Are you ready to elevate your Japanese skills with Minna no Nihongo Lesson 4 vocabulary? This lesson focuses on expressing time, schedules, and basic interactions, which are critical for daily conversations in Japanese.
In this article, we’ll explore key vocabulary from Lesson 4, their meanings, and practical examples to help you master them. With these words, you’ll be prepared to talk about your day, make plans, and engage in simple yet essential conversations.
In this lesson, we will learn about time, に particle, and ます form. Likewise, in other lessons, let us start with vocabulary.
Read More: Minna no Nihongo Lesson 5 vocabulary

Minna no Nihongo Lesson 4 Vocabulary
SN | Japanese | English |
1 | おきます | get up, wake up |
2 | ねます | sleep, go to bed |
3 | はたらきます | work |
4 | やすみます | take a rest, take a holiday |
5 | べんきょうします | study |
6 | おわります | finish |
7 | デパート | department store |
8 | ぎんこう | bank |
9 | ゆうびんきょく | post office |
10 | としょかん | library |
11 | びじゅつかん | art museum |
12 | いま | now |
13 | ~じ | ~o’clock |
14 | ~ふん | minute |
15 | はん | half |
16 | なんじ | what time |
17 | なんぷん | what minute |
18 | ごぜん | a.m., morning |
19 | ごご | p.m., evening |
20 | あさ | morning |
21 | ひる | day time, noon |
22 | ばん | evening |
23 | よる | night |
24 | よなか | midnight |
25 | きょう | today |
26 | あした | tomorrow |
27 | あさって | day after tomorrow |
28 | きのう | yesterday |
29 | おととい | day before yesterday |
30 | けさ | this morning |
31 | こんばんは | this evening, tonight |
32 | やすみ | rest, a holiday, a day off |
33 | ひるやすみ/きゅけい | lunch time |
34 | まいあさ | every morning |
35 | まいばん | every evening |
36 | まいにち | every day |
37 | にちようび | Sunday |
38 | げちようび | Monday |
39 | かようび | Tuesday |
40 | すいようび | Wednesday |
41 | もくようび | Thursday |
42 | きんようび | Friday |
43 | どようび | Saturday |
44 | なんようび | what day |
45 | ばんごう | number |
46 | なんばん | what number |
47 | ~から | ~from |
48 | ~まで | ~up to, until |
49 | ~と~ | and (used to connect nouns) |
50 | そちら | your place |
51 | たいへんですね | That’s tough isn’t it? (used when expressing sympathy) |
52 | えーと | well, let me see |
53 | おねがいします | lit. ask for a favour |
54 | かしこまりました | Certainly (sir, madam) |
55 | おといあわせのばんごう | the number being inquired about |
56 | どうもありがとうございました | Thank you very much |
57 | ニューヨーク | New York |
59 | ペキン | Beijing |
59 | バンコク | Bangkok |
60 | ロスアンゼルス | Los Angeles |
Key Vocabulary from Minna no Nihongo Lesson 4
1. Time-Related Words (時間 – Jikan)
- じ (ji) – hour
- Example: 5じにおきます。
(Go-ji ni okimasu.) – I wake up at 5 o’clock.
- Example: 5じにおきます。
- ふん/ぷん (fun/pun)—minute
- Example: 10ぷんかかります。
(Juppun kakarimasu.) – It takes 10 minutes.
- Example: 10ぷんかかります。
- いま (ima) – now
- Example: いまなんじですか?
(Ima nanji desu ka?) – What time is it now?
- Example: いまなんじですか?
- あさ (asa) – morning
- Example: あさ6じにさんぽをします。
(Asa roku-ji ni sanpo o shimasu.) – I take a walk at 6 in the morning.
- Example: あさ6じにさんぽをします。
- ばん/よる (ban/yoru) – evening, night
- Example: ばん7じにばんごはんをたべます。
(Ban shichi-ji ni bangohan o tabemasu.) – I eat dinner at 7 in the evening.
- Example: ばん7じにばんごはんをたべます。
2. Days of the Week (曜日 – Yōbi)
- げつようび (getsuyōbi) – Monday
- Example: げつようびにかいぎがあります。
(Getsuyōbi ni kaigi ga arimasu.) – There is a meeting on Monday.
