JLPT N4 Notes #1 — Everyday Verbs
These are my personal notes while learning Japanese.
Instead of memorizing words one by one, I try to understand when Japanese people actually use them, what similar words exist, and some silly mnemonics so they're easier to remember.
| Kanji | Furigana | Meaning | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 教えます | おしえます | To teach / tell | Oshii! → teacher is explaining something. |
| 迎えます | むかえます | To pick someone up | Mukae = "come meet me." |
| 出します | だします | To take out / submit / send | Dash = push something out. |
| 送ります | おくります | To send / escort | Think OKURI = courier. |
| 食事します | しょくじします | To have a meal | Sounds more formal than eating. |
| 散歩します | さんぽします | To take a walk | Grandpa takes a sanpo every morning. |
| 壊れます | こわれます | To be broken | Kowa... everything broke. |
| 会議します | かいぎします | To hold a meeting | Kai + Gi = Company meeting. |
| 登録します | とうろくします | To register | Register → Touroku |
| つけます | つけます | To turn on | Attach electricity → ON. |
| 消します | けします | To turn off / erase | KESHI rubber erases things. |
| 閉めます | しめます | To close | Shime the door. |
| 止めます | とめます | To stop | Stop the bus. |
| 曲がります | まがります | To turn (left/right) | Imagine the road bending. |
| 手伝います | てつだいます | To help | Lending your hands (手). |
| 呼びます | よびます | To call someone | "Yo! Come here!" |
| 降ります | ふります | To fall (rain/snow) | Rain falls from the sky. |
| 売ります | うります | To sell | Seller earns URI (money 😆). |
教えます（おしえます）
Meaning
To teach, explain, or tell someone information.
Example
先生は文法だけではなく、日本の文化についても教えてくれました。
The teacher not only taught grammar but also explained Japanese culture.
Fun Fact
Japanese distinguishes between teaching and telling.
You can say:
- 日本語を教える → teach Japanese
- 道を教える → tell someone the way
Both use 教える.
迎えます（むかえます）
Used when going somewhere to pick someone up.
Examples:
- Pick your friend up at the station.
- Pick your child up from school.
- Pick someone up at the airport.
Example
父が駅まで迎えに来てくれました。
My father came to pick me up at the station.
出します（だします） vs 送ります（おくります）
These confuse many beginners.
出します
Means to send something out from yourself.
Examples:
- 郵便を出す
- 宿題を出す
- ゴミを出す
- メールを出す
The focus is putting something out.
送ります
Means to send something to someone or escort someone.
Examples:
- 荷物を送る
- プレゼントを送る
- 駅まで送る
The focus is delivery to a destination.
Easy Rule
出す = send OUT
送る = send TO食事します（しょくじします） vs 食べます（たべます）
This difference appears everywhere in Japan.
食べます
Simply means to eat.
パンを食べます。
I eat bread.
食事します
Means to have a meal.
It sounds more polite and focuses on the entire dining experience.
Examples:
- 家族と食事します。
- 一緒に食事しませんか。
This sounds much more natural than:
❌ 家族と食べます。
散歩します（さんぽします） vs 歩きます（あるきます）
These are not interchangeable.
歩きます
Simply means to walk.
Usually describes movement.
駅まで歩きます。
I walk to the station.
散歩します
Means to take a walk for relaxation.
No destination is necessary.
犬と公園を散歩します。
I take a walk in the park with my dog.
Think:
Walk somewhere → 歩く
Walk for fun → 散歩する壊れます（こわれます）
Means something breaks by itself.
Examples:
- パソコンが壊れました。
- エアコンが壊れています。
Notice:
壊れます
NOT
壊しますThe first means is broken.
The second means break something.
会議します（かいぎします）
Used mostly in business situations.
You'll hear:
- 会議があります。
- 会議室
- オンライン会議
Fun Fact
Japanese office workers often say:
会議が長すぎる…
"The meeting is way too long..."
😂 Very relatable.
登録します（とうろくします）
Means to register.
Common combinations:
- メールアドレスを登録する
- アプリに登録する
- 会員登録
Nowadays you'll hear this word almost every day.
つけます vs 消します
These always come as a pair.
| ON | OFF |
|---|---|
| 電気をつける | 電気を消す |
| テレビをつける | テレビを消す |
| エアコンをつける | エアコンを消す |
Fun Fact
Japanese people usually don't say:
Turn on the lamp.
Instead they'll simply say:
電気つけて。
Literally:
Turn on the light.
閉めます（しめます）
Means to close.
Usually for things that can open.
Examples:
- ドア
- 窓
- 店
- ふた
Opposite:
開けます（あけます）
止めます（とめます）
Means to stop something.
Examples:
- 車を止める
- 音楽を止める
- タクシーを止める
Fun fact:
There are actually multiple kanji for とめる:
- 止める
- 停める
- 留める
For JLPT N4, don't worry too much.
曲がります（まがります）
Used almost exclusively when giving directions.
Examples:
- 右へ曲がる
- 左へ曲がる
You'll hear this constantly in Google Maps Japan.
手伝います（てつだいます）
Means to help someone.
Example:
母の料理を手伝いました。
I helped my mother cook.
Difference:
助けます means to rescue/save.
手伝います means to assist with work.
呼びます（よびます）
Means to call someone.
Examples:
- 名前を呼ぶ
- 医者を呼ぶ
- タクシーを呼ぶ
Difference
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 呼ぶ | Call someone to come |
| 電話する | Call by phone |
| 呼び出す | Summon someone |
So:
先生を呼んでください。
means
Please call the teacher over.
Not
Please phone the teacher.
降ります（ふります）
This verb is only used for things that fall from the sky.
Examples:
- 雨が降る
- 雪が降る
- あられが降る
You never use it for leaves or people.
Those use different verbs.
売ります（うります） vs 買います（かいます）
A classic beginner mistake.
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 売る | Sell |
| 買う | Buy |
Think from whose perspective.
Shop:
売ります。
Customer:
買います。
Fun Fact
You'll hear this everywhere in Japan:
いらっしゃいませ！
It doesn't literally mean "Welcome."
It's more like:
Welcome! Please come in!
After hearing it a hundred times in convenience stores, you'll never forget it 😂.
Quick Review
Remember These Pairs
| Pair | Difference |
|---|---|
| 出す ↔ 送る | Send out vs Send to |
| 食事する ↔ 食べる | Have a meal vs Eat |
| 散歩する ↔ 歩く | Take a walk vs Walk |
| 壊れる ↔ 壊す | Be broken vs Break |
| つける ↔ 消す | Turn on vs Turn off |
| 閉める ↔ 開ける | Close vs Open |
| 売る ↔ 買う | Sell vs Buy |
| 手伝う ↔ 助ける | Help vs Rescue |
| 呼ぶ ↔ 電話する | Call over vs Phone |
Final Thoughts
Instead of memorizing a Japanese word with just one English meaning, try learning its natural situation, common collocations, and similar words.
That's how native speakers actually use the language—and it's much easier to remember than isolated vocabulary lists.