Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Tokyo 毎日更新 · New stories & words every day

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📚 JLPT N4

JLPT N4 reading practice & vocabulary

Basic conversation and everyday reading — the level where real-life Japanese starts to click. Below: 12 stories written for N4 learners and 59 words from them.

Quick reading practice

「ホビ垢」は「ホビーアカウント」を短くした言葉です。 What Is a ‘Hobiaka’ (ホビ垢)? Inside Japan’s Cute Hobby-Account Trend → 2026年4月から、自転車にも「青切符」が始まりました。 Riding a Bike in Japan? The ‘Blue Ticket’ Rules Every Cyclist (and Tourist) Should Know → 日本では、クリスマスは休みの日ではありません。 Fried Chicken, Strawberry Cake and Date Night: Why Christmas in Japan Looks So Different → 「ガチ」は、「本気」や「本当に」という意味の言葉です。 What Does ‘Gachi’ (ガチ) Mean? From Sumo Slang to ‘For Real’ → 「推し」は、自分がいちばん応援している人やキャラクターのことです。 Oshi-katsu Explained: How Supporting Your Fave Became a Japanese Lifestyle → 関西弁は、大阪や京都などで話されている方言です。 Kansai-ben 101: ‘Nande ya nen’, ‘Shiran kedo’ and Why Osaka Japanese Sounds So Fun →

N4 word list

⬇ Download for Anki (CSV)
ホビ垢ほびあかhobiaka
hobby account — a social media account dedicated to a hobby
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垢あかaka
(slang) account — literally ‘grime, dirt’
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趣味しゅみshumi
hobby
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投稿とうこうtōkō
post (on social media); posting
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本垢ほんあかhon’aka
main account
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自転車じてんしゃjitensha
bicycle
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青切符あおきっぷao-kippu
‘blue ticket’ — a fine for a minor traffic violation
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反則金はんそくきんhansokukin
fine (for a traffic violation)
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信号しんごうshingō
traffic light
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違反いはんihan
violation; breaking a rule
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クリスマスイブくりすますいぶkurisumasu ibu
Christmas Eve (the main day in Japan)
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予約よやくyoyaku
reservation; pre-order
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恋人こいびとkoibito
boyfriend/girlfriend; partner
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イルミネーションいるみねーしょんiruminēshon
illuminations; winter light displays
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苺いちごichigo
strawberry
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ガチがちgachi
for real; serious; seriously
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本気ほんきhonki
serious; earnest; for real (standard word)
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ガチ勢がちぜいgachizei
hardcore players/fans; people who take something very seriously
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八百長やおちょうyaochō
a fixed match; rigged game
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真剣しんけんshinken
serious; earnest (lit. a real sword)
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推しおしoshi
your favorite (idol, character, member, athlete…)
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推し活おしかつoshi-katsu
fan activities to support your fave
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推すおすosu
to support; to recommend (lit. to push)
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グッズぐっずguzzu
merch (official goods)
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遠征えんせいensei
traveling far to see a show (lit. expedition)
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関西弁かんさいべんKansai-ben
Kansai dialect (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe area)
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なんでやねんなんでやねんnande ya nen
“Why?!” / “Oh, come on!” (comic comeback)
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ほんまほんまhonma
really; true (= 本当)
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あかんあかんakan
no good; not allowed (= だめ)
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おおきにおおきにōkini
thank you (traditional Kansai)
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流行るはやるhayaru
to be popular; to be trending
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若者わかものwakamono
young people
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女子高生じょしこうせいjoshikōsei
high school girl (JK for short)
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知らんけどしらんけどshiran kedo
“I dunno, though” (Kansai dialect)
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懐かしいなつかしいnatsukashii
nostalgic; brings back memories
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紅葉こうようkōyō / momiji
autumn leaves; red maple
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見頃みごろmigoro
the best time to see something
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平年へいねんheinen
an average year; normal (in weather reports)
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予想よそうyosō
forecast; prediction
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銀杏いちょうichō
ginkgo tree (turns bright yellow)
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立冬りっとうrittō
the start of winter (in the traditional calendar)
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霜月しもつきshimotsuki
November (old name: ‘frost month’)
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七五三しちごさんshichi-go-san
‘Seven-Five-Three’ — a festival for children aged 3, 5 and 7
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鍋なべnabe
hot pot (and the pot itself)
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こたつこたつkotatsu
a heated table with a blanket
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やばいやばいyabai
dangerous/bad — or amazing/incredible (context decides)
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危ないあぶないabunai
dangerous (standard word)
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すごいすごいsugoi
amazing; great
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遅刻ちこくchikoku
being late
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表情ひょうじょうhyōjō
facial expression
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文化の日ぶんかのひBunka no Hi
Culture Day (Nov 3 national holiday)
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祝日しゅくじつshukujitsu
national holiday
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憲法けんぽうkenpō
constitution
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晴れはれhare
sunny / clear weather
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芸術の秋げいじゅつのあきgeijutsu no aki
“autumn of the arts” — fall as the season for culture
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滅めつmetsu
destroyed; wiped out (slang: overwhelmed by feelings)
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好きすぎてすきすぎてsuki sugite
liking (something) too much
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尊いとうといtōtoi
precious; (slang) so pure and lovely it hurts
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語彙力ごいりょくgoiryoku
vocabulary skills (slang: losing the ability to form words)
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N4 stories

