Abstract Concepts

Introduction

At N4 level, you start encountering words that go beyond the concrete and visible. These abstract nouns — covering ideas like reason, method, influence, and purpose — are the building blocks of more sophisticated Japanese expression.

Mastering these words is essential for reading news, understanding instructions, and expressing your own thoughts with precision.

Themes

All JLPT N4 Vocabulary in This Chapter (218)

1. 場合 ばあい Case; occasion; situation; circumstances. Used to describe a particular set of conditions or scenarios.
2. 状態 じょうたい State; condition; situation. Describes the current condition or status of something.
3. 状況 じょうきょう State of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances. Refers to the overall situation or how things stand.
4. 条件 じょうけん Condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite. A standard that must be met.
5. 機会 きかい Chance; opportunity; occasion. A favourable moment or opening to do something.
6. 可能性 かのうせい Possibility; chance; likelihood; probability. The degree to which something may happen.
7. 必要性 ひつようせい Necessity; need. The quality of being required or indispensable.
8. 目的 もくてき Purpose; goal; aim; objective; intention. What one is trying to achieve or the reason for doing something.
9. 効果 こうか Effect; effectiveness; efficacy; result. The outcome or impact of an action or treatment.
10. 程度 ていど Degree; amount; grade; standard. Also used after numbers to mean 'about' or 'approximately'.
11. 割合 わりあい Rate; ratio; percentage; proportion. The relative amount of one thing compared to another.
12. 比率 ひりつ Ratio; proportion; percentage. A numerical comparison between two or more quantities.
13. 平均 へいきん Average; mean. The central value of a set of numbers or a typical level.
14. 合計 ごうけい Sum total; total amount. The result of adding numbers or quantities together.
15. 最大 さいだい Biggest; greatest; largest; maximum. The highest degree or largest size possible.
16. 最小 さいしょう Smallest; least; minimum; minimal. The lowest degree or smallest size possible.
17. 範囲 はんい Extent; scope; sphere; range; span. The area or limits within which something applies.
18. 基本 きほん Basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation. The essential elements that everything else builds upon.
19. 応用 おうよう Practical application; putting to practical use. Applying learned knowledge or theory to real situations.
20. 手段 しゅだん Means; way; measure. A method or approach used to achieve a goal.
21. 過程 かてい Process; course; mechanism. The series of steps or stages through which something develops.
22. 事実 じじつ Fact; truth; reality. Something that has actually happened or is objectively true.
23. 真実 しんじつ Truth; reality. The genuine, deeper truth behind something.
24. 記憶 きおく Memory; recollection; remembrance. The ability to remember or the stored memories themselves.
25. 想像 そうぞう Imagination; supposition; guess. The mental act of forming images or ideas not present in reality.
26. 印象 いんしょう Impression; the feeling or image one gets from something or someone.
27. きっかけ きっかけ Trigger; opportunity; chance that starts something. The impetus or occasion for an event.
28. おかげ おかげ Thanks to; owing to. Expresses gratitude for a positive outcome caused by someone or something.
29. つもり つもり Intention; plan. Expresses what one intends or plans to do.
30. はず はず Should be; supposed to be; expected to be. Expresses a logical expectation or certainty.
31. 区 く Ward; district; borough. An administrative division of a city.
32. ガソリン がそりん Gasoline; petrol. Fuel used for cars and motorcycles.
33. やはり やはり As expected; after all; still; also. Confirms something matches one's expectations.
34. ステレオ すてれお Stereo; stereo system. An audio system that produces sound from two or more channels.
35. 医学 いがく Medical science; medicine as an academic field of study.
36. テキスト てきすと Textbook; text. A book or written material used for study.
37. 床屋 とこや Barber; barbershop. A shop where men get haircuts and shaves.
38. オートバイ おーとばい Motorcycle; motorbike. A two-wheeled motor vehicle.
39. 表 おもて Surface; front; outside. The visible or main side of something.
40. 大学生 だいがくせい University student; college student. A person enrolled in a four-year university.
41. 別 べつ Different; separate; another. Indicates distinction or separation between things.
