Introduction
Welcome to the JLPT N4 word guide at NihongoDoya. This collection lists ~1,100 Japanese terms from Minna no Nihongo Book II (lessons 26–50), with kanji, hiragana, romaji and English meanings. The search bar above accepts Japanese, romaji or English — try typing konnichiwa, こんにちは or hello and you will land on the same card. Every entry links back to the matching grammar guide unit and audio practice scene.
What you will learn
- Verbs for opinions, comparisons and abstract actions
- Adjectives describing personality, condition and situation
- Office and business expressions for everyday interaction
- Time, frequency and quantity adverbs used at intermediate level
- Set phrases that JLPT N4 reading sections rely on
- Useful prefixes, suffixes and onomatopoeia for natural speech
Who this level is for
JLPT N4 fits learners who have cleared N5 or finished Minna no Nihongo Book I. The jump from N5 to N4 is mostly about plain form, conditionals and keigo, so expect more nuance and longer sentences in the example boxes below.
A useful weekly cycle for word study
- Scan a new unit and read every entry aloud once.
- Star the items you missed and copy them into a short example sentence.
- Listen on the matching audio practice page so each new term gets a real-world voice.
- Cross-link with the matching grammar guide unit to lock the term into a sentence pattern.
- Review for five minutes daily and run a longer pass once a week.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating onyomi and kunyomi readings as interchangeable.
- Memorising English glosses without the Japanese collocations that go with them.
- Skipping context — many N4 words change meaning across formal and casual speech.
- Reviewing only by reading; speaking and writing tighten recall faster than re-reading.
Related study materials
Build a joined-up study cycle by combining this page with the matching JLPT N4 grammar guide, the JLPT N4 Japanese word list and the JLPT N4 audio practice page.
Frequently asked questions
How many JLPT N4 words are listed?
Around 1,100 Japanese terms from Minna no Nihongo Book II, organised lesson by lesson and searchable in Japanese, romaji and English.
Are the readings shown for every word?
Yes — every entry includes the Japanese form, hiragana reading, romaji spelling and an English meaning, plus a part-of-speech tag.
How long does it take to clear the N4 word list?
Most self-study learners cover the full N4 word list in three to four months at 12–15 new items per day, with the matching audio practice for retention.
Should I learn N4 words and grammar together?
Yes. The N4 grammar guide and word list follow the same lesson order, so studying them together keeps every new sentence pattern grounded in real words.
How is this list useful for the JLPT exam?
Most JLPT N4 vocabulary questions come from this exact range. Combine the list with the matching audio practice page and one timed practice paper before exam day.