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JLPT N1 Vocabulary
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N1
惜敗
せきはい
The act of losing by a narrow margin. A formal word used in forms like 「一点差で惜敗する」, used when one has fought well but lost narrowly in competitions such as sports, matches, or elections.
AI-generated translation
N1
責務
せきむ
A duty that must be carried out with responsibility. A formal word used in forms like 「責務を果たす」「責務を負う」, referring to public or professional obligations.
AI-generated translation
N1
絶句
ぜっく
The state of being unable to speak due to surprise or shock. A formal word used in forms like 「思わず絶句する」, expressing being unable to respond when faced with an unexpected situation.
AI-generated translation
N1
切実
せつじつ
The state of feeling something keenly and strongly. Being pressing and important. A formal word used in forms like 「切実な問題」「切実に願う」, expressing weight that directly affects oneself or a heartfelt sentiment.
AI-generated translation
N1
折衝
せっしょう
The act of negotiating and seeking adjustment with parties whose interests conflict. A formal word used in official settings such as diplomacy, business, or labor-management relations, in forms like 「折衝を重ねる」「折衝に当たる」.
AI-generated translation
N1
切々
せつせつ
The state of expressing feelings poignantly, as if appealing deeply to the heart. A formal word used in forms like 「切々と訴える」「切々たる思い」, used in scenes of conveying sorrow, wishes, or affection so that they sink deeply into the listener.
AI-generated translation
N1
節操
せっそう
An attitude of maintaining one's beliefs or principles to the end. A formal word used in forms like 「節操がない」「節操を守る」, questioning the presence or absence of consistent attitude and conviction. Often used in negative sentences.
AI-generated translation
N1
絶大
ぜつだい
A very large degree. A formal word used in forms like 「絶大な人気」「絶大な支持」, expressing the great scale of influence or effect. Mainly used in positive contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
折衷
せっちゅう
The act of taking the best parts of two or more differing positions or proposals and combining them into one. A formal word used in forms like 「折衷案」「和洋折衷」, with the meaning of reconciling oppositions or differences to create a middle-ground solution.
AI-generated translation
N1
絶頂
ぜっちょう
Originally refers to the highest peak of a mountain. By extension, it means the period when the momentum or state of something is at its most flourishing, reaching its peak. Used in contexts indicating the highest point of glory, happiness, or prosperity, as in 「人気の絶頂」「絶頂期」. A formal word.
AI-generated translation
N1
節度
せつど
An appropriate measure that does not go too far. A formal word used in forms like 「節度を守る」「節度ある行動」, expressing a sensible attitude that does not exceed proper limits.
AI-generated translation
N1
刹那
せつな
A very brief moment, an instant. A formal word of Buddhist origin, used in forms like 「刹那的」「その刹那」. Also used to express a way of life that values only the present moment, as in 「刹那的な快楽」.
AI-generated translation
N1
切迫
せっぱく
A state in which time is short and pressing. Or a state in which a situation is tense. Used in forms like 「切迫した状況」「期限が切迫する」. A formal word frequently appearing in news reports and administrative documents.
AI-generated translation
N1
切望
せつぼう
The act of wishing strongly from the depths of the heart. A formal word used in forms like 「平和を切望する」「再会を切望する」, expressing an earnest desire stronger than mere hope.
AI-generated translation
N1
絶妙
ぜつみょう
Being outstandingly excellent and skillful. A formal word used in forms like 「絶妙なバランス」「絶妙のタイミング」, expressing splendor that is exactly right and irreplaceable.
AI-generated translation
N1
狭める
せばめる
The act of reducing scope, width, or difference. A formal word used in forms like 「範囲を狭める」「選択肢を狭める」, used not only for physical width but also for narrowing abstract ranges.
AI-generated translation
N1
競り合う
せりあう
The act of competing with one another for victory or superiority. Used in forms like 「首位を競り合う」「激しく競り合う」, in close contests of sports, business, or elections.
