Continuing from N4 Nouns List (Part 1), in Part 2, you will learn 4 categories of nouns that express “action”, “feelings and thoughts”, “quantity and describing degree”, and “time, duration and period”. In this part, we will introduce 93 nouns that correspond to the JLPT N4 level. Make sure you understand the meaning and usage of each noun.
Table of Contents
- N4 Nouns List - Action
- N4 Nouns List - Feelings and Thoughts
- N4 Nouns List - Quantity and Describing Degree
- N4 Nouns List - Time, Duration and Period
N4 Nouns List - Action
These nouns are mainly used to describe what you are doing or how you work with others.
Example Sentences Using N4 “Action” Nouns
1. 夜道を歩くときは、車にちゅうい(注意)してください。
(yomichi o aruku toki wa, kuruma ni chuuishitekudasai)
- Please watch out for cars when walking at night.
2. こたえ(答え)が分からないときは、先生に聞きましょう。
(kotae ga wakaranai toki wa, sensei ni kikimashou)
- If you don’t know the answer, ask the teacher.
3. お客様のお皿をようい(用意)します。
(okyaku-sama no osara o yoishimasu)
- Prepare the plates for the customers.
4. 明日はようじ(用事)があります。
(ashita wa youji ga arimasu)
- I have an errand to run tomorrow.
5. やくそく(約束)は守ってください。
(yakusoku wa mamottekudasai)
- Please keep your promise.
6. 私はいつも友達にそうだん(相談)します。
(watashi wa itsumo tomodachi ni soudanshimasu)
- I always consult with my friends.
7. 右のはんたい(反対)は左です。
(migi no hantai wa hidari desu)
- The opposite of right is left.
8. 将来の夢(ゆめ)は、教師になることです。
(shourai no yume wa, kyoushi ni naru koto desu)
- My dream is to become a teacher.
N4 “Action” Nouns List
Note: Kanji in BOLD need to be remembered at the N4 level.
おれい |
お礼 |
thanks; gratitude |
あいさつ |
挨拶 |
greetings |
うそ |
嘘 |
a lie |
かえり |
帰り |
return; come back |
けいかく |
計画 |
project; schedule; program |
けんか |
喧嘩 |
fight; squabble; scuffle; argument |
しかた |
仕方 |
way; method |
じゅんび |
準備 |
preparation |
しょうかい |
紹介 |
introduction; presentation; referral |
ねぼう |
寝坊 |
sleeping in late; oversleeping |
うまれ |
生まれ |
birth; birthplace; born in (country, month, etc) |
せいかつ |
生活 |
living; life (one’s daily existence); |
せつめい |
説明 |
explanation |
そうだん |
相談 |
consultation; discussion; discussing; |
たんじょう |
誕生 |
birth; creation; formation |
ちゅうい |
注意 |
caution; being careful; |
ていねい |
丁寧 |
polite; courteous |
こたえ |
答え |
answer; reply; response; solution |
はいけん |
拝見 |
seeing; looking at |
はんたい |
反対 |
opposition; resistance; antagonism; |
へんじ |
返事 |
reply; answer; response |
ほうそう |
放送 |
broadcast |
ゆめ |
夢 |
dream |
やくそく |
約束 |
promise |
よてい |
予定 |
arrangement; schedule; program |
よやく |
予約 |
reservation; appointment; booking; |
ようい |
用意 |
preparation; arrangements; getting ready |
ようじ |
用事 |
tasks; things to do; errand; |
りよう |
利用 |
use; utilize |
Writer's Pick
N4 Nouns List - Feelings and Thoughts
These nouns are used to describe what you are thinking or how you are feeling.
Example Sentences Using N4 “Feelings and Thoughts” Nouns
1. 家のカギが見つかってあんしん(安心)しました。
(ie no kagi ga mitsukatte anshinshimashita)
- I feel relieved now that I have found my house key.
2. 彼はお年寄りにとてもしんせつ(親切)です。
(kare wa otoshiyori ni totemo shinsetsu desu)
- He is very kind to the elderly.
3. 私にとって誕生日は、とくべつ(特別)な日です。
(watashi nitotte tanjoubi wa, tokubetsuna hi desu)
- Birthdays are special days to me.
4. 暑いので、むり(無理)はしないでください。
(atsui node, muri wa shinaide kudasai)
- It’s hot, so please don’t overdo it.
5. 夏休みがたのしみ(楽しみ)です。
(natsuyasumi ga tanoshimi desu)
- I am looking forward to the summer holidays.
6. 大きな声で自分のいけん(意見)を言いました。
(ookina koe de jibun no iken wo iimashita)
- I voiced my opinion loudly.
7. 川で綺麗なかたち(形)の石を見つけました。
(kawa de kireina katachi no ishi o mitsukemashita)
- I found a beautifully shaped stone in the river.
8. 発表会でしっぱい(失敗)しても、大丈夫です。
(happyoukai de shippaishitemo, daijoubu desu)
- It’s alright even if [you/I] fail at the presentation.
N4 “Feelings and Thoughts” Nouns List
Note: Kanji in BOLD need to be remembered at the N4 level.