42. ございます ございます To be; to exist. The most polite form of あります, used in formal and business contexts.
43. 郊外 こうがい Suburbs; outskirts. The residential areas surrounding a city centre.
44. 売り場 うりば Sales floor; department; counter where goods are sold.
45. 正月 しょうがつ New Year; New Year's Day. The most important holiday period in Japan.
46. うん うん Yeah; uh-huh; yes (informal). A casual affirmative response.
47. 屋上 おくじょう Rooftop; the top of a building. An open area on top of a structure.
48. ゴミ ごみ Rubbish; garbage; trash. Waste material to be discarded.
49. アフリカ あふりか Africa. The continent located south of Europe and southwest of Asia.
50. 贈り物 おくりもの A gift; a present. Something given to another person as a token of appreciation or celebration.
51. 泥棒 どろぼう A thief; a burglar. Someone who steals things from others.
52. レポート レポート A report; a written assignment or document. Commonly used for academic papers and business reports.
53. すると すると And then; thereupon. A conjunction used to describe something that happened as a natural result or consequence.
54. ガラス ガラス Glass; a glass pane. The material used in windows, cups, and various everyday objects.
55. 学部 がくぶ A department or faculty of a university. The organizational division within a university for a field of study.
56. エスカレーター エスカレーター An escalator. A moving staircase found in department stores, train stations, and public buildings.
57. 絹 きぬ Silk. A smooth, luxurious fabric produced from silkworm cocoons.
58. ガス ガス Gas. Refers to fuel gas used for cooking and heating, or gas in a general scientific sense.
59. 小説 しょうせつ A novel; a work of fiction. A written literary work of narrative prose.
60. 親 おや A parent. Refers to one's mother or father, or parents in general.
61. それに それに Moreover; besides; in addition. A conjunction used to add further information to what has already been said.
62. 西洋 せいよう The West; Western countries. A general term for Europe and the Americas as a cultural region.
63. パートタイム パートタイム Part-time work. Often shortened to パート, referring especially to part-time employment.
64. 時代 じだい An age; a period; an era. A span of time marked by particular characteristics or events.
65. 式 しき A ceremony; a style or formula. Used as a suffix meaning '~style' or '~ceremony.'
66. 〜建て だて A suffix meaning '~storied' or indicating a type of building structure. Used to describe the number of floors or building style.
67. 動物園 どうぶつえん A zoo; a zoological garden. A facility where animals are kept for public viewing and education.
68. だから だから So; therefore; that is why. A conjunction expressing a cause-and-effect relationship.
69. 畳 じょう A tatami mat counter; a unit for measuring room size. One 畳 equals the area of one standard tatami mat.
70. 地理 ちり Geography. The study of the physical features and human activity of the earth.
71. サンドイッチ サンドイッチ A sandwich. Bread with fillings in between, a popular light meal or snack.
72. 品物 しなもの Goods; merchandise; articles. Physical items or products, especially those for sale.
73. 人形 にんぎょう A doll; a figurine. A model of a human figure used as a toy, decoration, or in traditional ceremonies.
74. いくら〜ても いくら〜ても No matter how much ~; however much one may ~. An expression indicating that the result does not change regardless of effort or degree.
75. けんかする けんかする To quarrel; to fight; to have an argument. Refers to verbal or physical confrontations between people.
76. そんな そんな Such; like that; that sort of. A pre-noun adjectival referring to something near the listener or previously mentioned.
77. ぶどう ぶどう Grapes. A popular fruit eaten fresh, dried as raisins, or used to make wine and juice.
78. 世界 せかい The world; the globe. Can also refer to a realm, field, or sphere of activity.
79. 住所 じゅうしょ An address; a place of residence. The location where someone lives, used on official forms and mail.
80. 林 はやし A woods; a grove; a small forest. A cluster of trees, smaller than a dense forest.
81. 倍 ばい Double; twice; -fold. A counter or suffix indicating multiplication.
82. パパ パパ Papa; daddy. An informal, affectionate term for one's father.
83. 夫 おっと Husband. A neutral term used when referring to one's own husband.
84. 坂 さか A slope; a hill. An inclined section of road or path.