Shoppers walking past a colorful shop on Takeshita Street in HarajukuPop Cultureホビ垢
🎌 Pop Culture

What Is a ‘Hobiaka’ (ホビ垢)? Inside Japan’s Cute Hobby-Account Trend

N4  Nov 7 · 5 min read
A cyclist riding down a quiet street lined with old wooden houses in KyotoLife in Japan青切符
🏙 Life in Japan

Riding a Bike in Japan? The ‘Blue Ticket’ Rules Every Cyclist (and Tourist) Should Know

N4  Nov 6 · 6 min read
Blue Christmas illuminations at Tokyo Midtown Garden at nightLife in Japan聖夜
🏙 Life in Japan

Fried Chicken, Strawberry Cake and Date Night: Why Christmas in Japan Looks So Different

N4  Nov 5 · 6 min read
Inside the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo hall during a January tournamentSlang & Viral Wordsガチ
🗣 Slang & Viral Words

What Does ‘Gachi’ (ガチ) Mean? From Sumo Slang to ‘For Real’

N4  Nov 5 · 5 min read
A packed stadium concert with colorful lightsPop Culture推し活
🎌 Pop Culture

Oshi-katsu Explained: How Supporting Your Fave Became a Japanese Lifestyle

N4  Nov 4 · 6 min read
Neon signs along Dotonbori in Osaka at nightLife in Japan関西弁
🏙 Life in Japan

Kansai-ben 101: ‘Nande ya nen’, ‘Shiran kedo’ and Why Osaka Japanese Sounds So Fun

N4  Nov 4 · 7 min read
The entrance to Takeshita Street in Harajuku, TokyoSlang & Viral Wordsワホー
🗣 Slang & Viral Words

What Are Japanese Teens Saying in 2026? 5 Words From the Girls’ High School Trend Awards

N4  Nov 4 · 6 min read
Hikers among autumn leaves at the summit of Mt. Takao in NovemberTrending Now紅葉
🔥 Trending Now

Japan’s Autumn Leaves Are Running Late This Year. Here’s When to Go

N4  Nov 4 · 5 min read
A Kansai-style nabe hot pot with napa cabbage and greensLife in Japan立冬
🏙 Life in Japan

Winter Starts This Saturday (Officially): 6 Japanese Words for November

N4  Nov 4 · 6 min read
A ramen display in the window of a Japanese ramen shopSlang & Viral Wordsやばい
🗣 Slang & Viral Words

What Does ‘Yabai’ (やばい) Mean? The Japanese Word That Means Both ‘Terrible’ and ‘Amazing’

N4  Nov 4 · 6 min read
The Tokyo National Museum's main building reflected in its pondLife in Japan文化の日
🏙 Life in Japan

It’s Culture Day: Why Japan Takes November 3 Off (and Why It Almost Never Rains)

N4  Nov 3 · 6 min read
A concert crowd under purple and yellow stage lightsSlang & Viral Words滅
🗣 Slang & Viral Words

‘So Cute I’m Destroyed’: Why Japanese Teens Can’t Stop Saying 滅

N4  Nov 2 · 6 min read