JLPT N4 Kanji List with Readings — 84 Cards
N4 builds on the basics. It covers everyday vocabulary, more kanji and the core grammar needed to follow slow, simple conversations and read short texts about familiar topics. This kanji list is made for learners who have finished the basics and want to hold simple everyday conversations.
Below are 84 JLPT N4 kanji study entries, including 持, 送, 届, 払. Kanji with their readings, meanings and the common words that use them.
How to use this list
- Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character.
- Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses.
- Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
JLPT N4 kanji — full list
| Kanji / word | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 持 | もつ — to hold / carry 気持ち = きもち (feeling) |
| 送 | おくる — to send 送料 = そうりょう (shipping cost) |
| 届 | とどく / とどける — to arrive / deliver |
| 払 | はらう — to pay 支払い = しはらい (payment) |
| 働 | はたらく — to work 労働 = ろうどう (labour) |
| 売 | うる — to sell 売り切れ = うりきれ (sold out) |
| 貸 | かす — to lend 貸し出し = かしだし (lending) |
| 借 | かりる — to borrow 借金 = しゃっきん (debt) |
| 思 | おもう — to think (intuitively) 思い出 = おもいで (memory) |
| 知 | しる — to know 知識 = ちしき (knowledge) |
| 考 | かんがえる — to think (logically) 参考 = さんこう (reference) |
| 教 | おしえる — to teach 教科書 = きょうかしょ (textbook) |
| 開 | あける / ひらく — to open 開店 = かいてん (shop opening) |
| 閉 | しめる — to close 閉店 = へいてん (shop closing) |
| 始 | はじまる / はじめる — to begin 開始 = かいし (start) |
| 終 | おわる — to end 最終 = さいしゅう (final) |
| 会 | あう — to meet 会社 = かいしゃ (company) |
| 社 | シャ — company / shrine 社長 = しゃちょう (president) |
| 員 | イン — member / staff 会社員 = かいしゃいん (employee) |
| 強 | つよい — strong 勉強 = べんきょう (study) |
| 弱 | よわい — weak 弱点 = じゃくてん (weak point) |
| 重 | おもい — heavy / important 体重 = たいじゅう (body weight) |
| 軽 | かるい — light (weight) 軽食 = けいしょく (light meal) |
| 特 | トク — special 特別 = とくべつ (special) |
| 正 | ただしい — correct 正月 = しょうがつ (New Year) |
| 同 | おなじ — same 同時 = どうじ (simultaneous) |
| 世 | よ / セ — world / generation 世界 = せかい (world) |
| 開始 / 終了 | かいし / しゅうりょう Start / End (on forms & events) |
| 売買 | ばいばい — buying and selling 売 (sell) + 買 (buy) |
| 思い出す | おもいだす — to recall / remember 思い (thought) + 出す (put out) |
| 知り合い | しりあい — acquaintance 知る (know) + 合い (mutual) |
| 教室 | きょうしつ — classroom 教 (teach) + 室 (room) |
| 金持ち | かねもち — rich person 金 (money) + 持ち (holder) |
| 働き者 | はたらきもの — hard worker 働く (work) + 者 (person) |
| 借金 | しゃっきん — debt 借 (borrow) + 金 (money) |
| 全員 | ぜんいん — everyone / all members 全 (all) + 員 (member) |
| 正直 | しょうじき — honest 正 (correct) + 直 (straight) |
| 世話 | せわ — care / looking after お世話になりました = thank you for your care |
| 重要 | じゅうよう — important 重 (heavy) + 要 (essential) |
| 弱虫 | よわむし — coward 弱 (weak) + 虫 (insect) — "weak bug"! |
| 体力 | たいりょく — physical strength / stamina |
| 笑顔 | えがお — smiling face 😊 |
| 足りる | たりる — to be enough / sufficient |
| 頭痛 | ずつう — headache |
| 花火 | はなび — fireworks 🎆 (flower + fire) |
| 花見 | はなみ — cherry blossom viewing 🌸 |
| 紅葉 | こうよう/もみじ — autumn leaves 🍁 |
| 言葉 | ことば — words / language (leaf of words) |
| 流れ星 | ながれぼし — shooting star 🌠 |
| 火山 | かざん — volcano 🌋 (fire mountain) |
| 夜空 | よぞら — night sky 🌙 |
| 青空 | あおぞら — blue sky ☀️ |
| 定食 | ていしょく — set meal |
| 飲食店 | いんしょくてん — restaurant / eatery |
| 〜屋 (や) | the shop that sells it: 肉屋, 魚屋, 本屋, パン屋 |
| 料理 | りょうり — cooking / a dish |
| 目玉焼き | めだまやき — fried egg 🍳 ("eyeball grill") |
| お手洗い | おてあらい — toilet ("hand-washing place") |
| 〜放題 | ほうだい — as much as you like: 食べ放題, 飲み放題 |
