Every word comes with furigana, romaji, and an original example sentence from real life in Japan.
1508 words · JLPT N4
JLPT N4 vocabulary
Words 121–130
yogoreru
to get dirty
白いシャツが汚れました。
しろい しゃつ が よごれました。
shiroi shatsu ga yogoremashita.
My white shirt got dirty.
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “get dirty” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 汚れる to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →kowareru
to break
洗濯機が壊れてしまいました。
せんたくき が こわれて しまいました。
sentakuki ga kowarete shimaimashita.
The washing machine broke.
Make 壊れる yours: write one short sentence about “break” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →wareru
to crack
コップが落ちて割れました。
こっぷ が おちて われました。
koppu ga ochite waremashita.
The cup fell and broke.
Say 割れる out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “crack” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →umareru
to be born
私は東京で生まれました。
わたし は とうきょう で うまれました。
watashi wa toukyou de umaremashita.
I was born in Tokyo.
Make 生まれる yours: write one short sentence about “be born” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →yasashii
kind
部長はとても優しい人です。
ぶちょう は とても やさしい ひと です。
buchou wa totemo yasashii hito desu.
The manager is a very kind person.
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “kind” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 優しい to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →kibishii
strict
この会社は時間に厳しいです。
この かいしゃ は じかん に きびしい です。
kono kaisha wa jikan ni kibishii desu.
This company is strict about time.
Make 厳しい yours: write one short sentence about “strict” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →ureshii
happy
手紙をもらって、とても嬉しかったです。
てがみ を もらって、とても うれしかった です。
tegami o moratte, totemo ureshikatta desu.
I was very happy to receive the letter.
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “happy” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 嬉しい to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →kanashii
sad
その話を聞いて悲しくなりました。
その はなし を きいて かなしく なりました。
sono hanashi o kiite kanashiku narimashita.
Hearing that story made me sad.
When you meet 悲しい in real text, pause on it once — meeting “sad” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →sabishii
lonely
一人の生活は少し寂しいです。
ひとり の せいかつ は すこし さびしい です。
hitori no seikatsu wa sukoshi sabishii desu.
Living alone is a little lonely.
When you meet 寂しい in real text, pause on it once — meeting “lonely” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →hazukashii
embarrassed
みんなの前で話すのは恥ずかしいです。
みんな の まえ で はなす の は はずかしい です。
minna no mae de hanasu no wa hazukashii desu.
Speaking in front of everyone is embarrassing.
When you meet 恥ずかしい in real text, pause on it once — meeting “embarrassed” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →Full-level practice
Ten sets, fifty randomly selected questions in every set.
Randomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final setRandomly selected from the full N4 vocabulary level, with four answer choices for every question.
Start final set