85. てしまう てしまう To end up doing ~; to finish completely. Expresses completion of an action or an unintended, regrettable result.
86. 飛行場 ひこうじょう An airport; an airfield. A place where aircraft take off and land.
87. 柔道 じゅうどう Judo. A Japanese martial art focused on throws and grappling techniques.
88. 事務所 じむしょ An office. A place where administrative or business work is conducted.
89. 美術館 びじゅつかん An art gallery; an art museum. A building where works of art are displayed for public viewing.
90. 文法 ぶんぽう Grammar. The set of rules governing how words are combined to form sentences in a language.
91. お礼 おれい An expression of gratitude; a thank-you. Can also refer to a gift given in return for a favor.
92. 歯医者 はいしゃ A dentist; a dental clinic. Refers to both the dental professional and the dental office.
93. お祭り おまつり A festival. A traditional celebration often involving shrines, parades, food stalls, and community gatherings.
94. 水道 すいどう Water supply; water service; a water line. The system that delivers tap water to buildings.
95. ベル ベル A bell. A device that produces a ringing sound, such as a doorbell or school bell.
96. 赤ん坊 あかんぼう A baby; an infant. A very young child, typically under one year old.
97. 辞典 じてん A dictionary; a reference book. A book used for looking up words, their meanings, and usage.
98. 員 いん Member; personnel. A suffix meaning 'a member of ~' or 'person in a role.'
99. 場所 ばしょ A place; a location; a spot. Refers to any physical position or area.
100. 受付 うけつけ Reception desk; receptionist. The place or person where visitors check in.
101. スクリーン スクリーン A screen. A flat surface used for displaying images or video.
102. または または Or; otherwise. A conjunction used to present alternatives.
103. けがする けがする To get injured; to get hurt. Refers to physical injury to a living being.
104. 以下 いか Less than; below; the following. Indicates something at or under a certain level.
105. ばかり ばかり Only; nothing but; just (did something). A particle expressing limitation or recency.
106. 心 こころ Heart; mind; spirit. The seat of emotions and thoughts.
107. 景色 けしき Scenery; landscape; view. The visual appearance of a natural or urban setting.
108. ステーキ ステーキ Steak. A thick cut of meat, typically beef, cooked by grilling or frying.
109. オーバー オーバー Overcoat; over, exceeding; exaggeration. A versatile loanword with multiple meanings.
110. ご主人 ごしゅじん Someone else's husband. A polite way to refer to another person's spouse.
111. お嬢さん おじょうさん Someone's daughter (polite); young lady. A respectful way to refer to another person's daughter.
112. アナウンサー アナウンサー An announcer; a news presenter. A person who reads news or makes announcements on TV or radio.
113. 消しゴム けしゴム An eraser; a rubber. Used to remove pencil marks from paper.
114. 海岸 かいがん Coast; seashore; beach. The area where land meets the sea.
115. お祝い おいわい Congratulations; celebration; a celebratory gift. Expressing joy for a happy occasion.
116. 乗り物 のりもの A vehicle; a means of transport. Anything one rides in or on.
117. 小鳥 ことり A small bird; a songbird. Refers to little birds such as sparrows, finches, or canaries.
118. ジャム ジャム Jam; a sweet fruit preserve spread on bread or toast.
119. 鏡 かがみ A mirror. A reflective surface used to see one's appearance.
120. 店員 てんいん A shop employee; a clerk; a store staff member.
121. チェックする チェックする To check; to verify; to inspect. To confirm or examine something.
122. ワープロ ワープロ A word processor. A device or software used for typing and editing text.
123. 手袋 てぶくろ Gloves; mittens. Hand coverings worn for warmth or protection.
124. 校長 こうちょう A principal; a headmaster. The person in charge of running a school.
125. 踊り おどり A dance; dancing. A general word for traditional or folk dance.
126. 興味 きょうみ Interest; curiosity. A feeling of wanting to learn more about something.
127. 都合 つごう Circumstances; convenience. Whether a time or situation works for someone.
128. 港 みなと A harbor; a port. A place where ships dock and cargo is loaded or unloaded.
129. 火事 かじ A fire (destructive); a conflagration. An uncontrolled fire that causes damage.