AI-generated translation
N1
先駆
せんく
The act of pioneering ahead of others in a field. A formal word often used in forms like 「先駆者」「先駆けとなる」, referring to the first person or thing to begin a new technology or idea.
AI-generated translation
N1
宣告
せんこく
The official pronouncement of a sentence or important matter. A formal word used in forms like 「死刑を宣告する」「無罪を宣告する」, referring to formal notification in official contexts such as court or medicine.
AI-generated translation
N1
潜在
せんざい
The state of existing hidden within, without appearing on the surface. A formal word used in forms like 「潜在的」「潜在意識」「潜在能力」, the antonym of 「顕在」.
AI-generated translation
N1
善処
ぜんしょ
The act of dealing with a problem appropriately according to the situation. A formal word used in forms like 「善処する」「善処します」, an oblique expression of intent to respond used in bureaucratic, political, or business contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
先陣
せんじん
Originally refers to the troops or camp at the very front, leading the attack in battle. By extension, it means taking action ahead of others in competition or business. Used in expressions such as 「先陣を切る」「先陣争い」 in situations of leading a competition. A formal word.
AI-generated translation
N1
扇動
せんどう
The act of stirring up people's emotions to incite them to take certain actions. A formal word used in forms like 「暴動を扇動する」「群衆を扇動する」, often used with negative connotations.
AI-generated translation
N1
潜入
せんにゅう
The act of slipping inside without being noticed. A formal word used in forms like 「敵地に潜入する」「潜入取材」, used in contexts of secret entry such as undercover reporting, espionage, or investigation.
AI-generated translation
N1
潜伏
せんぷく
The state of hiding so as not to be noticed. The state of disease symptoms remaining inside the body without appearing outwardly. A formal word used in forms like 「犯人が潜伏する」「潜伏期間」, used in contexts of crime or illness.
AI-generated translation
N1
千変万化
せんぺんばんか
A continuous, ceaseless change in situation or appearance. A four-character idiom used to describe things that constantly transform, such as natural scenery or market movements. Also used verbally in the form 「千変万化する」. The reading is 「ぺ」 (semi-voiced), not 「べ」 (voiced).
AI-generated translation
N1
全貌
ぜんぼう
The full picture or entirety of something. A formal word used in forms like 「事件の全貌」「全貌を明らかにする」, referring to the overall view of complex, large-scale matters.
AI-generated translation
N1
戦慄
せんりつ
The state of the body trembling out of fear. A formal word used in forms like 「戦慄が走る」「戦慄を覚える」, expressing strong dread toward incidents, disasters, or cruel events.
AI-generated translation
N1
鮮烈
せんれつ
Vividly intense and impressive. A formal word used in forms like 「鮮烈な印象」「鮮烈なデビュー」, expressing how colors, memories, or entrances burn vividly into one's mind.
AI-generated translation
N1
憎悪
ぞうお
A word expressing strong hatred and intense feelings of resentment. Used in forms like 「憎悪の念」「憎悪を抱く」. Used in cases where the feeling is more intense and deeper than 「嫌い」.
AI-generated translation
N1
壮快
そうかい
The state of being so refreshing and pleasant that the spirits become bright and energetic. A na-adjective used in forms like 「壮快な気分」「壮快な眺め」, expressing how something uplifts the mood of those who see or experience it.
AI-generated translation
N1
造作
ぞうさ
The trouble or effort something takes. Often used in the fixed expression 「造作もない」 meaning "easy." With the same characters but read as 「ぞうさく」, it means interior fittings of a house and is a different word.
AI-generated translation
N1
相殺
そうさい
To offset amounts so that the result becomes zero. Used to mean canceling out two opposing things by subtracting them, as in 「債権と債務を相殺する」(offset claims and debts). In this word, the character 「殺」 is read as 「さい」, and the whole word is read as 「そうさい」.
