JLPT N4 Vocabulary — Core Words flashcards
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One hundred words for N4, most of them commonly listed at that level and some at N5 or N3: verbs marked u-verb, ru-verb or irregular (the する-verbs) with their particles and transitive partners, everyday nouns by theme, い- and な-adjectives, and the key adverbs — each with an example sentence in kana.
Learn deck · part of JLPT N4 · written against: Kanji, vocabulary and grammar commonly listed for N4 (no official list since 2010). Updated 2026-10-10.
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うごく (動く) (v., u-verb)
あさから エレベーターが うごきません。to move; to work (of a machine) [2]Movement & Travel
The lift hasn't been working since this morning.
Watch out: Intransitive; the transitive partner is うごかす (to move something). -
なおす (直す) (v., u-verb)
ちちが じてんしゃを なおして くれました。to repair; to correct [2]Daily Life & Things
My father mended my bicycle for me.
Watch out: The intransitive partner is なおる (to be fixed); for curing an illness the kanji is 治す. -
しらべる (調べる) (v., ru-verb)
りょこうの まえに、ホテルの ねだんを しらべます。to look up; to investigate [3]Study & Work
Before a trip, I look up hotel prices. -
かわる (変わる) (v., u-verb)
この まちは じゅうねんで ずいぶん かわりました。to change (intr.) [0]Change & Quantity
This town has changed quite a bit in ten years.
Watch out: To change something yourself is かえる (変える), a ru-verb. -
うんてんする (運転する) (v., irregular)
ちちは まいにち くるまを うんてんします。to driveする-verbs
My father drives a car every day. -
むすこ (息子) (n.)
むすこが つくった カレーは、とても からかったです。(one's own) son [0]People & Family
The curry my son made was very spicy.
Watch out: Someone else's son is むすこさん. -
やくそく (約束) (n.)
らいしゅうの にちようびに、あねと かいものに いく やくそくを しました。promise; appointment [0]Plans & Time
I've arranged to go shopping with my older sister next Sunday.
Watch out: The usual verbs are やくそくを する (make) and やくそくを まもる (keep). -
うつくしい (美しい) (い-adj.)
あきの やまは とても うつくしいです。beautiful [4]い-adjectives
The mountains are very beautiful in autumn.
Watch out: More formal and literary than きれい. -
あんぜん (安全) (な-adj.)
この まちは よるでも あんぜんです。safe; secure [0]な-adjectives
This town is safe even at night. -
よく (adv.)
よく この こうえんを さんぽします。often; wellAdverbs
I often take walks in this park.
Watch out: Also well: よく できました = well done.
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Word selection follows vocabulary commonly listed for JLPT N4 (no official list exists since 2010); meanings, kanji spellings, verb groups and adjective types checked against JMdict (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Reference only; all example sentences are original.
- Pitch-accent positions checked against the Kanjium accent data (CC BY-SA 4.0); reference only.
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