130. 教会 きょうかい A church. A building used for Christian worship services.
131. 彼ら かれら They; them. A third-person plural pronoun, typically referring to males or a mixed group.
132. 一杯 いっぱい Full; to the utmost; one cup/glass of. Used to express fullness or a single serving of a drink.
133. アメリカ アメリカ America; the United States of America. The most common Japanese word for the U.S.
134. 男性 だんせい A man; a male. The formal or neutral term for a male person.
135. おもちゃ おもちゃ A toy. An object for children to play with.
136. ちゃん ちゃん A suffix of endearment; used after names of children, close friends, or cute things.
137. あんな あんな Such; like that; that kind of. Refers to something distant from both speaker and listener.
138. 女性 じょせい A woman; a female. The formal or neutral term for a female person.
139. 隅 すみ A corner; a nook. The inner angle where two walls or edges meet.
140. 喉 のど The throat. The front part of the neck, or the passage for food and air.
141. 毛 け Hair; fur; wool. Fine strands growing from the skin of humans or animals.
142. サンダル サンダル Sandals. Open-toed footwear typically worn in warm weather.
143. びっくりする びっくりする To be surprised; to be startled. To feel shock or astonishment at something unexpected.
144. 講堂 こうどう An auditorium; a lecture hall. A large room or building used for assemblies and presentations.
145. 子 こ A child; a kid. Also used as a suffix in names and to refer to young animals.
146. レジ レジ A register; a checkout counter. The place in a store where you pay for items.
147. 通り とおり A street; an avenue. A road, especially one with a name in a town or city.
148. 下着 したぎ Underwear; undergarments. Clothing worn under outer garments.
149. 以外 いがい Other than; with the exception of. Used to exclude something from a group.
150. ハンバーグ ハンバーグ Hamburger steak; a ground meat patty served without a bun. A popular Western-style dish in Japan.
151. 引き出し ひきだし A drawer; a sliding compartment in a desk, dresser, or cabinet.
152. 遊び あそび Play; fun; recreation. The act of playing or amusing oneself.
153. お金持ち おかねもち A rich person; a wealthy individual. Someone who has a lot of money.
154. 道具 どうぐ A tool; an instrument or utensil. Equipment used for a particular purpose.
155. 以上 いじょう More than; above; that is all. Used for quantities exceeding a threshold or to signal the end of a statement.
156. まま まま As it is; unchanged; left in a certain state. Describes maintaining a current condition.
157. によると によると According to. Used to cite a source of information.
158. 妻 つま Wife (humble). Used to refer to one's own wife when speaking to others.
159. 帰り かえり Return; the way back; coming home. The act or time of going back.
160. 硬い かたい Hard; solid; firm. Describes something rigid or not easily bent or broken.
161. スーツ スーツ A suit; a matching jacket and trousers/skirt set worn for formal occasions.
162. 彼女 かのじょ She; her; girlfriend. A third-person feminine pronoun or a term for a romantic partner.
163. それで それで And so; because of that; thereupon. A conjunction indicating a result or continuation.
164. 市民 しみん Citizen; a resident of a city or municipality.
165. 指輪 ゆびわ A ring worn on the finger. Jewellery or an accessory placed on a finger.
166. 田舎 いなか Countryside; rural area. A place away from major cities.
167. 忘れ物 わすれもの A lost article; something forgotten or left behind.
168. 訳 わけ Reason; explanation; meaning. The underlying cause or logic behind something.
169. 日記 にっき A diary; a journal. A personal record of daily events and thoughts.
170. 寺 てら A Buddhist temple. A place of Buddhist worship and practice.
171. 息子 むすこ Son (humble). Used to refer to one's own son when speaking to others.
172. お子さん おこさん Someone else's child (polite). A respectful way to refer to another person's son or daughter.
173. 会場 かいじょう A venue; a meeting place. A location where an event, meeting, or ceremony is held.
174. 文学 ぶんがく Literature; literary works. Refers to written artistic expression including novels, poetry, and essays.
175. 光 ひかり Light; a ray or beam of light. Refers to visible brightness from the sun, lamps, or other sources.
