Essential Verbs

Introduction

Verbs are the engine of Japanese sentences, and N4 dramatically expands your verb repertoire. These intermediate verbs cover a wide range of actions and states — from 届ける (to deliver) to 比べる (to compare) — that are essential for natural conversation.

Many of these verbs also form the basis for important grammatical patterns tested on the JLPT.

Themes

All JLPT N4 Vocabulary in This Chapter (166)

1. 育てる そだてる To raise; to rear; to bring up. Used for children, plants, and developing talent.
2. 育つ そだつ To be raised; to grow up. Describes the natural process of growing or being brought up.
3. 増える ふえる To increase; to multiply. Describes a quantity or number growing larger on its own.
4. 増やす ふやす To increase; to add to; to augment. Deliberately making something greater in number or amount.
5. 減る へる To decrease; to diminish; to abate. Describes something becoming smaller in quantity or size.
6. 減らす へらす To reduce; to decrease; to cut down. Deliberately making something smaller in quantity.
7. 続ける つづける To continue; to keep up; to keep on. Maintaining an action or state without stopping.
8. 続く つづく To continue; to last; to go on. Describes something persisting over time without interruption.
9. 比べる くらべる To compare; to make a comparison. Examining two or more things to find similarities or differences.
10. 組み合わせる くみあわせる To put together; to combine; to join together. Assembling separate things into a unified whole.
11. 取り消す とりけす To cancel; to withdraw; to retract. Taking back a statement, order, or reservation.
12. 受け取る うけとる To receive; to get; to accept. Actively taking something that is handed or sent to you.
13. 引き受ける ひきうける To take on; to undertake; to accept responsibility for. Agreeing to handle a task or duty.
14. 思い出す おもいだす To recall; to remember; to recollect. Bringing a past memory back to mind.
15. 気がつく きがつく To notice; to realise; to become aware of. Perceiving something previously unnoticed.
16. 向かう むかう To face; to head toward; to go toward. Moving in the direction of a destination or turning to face something.
17. 通う かよう To commute; to go to and from. Making regular trips between two places.
18. 通る とおる To pass through; to go along; to travel along. Moving through or along a path, road, or space.
19. 過ごす すごす To spend (time); to pass; to lead (a life). Describes how one uses or experiences a period of time.
20. 暮らす くらす To live; to lead a life; to get by. Describes one's manner of living or making a living.
21. 慣れる なれる To get used to; to grow accustomed to; to become familiar with. Adjusting to new circumstances over time.
22. 飽きる あきる To get tired of; to lose interest in; to grow weary of. Becoming bored with something through excess or repetition.
23. 諦める あきらめる To give up; to abandon hope; to resign oneself to. Accepting that a goal or wish cannot be achieved.
24. 頑張る がんばる To persevere; to persist; to do one's best. Giving one's all with determination and effort.
25. 努力する どりょくする To make an effort; to try hard; to strive. Putting sustained effort toward achieving a goal.
26. 成功する せいこうする To succeed; to be successful. Describes achieving a desired outcome or goal.
27. 失敗する しっぱいする To fail; to make a mistake. Describes not achieving a desired result or making an error.
28. 参加する さんかする To participate; to join in. Used when taking part in events, activities, or groups.
29. 出席する しゅっせきする To attend; to be present. Used for formal attendance at meetings, classes, or ceremonies.
30. 欠席する けっせきする To be absent; to miss (a class, meeting, or event). The formal term for not attending.
31. 準備する じゅんびする To prepare; to get ready. Used for making arrangements or preparations for something upcoming.
32. 用意する よういする To prepare; to make ready; to arrange. Focuses on having things ready for immediate use.
33. 計画する けいかくする To plan; to make a plan. Used for devising strategies or scheduling future activities.
34. 実行する じっこうする To carry out; to execute; to put into practice. Describes taking action on a plan or decision.
35. 完成する かんせいする To complete; to finish; to be completed. Describes bringing something to its final, finished state.
36. 発見する はっけんする To discover; to find. Used when finding something new or previously unknown.
37. 発明する はつめいする To invent; to devise. Used for creating something entirely new that did not exist before.
38. 利用する りようする To use; to utilise; to make use of. Implies purposeful or effective use of a resource or service.