かんたん |
簡単 |
simple; easy; uncomplicated |
きけん |
危険 |
danger; peril; hazard |
きかい |
機会 |
chance; opportunity |
きぶん |
気分 |
feeling; mood |
きょうみ |
興味 |
interest (in something); |
かたち |
形 |
form; shape; figure |
げんいん |
原因 |
cause; origin; source |
ざんねん |
残念 |
regrettable; unfortunate |
じゆう |
自由 |
freedom |
しっぱい |
失敗 |
failure; mistake; blunder |
しんせつ |
親切 |
kind; gentle; considerate; |
てきとう |
適当 |
suitable; proper; appropriate; |
てん |
点 |
point; dot |
つごう |
都合 |
circumstances; condition; |
とくべつ |
特別 |
special; particular; extraordinary; |
ふくざつ |
複雑 |
complex; complicated; |
へん |
変 |
strange; peculiar; weird |
むり |
無理 |
impossible; unreasonable; excessive |
りゆう |
理由 |
reason |
N4 Nouns List - Quantity and Describing Degree
In this part, the nouns can be separated into 2 types; 数 (kazu) - quantity to describe the number of things, and 程度 (teido) - degree to describe how much of, or the condition of a thing.
Example Sentences Using N4 “Quantity and Describing Degree” Nouns
1. 身長が120 cmいか(以下)の子どもはこの遊具で遊べます。
(shinchou ga 120cm ika no kodomo wa kono yuugu de asobemasu)
- Children under 120 cm tall can play on this playground.
2 単語テストは80点いじょう(以上)が合格です。
(tango tesuto wa 80 ten ijou ga goukaku desu)
- Score 80 points or above to pass the vocabulary test.
3. 部屋には私いがい(以外)誰もいなかった。
(heya niwa watashi igai daremo inakatta)
- There is nobody else but me in the room.
4. 5分いない(以内)にゴールした人が勝ちです。
(5 fun inai ni go-rushita hito ga kachi desu)
- Whoever finishes the race within 5 minutes wins.
5. このブドウは、スイカの2ばい(倍)の値段です。
(kono budou wa, suika no 2 bai no nedan desu)
- These grapes cost double the price of a watermelon.
6. 男女のわりあい(割合)は同じくらいだ。
(danjo no wariai wa onajikuraida)
- The proportion of men to women is about the same.
7. 宿題はだいたい(大体)終わりました。
(shukudai wa daitai owarimashita)
- I have almost finished my homework.
8. この街のじんこう(人口)は10万人くらいです。
(kono machi no jinkou wa 10 man nin kurai desu)
- The population of this town is about 100 thousand.
N4 “Quantity and Describing Degree” Nouns List
Note: Kanji in BOLD need to be remembered at the N4 level.
いっぱい |
- |
full; a lot; much |
おつり |
お釣り |
change (for a purchase) |
ほとんど |
- |
mostly; nearly; practically; |
いか |
以下 |
not exceeding; … and less |
いがい |
以外 |
with the exception of; except; excepting |
いじょう |
以上 |
not less than; … and more; |
いない |
以内 |
within |
わりあい |
割合 |
rate; ratio; percentage; proportion |
じんこう |
人口 |
population |
かわり |
代わり |
substitute; replacement; in place of; |
だいたい |
大体 |
outline; main point; general gist; substantially; |
ねだん |
値段 |
price; cost |
ばい |
倍 |
double; twice (as much) |
りょうほう |
両方 |
both; both sides; both parties |
N4 Nouns List - Time, Duration and Period
These nouns are used to describe when things happen or timing. They are common expressions in conversation and writing so remember them well.
Example Sentences Using N4 “Time, Duration and Period” Nouns
1. 私はいちど(一度)だけテストで100点を取ったことがあります。
(watashi wa ichido dake tesuto de 100 ten wo totta koto ga arimasu)
- I have only once scored 100 points in a test.
2. こんど(今度)は、遅刻しないように気を付けたい。
(kondo wa, chikokushinai youni ki o tsuketai)
- I need to be careful not to be late next time.
3. こんや(今夜)は、月がとても綺麗に見えます。
(konya wa, tsuki ga totemo kirei ni miemasu)
- The moon looks very beautiful tonight.
4. この話は今日でおわり(終わり)です。
(kono hanashi wa kyou de owari desu)
- Today is the last we will speak of this.
5. 私はさいしょ(最初)にひらがなを覚えました。
(watashi wa saisho ni hiragana o oboemashita)
- I started with memorising Hiragana.
6. さいご(最後)の人は電気を消して帰ってください。
(saigo no hito wa denki o keshite kaettekudasai)
- The last person should turn off the lights before leaving.
7. ひるやすみ(昼休み)に一緒にご飯を食べましょう。
(hiruyasumi ni issho ni gohan o tabemashou)
- Let’s eat together during our lunch break.
8. 家に帰るとちゅう(途中)でさいふを落としてしまった。
(ie ni kaeru tochuu de saifu o otoshiteshimatta)
- I lost/dropped my wallet on the way home.
N4 “Time, Duration and Period” Nouns List
Note: Kanji in BOLD need to be remembered at the N4 level.
このごろ |
この頃 |
these days; nowadays; now; at present; |
このあいだ |
この間 |
the other day; lately; recently; |
たいてい |
大抵 |
mostly; ordinarily; usually; generally |
いちど |
一度 |
once; one time; on one occasion |
ひさしぶり |
久しぶり |
a long time (since the last time); |
こんど |
今度 |
this time; now next time; another time; |
こんや |
今夜 |
this evening; tonight |
さらいげつ |
再来月 |
month after next |
さらいしゅう |
再来週 |
week after next |
さいきん |
最近 |
recently |
さいしょ |
最初 |
beginning; outset; first; onset |
さいご |
最後 |
end; conclusion last; final; latest; |
じだい |
時代 |
period; epoch; era; |
おわり |
終わり |
the end; conclusion |
しょうらい |
将来 |
future |
むかし |
昔 |
olden days; former |
ひるま |
昼間 |
daytime; during the day; |
ひるやすみ |
昼休み |
lunch break; noon recess; |
とちゅう |
途中 |
on the way; en route; |