| 家族 | かぞく — family (家 = house AND family) |
| 台所 | だいどころ — kitchen |
| 玄関 | げんかん — entryway (where shoes come off) |
| 建物 | たてもの — building |
| 階段 | かいだん — stairs |
| 学ぶ vs 習う | まなぶ (broad/self-study) vs ならう (learn from a teacher) |
| 勉強 | べんきょう — study (exertion + strength) |
| 予習 / 復習 | よしゅう (pre-study) / ふくしゅう (review after) |
| 教科書 | きょうかしょ — textbook |
| 図書館 | としょかん — library (図 also gives 地図 = map) |
| 宿題 | しゅくだい — homework ("the topic you take home") |
| 試験 | しけん — exam. 受験 = sitting an exam, 合格 = passing |
| 天気 / 気温 | てんき (weather) / きおん (air temperature) |
| 晴れ / 曇り | はれ (clear ☀️) / くもり (cloudy ☁️) |
| 風 vs 風邪 | both かぜ: 風 = wind, 風邪 = a cold |
| 季節 / 四季 | きせつ (season) / しき (the four seasons) |
| 晴れのち曇り | clear, later cloudy (のち = later/followed by, forecast shorthand) |
| 電話 | でんわ — telephone |
| 電車 | でんしゃ — train |
| 送信 | そうしん — send (a message) |
| 受信 | じゅしん — receive (a message) |
| 情報 | じょうほう — information |
| お知らせ | おしらせ — notice / announcement |
| 番組 | ばんぐみ — TV programme |
| 番号 | ばんごう — number (e.g. phone number) |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N4 kanji quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 開店 ↔ 閉店 means?
- Open shop ↔ Close shop
- Buy ↔ Sell
- Start ↔ End
- Enter ↔ Exit
Show answer
Answer: Open shop ↔ Close shop
開店 (open shop) ↔ 閉店 (close shop). Found on every shop door in Japan.
2. Which kanji pair means lend/borrow?
- 売/買 (uru/kau)
- 開/閉 (hiraku/shimeru)
- 送/届 (okuru/todoku)
- 貸/借 (kasu/kariru)
Show answer
Answer: 貸/借 (kasu/kariru)
貸す (lend) / 借りる (borrow). Natural opposites for temporary exchange.
3. 会社員 means?
- Company president
- Company employee
- Shop staff
- Station worker
Show answer
Answer: Company employee
会社員 = company employee. 会社 (company) + 員 (member/personnel).
4. 花火 (hanabi) literally means?
- Flower fire (fireworks)
- Spring festival
- Fire flower (volcano)
- Light and flowers
Show answer
Answer: Flower fire (fireworks)
花火 = 花 (flower) + 火 (fire) = fireworks. Beautiful name! A quintessential Japanese summer experience.
5. 体育 (taiiku) means?
- Body building
- Health check
- Physical education / PE
- Sports club
Show answer
Answer: Physical education / PE
体育 = physical education. 体 (body) + 育 (raise/nurture). In Japan, 体育祭 (sports day) is a huge school event!
6. 〜屋 (や) as a suffix means?
- A room
- A person who eats it
- A roof
- The shop that sells it
Show answer
Answer: The shop that sells it
肉屋 (butcher), 魚屋 (fishmonger), 本屋 (bookshop), 花屋 (florist), パン屋 (bakery).
Study JLPT N4 kanji in the free app
A Star Japanese turns this list into lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes and listening practice with real Japanese voices — plus timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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More JLPT N4 study lists
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N4 kanji list?
There is no single official kanji list for the JLPT, so this is a study list built from the A Star Japanese JLPT N4 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N4 kanji?
Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character. Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses. Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
How can I practise JLPT N4 kanji for free?
Download A Star Japanese for free on iPhone or Android. It has lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes, listening practice with real Japanese voices and timed JLPT mock exams — with no ads.