39. 注意する ちゅういする To be careful; to pay attention; to warn. Used both for being cautious and for giving warnings to others.
40. 反省する はんせいする To reflect on oneself; to feel remorse; to review one's actions critically.
41. 尊敬する そんけいする To respect; to admire; to look up to. Expresses deep respect for someone's character or achievements.
42. 感動する かんどうする To be moved; to be deeply impressed; to be touched emotionally.
43. 踏む ふむ To step on; to tread on. Describes placing one's foot on something or walking over it.
44. すっと すっと Straight; quickly; smoothly. Describes swift, effortless, or graceful movement.
45. 盗む ぬすむ To steal; to rob. Describes taking something that belongs to someone else without permission.
46. 生きる いきる To live; to be alive. Describes the state of being alive or the act of living one's life.
47. 折る おる To snap; to break; to fold; to bend. Describes breaking or folding something by applying force.
48. 伺う うかがう To ask; to enquire; to visit (humble). A polite, humble way to ask questions or visit someone.
49. 聞こえる きこえる To be heard; to be audible. Describes sounds that reach one's ears naturally.
50. 運動 うんどう Exercise; physical activity; movement. Also refers to campaigns or social movements.
51. 止む やむ To cease; to stop. Describes natural phenomena or situations coming to an end on their own.
52. 発音 はつおん Pronunciation. The way words or sounds are spoken aloud.
53. 失礼 しつれい Discourtesy; impoliteness. Also used as a set phrase meaning 'Excuse me' when entering, leaving, or interrupting.
54. 建てる たてる To build; to construct. Used for buildings, houses, and other structures.
55. いらっしゃる いらっしゃる Honorific form of いる (to be), 行く (to go), and 来る (to come). Used to show respect toward the listener or a third person.
56. 注意 ちゅうい Caution; attention; warning. Being careful or paying attention to something.
57. 過ぎる すぎる To exceed; to go beyond; to pass. Also used as a suffix meaning 'too much.'
58. 揺れる ゆれる To shake; to sway; to tremble. Describes oscillating or rocking movement.
59. 落ちる おちる To fall; to drop; to fail (an exam). Describes downward movement or decline.
60. 祈る いのる To pray; to wish for something earnestly. Used for both religious prayer and heartfelt wishes.
61. アルバイト アルバイト Part-time job. Casual or temporary employment, especially common among students.
62. 起こす おこす To wake someone up; to cause something to happen; to raise upright.
63. 致す いたす Extra-modest (humble) form of する (to do). Used to lower oneself when speaking to superiors or customers.
64. 噛む かむ To bite; to chew. The physical action of pressing teeth together on something.
65. 申し上げる もうしあげる Humble form of 言う (to say) and 伝える (to tell). Used to lower oneself when speaking to superiors.
66. 迎える むかえる To welcome; to greet; to meet someone upon arrival. Also means to reach or enter a new phase.
67. 捕まえる つかまえる To catch; to capture; to arrest. The act of seizing and holding onto someone or something.
68. 決まる きまる To be decided; to be settled; to be fixed. Describes something becoming determined.
69. 逃げる にげる To escape; to run away; to flee. Moving away quickly to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation.
70. 包む つつむ To wrap; to cover; to envelop. The action of enclosing something in paper, cloth, or other material.
71. 利用 りよう Use; utilization. Making practical use of something, especially services or facilities.
72. 飾る かざる To decorate; to adorn; to display. Adding ornaments or arranging things attractively.
73. 投げる なげる To throw; to pitch; to cast. Propelling something through the air with force.
74. 受ける うける To receive; to take (an exam, interview, etc.); to undergo. Accepting or being subjected to something.
75. 間違える まちがえる To make a mistake; to confuse one thing for another. Accidentally doing something incorrectly.
76. 行う おこなう To carry out; to conduct; to perform. Used for formal actions, events, and procedures.
77. 無くなる なくなる To disappear; to get lost; to run out. Describes something ceasing to exist or becoming unavailable.
78. 調べる しらべる To check; to look up; to investigate; to search. Broadly used for finding information.
79. 寝坊 ねぼう Sleeping in late; oversleeping. The act of staying in bed past the intended wake-up time.
