days, lately訪ねるたずねる
To visit (a person or place)下げるさげる
To lower, to hang down花見はなみ
Cherry-blossom viewing途中とちゅう
On the way, midway, in the middle入院にゅういんする
To be hospitalized乗り換えるのりかえる
To transfer (trains), to switch別れるわかれる
To part from, to separate, to break up～町～ちょう
Town, district, or ward (in place names)安全あんぜん
Safe; safety, security看護婦かんごふ
Nurse (traditionally female)見物けんぶつ
Sightseeing; looking at notable sights相談そうだんする
To consult; to talk something over眠るねむる
To sleep; to be asleep上がるあがる
To rise; to go up; to enter翻訳ほんやく
Translation (written)糸いと
Thread, yarn, string関係かんけい
Relation, relationship, connection番組ばんぐみ
Broadcast program, TV/radio show棚たな
Shelf, shelves, rack木綿もめん
Cotton (fabric, material)輸出ゆしゅつする
To export (goods abroad)神社じんじゃ
Shinto shrine大分だいぶ
Considerably, fairly, pretty much楽しみたのしみ
Pleasure, enjoyment; something to look forward to趣味しゅみ
Hobby; pastime; personal taste電報でんぽう
Telegram家内かない
My wife (humble)指ゆび
Finger; toe社会しゃかい
Society