JLPT N4 — from words to real conversation.
N4 confirms you can understand basic Japanese used in everyday situations, spoken slowly. You read short passages on familiar topics and follow simple conversations.
What JLPT N4 covers
Around 300 kanji and 1,500 vocabulary words — the bridge to everyday fluency.
- Around 300 kanji cumulatively — expanding into verbs, time expressions, and adjectives.
- Around 1,500 vocabulary words covering travel, shopping, work, and school.
- Grammar: plain forms, て-form, conditionals, and connecting clauses.
Who JLPT N4 is for
For learners who have cleared N5 and want to move from isolated words to genuine, if simple, conversation and reading.
How InitialJ helps you pass
Spaced repetition (SRS)
Every kanji and word has its own review schedule. Difficult items return sooner; mastered ones step aside — so the volume stays manageable.
Belt-based progress
Nine SRS stages, shown as karate belts from white to burned, give a clear sense of how solid each item really is.
Bilingual meanings
Meanings come in English and French, and reviews accept answers in either language — French speakers are first-class here.
Dictionary & grammar
Browse every kanji and word with furigana, romaji, examples, and mnemonics, plus grammar exercises tuned to each level.
Where our lists come from
Our N4 kanji and vocabulary lists are compiled from public JLPT specifications and frequency data, then reviewed manually and aligned with the in-app SRS decks. Counts are approximate ranges; the official JLPT does not publish a fixed word list.
Frequently asked questions
How many kanji are in JLPT N4?
N4 expects around 300 kanji and roughly 1,500 vocabulary words in total, building on everything from N5.
Should I take N5 before N4?
N4 assumes N5 knowledge. On InitialJ the SRS path moves you naturally from N5 to N4 once the foundations are solid.
Study JLPT N4 with InitialJ
Create a free account to track your belts across devices, or browse the dictionary first — no sign-up needed.