176. お見舞い おみまい Visiting someone who is ill or injured; get-well visit. Also refers to a get-well gift.
177. 様 さま Mr., Mrs., Ms.; a very polite honorific suffix added to names. More formal than さん.
178. ご存知 ごぞんじ Knowing; being aware of. The polite form of 知っている (to know).
179. 字 じ A letter; a character. Refers to any written symbol such as kanji, hiragana, or katakana.
180. アジア アジア Asia. The largest continent, encompassing East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and more.
181. 我 われ I; oneself. A literary or emphatic first-person pronoun.
182. 展覧会 てんらんかい An exhibition; a show or display. Typically refers to art or cultural exhibitions.
183. 様 さま Way; manner; kind; state. Describes how something looks or how a situation appears.
184. 沖 おき The open sea; offshore. The area of sea away from the shore.
185. 近所 きんじょ Neighbourhood; vicinity. The area near one's home or a particular location.
186. 君 きみ You. An informal second-person pronoun, typically used by men toward peers or those of lower status.
187. 格好 かっこう Appearance; shape; form; posture. How something or someone looks.
188. 回る まわる To go around; to revolve; to turn; to make rounds. Also used as 回す (to turn something, to rotate).
189. 君 くん Mr. (junior); Master. A suffix used after names of younger people or subordinates, especially boys.
190. スーパー スーパー Supermarket. A large store selling food, household goods, and daily necessities.
191. アクセサリー アクセサリー Accessory; jewellery. Decorative items worn on the body such as necklaces, rings, and earrings.
192. 仕方 しかた Way of doing something; method; means. Often used in the expression 仕方がない (it can't be helped).
193. 首 くび Neck. The body part connecting the head to the shoulders.
194. 代わり かわり Substitute; replacement; in place of. Something or someone that takes the place of another.
195. 工業 こうぎょう Manufacturing industry; industrial production. The sector of the economy that produces goods in factories.
196. スーツケース スーツケース Suitcase. A large, sturdy bag with wheels used for carrying clothes and belongings when travelling.
197. 研究室 けんきゅうしつ A professor's office; a laboratory; a research room. A room used for academic research at a university.
198. けれど けれど But; although; however. A conjunction used to connect contrasting clauses.
199. について について About; concerning; regarding. A particle phrase used to indicate the topic of discussion or inquiry.
200. コンサート コンサート A concert; a live music performance. Used for classical music, pop, rock, and other genres.
201. コンピューター コンピューター A computer; an electronic computing device used for work, study, and entertainment.
202. 両方 りょうほう Both; both sides; both parties. Refers to two things or people together.
203. 看護婦 かんごふ A female nurse. A healthcare professional who provides patient care in hospitals and clinics.
204. ガソリンスタンド ガソリンスタンド A gas station; a petrol station; a service station where vehicles are refuelled.
205. 嬢 じょう Daughter (humble); young lady. A respectful or humble term for a daughter or young woman.
206. 湯 ゆ Hot water; heated water. Also refers to bath water or hot spring water.
207. 糸 いと Thread; string; yarn. A thin strand of fibre used for sewing, weaving, or crafting.
208. ピアノ ピアノ A piano; a keyboard musical instrument. One of the most popular instruments studied in Japan.
209. 番組 ばんぐみ A broadcast programme; a TV or radio show. Content aired on television or radio.
210. 棚 たな A shelf; shelves; a rack. A flat surface fixed to a wall or frame for storing or displaying items.
211. 木綿 もめん Cotton; cotton fabric. A natural textile fibre used widely for clothing and household goods.
212. アルコール アルコール Alcohol; an alcoholic substance. Used for both beverages and chemical/medical contexts.
213. 神社 じんじゃ A Shinto shrine; a sacred place of worship in the Shinto religion.
214. 電報 でんぽう A telegram; a message sent by telegraph. A form of written communication transmitted electrically.
215. 家内 かない One's own wife (humble). A humble term used by a man to refer to his own wife when speaking to others.
216. これから これから From now on; after this; from this point forward. Indicates the time starting from the present moment.
217. 似る にる To resemble; to be similar; to look alike.
218. 席 せき Seat; one's place. A designated spot for sitting.