AI-generated translation
N1
奏する
そうする
To play an instrument or the like. Also used as the idiomatic expression 「功を奏する」, meaning "the effects of one's efforts or ingenuity become apparent."
AI-generated translation
N1
装填
そうてん
The act of loading ammunition or film into a prescribed position. Used in forms like 「弾を装填する」, applied to the action of loading necessary items into devices such as guns or cameras.
AI-generated translation
N1
双璧
そうへき
Two things both outstanding and impossible to rank against each other. Used in forms like 「業界の双璧」 to refer to two equally great presences in a particular field. The character 「璧」 looks similar to 「壁」 (wall) but is a different character.
AI-generated translation
N1
壮烈
そうれつ
Valiantly fierce. Used in expressions like 「壮烈な戦い」「壮烈な突撃」 to express intensity accompanied by martial valor and spirit. Somewhat literary in tone.
AI-generated translation
N1
疎外
そがい
Excluding someone from a group and treating them as an outsider. Used in contexts where a person is shut out from a group or relationship and becomes isolated, as in 「疎外感」 or 「社会から疎外される」.
AI-generated translation
N1
そぐう
そぐう
To match well with or be suitable for a certain place or situation. Expresses harmony with circumstances, as in 「時代にそぐう」 or 「場にそぐう」. In modern Japanese, it is often used in the negative form 「そぐわない」.
AI-generated translation
N1
そぐわない
そぐわない
Being mismatched and unsuitable to a setting. Used in forms like 「時代にそぐわない」「場にそぐわない」, expressing that the subject does not harmonize with the situation or environment.
AI-generated translation
N1
素地
そじ
The base or foundation upon which things stand. Used in forms like 「成功の素地を作る」「改革の素地が整う」 to refer to the underlying basis required for something to be realized.
AI-generated translation
N1
素質
そしつ
The natural traits or aptitudes one is born with. Used in forms like 「音楽家の素質」「素質に恵まれる」, referring to abilities one is born with rather than acquired through later effort or learning.
AI-generated translation
N1
素知らぬ
そしらぬ
An appearance of pretending not to know something one actually does know. A pre-noun word used in scenes where one deliberately feigns ignorance, as in 「素知らぬ顔」 or 「素知らぬふり」.
AI-generated translation
N1
蘇生
そせい
The act of those near death or stopped functions being brought back to life. Used in forms like 「蘇生措置」「心肺蘇生」 in contexts of restoring life or function that had once been lost.
AI-generated translation
N1
そそのかす
そそのかす
The act of inciting another person through flattery or whispering into wrongful conduct. Used in forms like 「悪事をそそのかす」 in contexts of leading someone in a bad direction.
AI-generated translation
N1
そそる
そそる
To arouse feelings such as appetite, interest, or curiosity. Used in contexts that stimulate a person's sensory or psychological desires, as in 「食欲をそそる香り」 or 「好奇心をそそる話」.
AI-generated translation
N1
そつ
そつ
A slip-up or wasted effort. In the form 「そつがない」, used as a compliment meaning "leaving no opening and handling things skillfully."
AI-generated translation
N1
そっけない
そっけない
The state of being unfriendly and cold. Used in forms like 「そっけない態度」「そっけない返事」, expressing a manner that conveys no concern or warmth toward the other person.
AI-generated translation
N1
そっぽ
そっぽ
The direction in which one has turned one's face away. In the idiom 「そっぽを向く」, it expresses turning one's face away in defiance of the other person, or an attitude of ignoring them.
AI-generated translation
N1
その場しのぎ
そのばしのぎ
The act of getting through a situation temporarily without aiming at a fundamental solution. Used in forms like 「その場しのぎの対応」 to refer to a stop-gap manner of handling things.
AI-generated translation
Vocabulary data on this site is based on the JMdict/EDICT project (© Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, CC BY-SA 4.0). JLPT level classification is our own assessment using AI (Claude) and is not an official JLPT standard.