- Example: げつようびにかいぎがあります。
- かようび (kayōbi) – Tuesday
- Example: かようびにともだちとあいます。
(Kayōbi ni tomodachi to aimasu.) – I meet my friend on Tuesday.
- Example: かようびにともだちとあいます。
- すいようび (suiyōbi) – Wednesday
- Example: すいようびはやすみです。
(Suiyōbi wa yasumi desu.) – Wednesday is a day off.
- Example: すいようびはやすみです。
- もくようび (mokuyōbi) – Thursday
- Example: もくようびにえいがをみます。
(Mokuyōbi ni eiga o mimasu.) – I watch a movie on Thursday.
- Example: もくようびにえいがをみます。
- きんようび (kinyōbi) – Friday
- Example: きんようびにレストランへいきます。
(Kinyōbi ni resutoran e ikimasu.) – I go to a restaurant on Friday.
- Example: きんようびにレストランへいきます。
- どようび (doyōbi) – Saturday
- Example: どようびにこうえんでさんぽをします。
(Doyōbi ni kōen de sanpo o shimasu.) – I take a walk in the park on Saturday.
- Example: どようびにこうえんでさんぽをします。
- にちようび (nichiyōbi) – Sunday
- Example: にちようびにテレビをみます。
(Nichiyōbi ni terebi o mimasu.) – I watch TV on Sunday.
- Example: にちようびにテレビをみます。

3. Basic Activities (活動 – Katsudō)
- おきます (okimasu) – to wake up
- Example: 6じにおきます。
(Roku-ji ni okimasu.) – I wake up at 6 o’clock.
- Example: 6じにおきます。
- ねます (nemasu) – to sleep
- Example: 10じにねます。
(Jū-ji ni nemasu.) – I sleep at 10 o’clock.
- Example: 10じにねます。
- はたらきます (hatarakimasu) – to work
- Example: 9じから5じまではたらきます。
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.) – I work from 9 to 5.
- Example: 9じから5じまではたらきます。
- べんきょうします (benkyō shimasu) – to study
- Example: よる7じにべんきょうします。
(Yoru shichi-ji ni benkyō shimasu.) – I study at 7 in the evening.
- Example: よる7じにべんきょうします。
4. Question Words (疑問詞 – Gimonshi)
- なんじ (nanji) – what time
- Example: なんじにおきますか?
(Nanji ni okimasu ka?) – What time do you wake up?
- Example: なんじにおきますか?
- なんようび (nanyōbi) – what day
- Example: なんようびにやすみますか?
(Nanyōbi ni yasumimasu ka?) – What day will you take a break?
- Example: なんようびにやすみますか?
How to Study Lesson 4 Vocabulary Effectively
- Practice Daily Conversations
Use the words to talk about your schedule and routines. For example, “あさ7じにおきます” (I wake up at 7 in the morning). - Create Flashcards
Write the Japanese word on one side and the English translation on the other. Practice recalling them throughout the day. - Use Time-Based Prompts
Practice asking and answering questions like “いまなんじですか?” (What time is it now?) or “なんようびですか?” (What day is it?). - Watch Japanese Videos
Listening to native speakers use these terms in context can help you internalize them faster.
FAQs About Lesson 4 Vocabulary
Q: What is the best way to remember the days of the week in Japanese?
A: Use mnemonics or create a song linking the Japanese days to their English equivalents. For example, think of “月 (getsu)” as the moon for Monday.
Q: Are there exceptions to using に for time expressions?
A: Yes, you don’t use に for relative time expressions like “today” (きょう) or “tomorrow” (あした).
Q: How often do Japanese people use these terms?
A: These words are fundamental for daily life, making them incredibly common in conversations, work settings, and even casual interactions.
Conclusion
The vocabulary in Minna no Nihongo Lesson 4 is essential for building a strong foundation in Japanese. These words allow you to talk about your schedule, ask about the time, and engage in everyday conversations with ease.
By mastering these terms and practicing regularly, you’ll find yourself becoming more confident in your Japanese abilities. Bookmark this guide for quick reference, and let your learning journey continue smoothly. Start practicing today, and watch your Japanese skills grow!