Nature & Environment

Introduction

Japan's relationship with nature is deeply woven into its language and culture. N4 vocabulary expands your ability to discuss weather patterns, geographical features, and the natural world around you.

These words appear frequently in news, travel writing, and everyday conversation about the seasons.

Themes

All JLPT N4 Vocabulary in This Chapter (28)

1. 自然 しぜん Nature; the natural world. Used broadly to refer to the environment and natural phenomena.
2. 気候 きこう Climate; weather patterns of a region. Refers to the long-term atmospheric conditions of a place.
3. 台風 たいふう Typhoon; hurricane. A powerful tropical storm common in the western Pacific region.
4. 地震 じしん Earthquake. A common natural phenomenon in Japan due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries.
5. 津波 つなみ Tsunami; tidal wave. A series of large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
6. 洪水 こうずい Flood; flooding. An overflow of water that submerges normally dry land.
7. 災害 さいがい Disaster; calamity; misfortune. A broad term for natural and man-made catastrophic events.
8. 温度 おんど Temperature. The degree of heat or coldness measured on a defined scale.
9. 湿度 しつど Humidity. The amount of water vapour present in the air.
10. 霧 きり Fog; mist. A thick cloud of water droplets near the ground that reduces visibility.
11. 二次 にじ Second; secondary. Describes something that comes second in order or is derived from something primary.
12. 夕焼け ゆうやけ Evening glow; red sunset; afterglow of sunset. The reddish-orange sky seen at dusk.
13. 植物 しょくぶつ Plant; vegetation. A general term for all plant life including flowers, trees, and grasses.
14. 種 たね Seed; pip; kernel; stone. The reproductive unit of a plant, also used figuratively.
15. 根 ね Root of a plant. The underground part that absorbs water and nutrients.
16. 枝 えだ Branch; bough; limb; twig. A woody extension growing from the trunk or stem of a tree.
17. 森林 しんりん Forest; woods. A large area densely covered with trees and undergrowth.
18. 虫 むし Insect; bug; cricket; moth. A general term for small crawling or flying creatures.
19. 蝶 ちょう Butterfly. A flying insect with large, often colourful wings.
20. 蛇 へび Snake. A legless reptile with a long, slender body.
21. 猿 さる Monkey; ape. Especially refers to the Japanese macaque, a common primate native to Japan.
22. 熊 くま Bear. Any large mammal of the family Ursidae.
23. 鯨 くじら Whale. Any large marine mammal of the order Cetacea.
24. 砂 すな Sand; grit; fine gravel. Small loose grains of worn or crushed rock.
25. 泥 どろ Mud; wet dirt. Soft, wet earth formed by mixing soil and water.
26. 土 つち Earth; soil; dirt; ground. The natural material that plants grow in.
27. 季節 きせつ Season (of the year). The divisions of the year based on weather patterns.
28. 天気予報 てんきよほう Weather forecast; weather report.