80. 光る ひかる To shine; to glitter; to sparkle. Describes objects emitting or reflecting light.
81. なさる なさる To do (honorific). The respectful form of する, used when referring to the actions of someone of higher status.
82. 試合 しあい A match; a game; a competition. Refers to organized sporting or competitive events.
83. 知らせる しらせる To notify; to inform; to let someone know. The transitive form of conveying information.
84. 治る なおる To get better; to be cured; to recover from illness. Describes the process of healing.
85. 残る のこる To remain; to be left over; to stay behind. Describes what persists after others are gone.
86. 立てる たてる To stand something up; to erect; to set upright. The transitive form of standing.
87. 驚く おどろく To be surprised; to be astonished; to be startled. Describes the feeling of unexpected shock.
88. いただく いただく To eat; to drink (extra-modest). Also the humble form of 'to receive.' A key keigo verb.
89. 出す だす To start doing something; to take out; to send. As an auxiliary verb, indicates the beginning of an action.
90. 乾く かわく To get dry; to dry out. Describes the process of moisture evaporating from something.
91. 塗る ぬる To paint; to plaster; to apply; to spread. Describes coating a surface with a substance.
92. 用意 ようい Preparation; readiness. The act of getting things ready before an event or activity.
93. 連れる つれる To lead; to take along; to bring a person somewhere. Implies accompanying someone.
94. 招待 しょうたい Invitation; to invite. The formal act of asking someone to attend an event or gathering.
95. 進む すすむ To advance; to proceed; to make progress. Describes forward movement or development.
96. 楽しむ たのしむ To enjoy; to have fun; to take pleasure in. Describes actively finding enjoyment in an activity.
97. おる おる To be; to exist (extra-modest/humble). The humble form of いる, used when lowering oneself.
98. 申す もうす To say; to be called (extra-modest/humble). The humble form of 言う, used when referring to one's own speech.
99. ご覧になる ごらんになる To look; to see (honorific). The respectful form of 見る, used when referring to the actions of someone of higher status.
100. 会話 かいわ Conversation; dialogue. The act of talking with another person.
101. 喜ぶ よろこぶ To rejoice; to be delighted; to be glad. Expresses genuine happiness or pleasure about something.
102. 急行 きゅうこう Express train or bus; rapid service. A faster transit option that skips some stops.
103. ご馳走 ごちそう A feast; a special meal. Also means treating someone to a meal.
104. 冷房 れいぼう Cooling; air conditioning. The system or act of cooling a room.
105. 亡くなる なくなる To pass away; to die. A respectful and gentle way to express someone's death.
106. 差し上げる さしあげる To give; to offer. The humble form of あげる, used when giving to someone of higher status.
107. 写す うつす To copy; to transcribe; to photograph. To reproduce something by writing or capturing an image.
108. 足す たす To add; to supplement. Used for adding numbers together or adding more of something.
109. 生産 せいさん Production; manufacturing. The process of making or producing goods.
110. 釣る つる To fish; to catch fish with a rod and line.
111. 邪魔 じゃま Hindrance; obstruction; nuisance. Something or someone that gets in the way.
112. 沸かす わかす To boil; to heat water until it boils.
113. しばらく しばらく For a while; for some time. A period of time that is neither too short nor too long.
114. 空く すく To become empty; to become vacant; to become less crowded.
115. お出でになる おいでになる To be; to come; to go. The honorific form of いる, 行く, and 来る.
116. 支度 したく Preparation; getting ready. The act of preparing for something, especially going out.
117. 見える みえる To be visible; to be able to see. Also a polite form meaning 'to come' (honorific for 来る).
118. 折れる おれる To break; to snap; to be folded. Also means to give in or to turn a corner.
119. プレゼント プレゼント A present; a gift. Also used as a verb meaning to give a present.
120. 騒ぐ さわぐ To make noise; to be rowdy; to make a fuss. To create a commotion.
121. 尋ねる たずねる To ask; to inquire. A somewhat formal way to ask a question, similar to 質問する.
122. 放送 ほうそう Broadcasting; a broadcast. Television, radio, or public address transmissions.
123. ファックス ファックス Fax; facsimile. A device or the act of sending documents via telephone line.
124. 負ける まける To lose; to be defeated. To come out on the losing side of a competition or contest.
125. 降りる おりる To get off; to descend; to go down. Used when alighting from vehicles or going downstairs.
126. 暖房 だんぼう Heating; heater. A system or device for warming indoor spaces.
127. 留守 るす Absence from home; being away; not at home. Describes the state of no one being at a residence.
128. 手伝う てつだう To help; to assist; to lend a hand. Describes offering practical assistance with a task.
129. 下さる くださる To give; to bestow. The honorific form of くれる, used to respectfully describe someone giving something.
130. 遅れる おくれる To be late; to be delayed; to fall behind. Describes arriving or happening after the expected time.
131. 見つかる みつかる To be found; to be discovered; to turn up. The intransitive form describing something coming to light.
132. 召し上がる めしあがる To eat; to drink. The honorific form of 食べる and 飲む, used to show respect to the person eating or drinking.
133. 直る なおる To be repaired; to be fixed; to be corrected. Describes objects or errors returning to proper condition.
134. 世話 せわ Care; looking after; assistance. The act of taking care of someone or something.
135. 焼ける やける To burn; to be grilled; to be baked. Describes food cooking through heat or things catching fire.
136. 冷える ひえる To grow cold; to get chilly; to cool down. Describes a gradual drop in temperature.
137. 構う かまう To mind; to care about; to be concerned with. Often used in the negative to mean not to mind.
138. 落とす おとす To drop; to let fall; to lose. The transitive form of letting something fall or removing something.
139. 拝見 はいけん Looking at; seeing. The humble form of 見る, used when referring to one's own act of looking.
140. 割れる われる To break; to crack; to split. Describes something shattering or fracturing, especially hard objects.
141. いじめる いじめる To bully; to torment; to tease cruelly. Describes causing suffering to someone weaker or vulnerable.
142. おっしゃる おっしゃる To say; to speak. The honorific form of 言う, used to show respect for the speaker being referenced.
143. 濡れる ぬれる To get wet; to become damp; to be soaked. Describes something becoming wet from water or liquid.
144. 倒れる たおれる To fall down; to collapse; to break down. Describes something or someone falling over or collapsing.
145. 失敗 しっぱい Failure; mistake; blunder. An unsuccessful result or error in judgment.
146. 移る うつる To move; to transfer; to shift. Describes changing location, position, or state.
147. ひげ ひげ Beard; mustache; whiskers. Facial hair in general, regardless of location on the face.
148. 動く うごく To move; to operate; to function. Describes physical movement or something working and running.
149. 植える うえる To plant; to grow. The act of putting seeds, seedlings, or plants into soil.
150. 汚れる よごれる To become dirty; to get stained. Describes something becoming soiled or contaminated.
151. 水泳 すいえい Swimming. The activity or sport of moving through water using the body.
152. 勝つ かつ To win; to triumph; to gain victory. Used for competitions, games, and conflicts.
153. 取り替える とりかえる To exchange; to replace; to swap out. The act of removing one thing and putting another in its place.
154. 急ぐ いそぐ To hurry; to rush; to be in a hurry. Describes moving or acting quickly due to urgency.
155. 参る まいる To go; to come (humble). A humble expression used in place of 行く and 来る in formal situations.
156. 役に立つ やくにたつ To be helpful; to be useful; to serve a purpose. Describes something that provides practical value.
157. 戻る もどる To return; to go back; to come back. Describes returning to a previous location or state.
158. 込む こむ To be crowded; to be packed; to be congested. Describes a place filled with many people.
159. 訪ねる たずねる To visit; to call on someone. The act of going to see a person at their home or workplace.
160. 乗り換える のりかえる To transfer; to change (trains, buses). The act of switching from one vehicle or line to another.
161. 見物 けんぶつ Sightseeing; watching; viewing. The act of visiting places of interest or watching performances.
162. 眠る ねむる To sleep; to fall asleep. Describes the state or act of sleeping.
163. 翻訳 ほんやく Translation. The process of converting text or speech from one language to another.
164. 食事 しょくじ A meal; dining. Refers to the act of eating or to a meal itself.
165. 競争 きょうそう Competition; contest; rivalry. The act of competing against others.
166. 生活 せいかつ Life; living; livelihood. Refers to daily life, lifestyle, or the act of making a living.