Log in to save your learning history.
Sign up
JLPT N2 Vocabulary
1,262words ・ 0Learned
Searches word and reading by partial match. Tick the box below to search meanings too
N2
降水
こうすい
Water that falls from the sky, such as rain or snow. 「降水確率」. A word used in weather forecasts.
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
洪水
こうずい
A river overflowing due to heavy rain or the like, leaving the land flooded. Also used figuratively, as in 「情報の洪水」.
AI-generated translation
N2
更生
こうせい
「更」 means to renew, and 「生」 means to live; together they mean to live again. It refers to recovering from a bad state or way of life and starting anew. Used in expressions like 「社会復帰して更生する」, in situations of someone who has committed a crime or faced problems making a fresh start.
AI-generated translation
N2
構成
こうせい
To assemble several elements into a single whole; also, that assembly itself.
AI-generated translation
N2
功績
こうせき
It refers to splendid achievements recognized by society, left behind through effort or work. Used in expressions like 「功績を残す」 or 「功績をたたえる」, it is a formal word for accomplishments or contributions.
AI-generated translation
N2
公然
こうぜん
Being openly and clearly public, without concern for others' eyes. 「公然と批判する」「公然の秘密」.
AI-generated translation
N2
抗争
こうそう
To fight fiercely against an opponent. Often used for conflict between groups or organizations.
AI-generated translation
N2
構想
こうそう
To work out in one's mind the overall plan for how to carry something forward.
AI-generated translation
N2
拘束
こうそく
「拘」 means to detain, and 「束」 means to bind; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to not allowing a person or thing to move freely and binding them within a fixed range. Used in expressions like 「身柄を拘束する」 or 「拘束時間」, it is a formal word used in police and labor contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
後退
こうたい
(1) To move backward. 「一歩後退する」. (2) Momentum or a condition worsening. 「景気が後退する」. The paired opposite word is 「前進」.
AI-generated translation
N2
光沢
こうたく
The surface of an object being smooth and shiny.
AI-generated translation
N2
強奪
ごうだつ
It refers to forcibly taking another's property using violence or threats. Used in expressions like 「強奪する」 or 「現金を強奪される」, it is a formal word for crime.
AI-generated translation
N2
公団
こうだん
An organization set up by the national or local government to carry out public projects. This is a somewhat old term for the system, and today many such organizations have been renamed.
AI-generated translation
N2
好調
こうちょう
A condition being good and progressing smoothly. The paired opposite word is 「不調」.
AI-generated translation
N2
肯定
こうてい
To acknowledge that something is indeed the case.
AI-generated translation
N2
高騰
こうとう
「高」 means high, and 「騰」 means to leap up; the latter character originally depicted a horse rearing up. From this, the word refers to prices suddenly rising sharply. Used in expressions like 「価格が高騰する」 or 「高騰を招く」, it is a formal word used in economic and market contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
口頭
こうとう
To convey something directly by speaking, rather than in writing. 「口頭で説明する」. The paired opposite word is 「書面」.
AI-generated translation
N2
購読
こうどく
To pay for and subscribe to a newspaper, magazine, or the like, reading it on an ongoing basis. The word 「講読」 (a class for reading and interpreting books), which has the same reading, is now rarely used.
AI-generated translation
N2
公認
こうにん
For a country or organization to officially recognize something. 「公認会計士」.
AI-generated translation
N2
購買
こうばい
To purchase goods. A formal, written way of saying "to buy," used in economic contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
交付
こうふ
For a government office or the like to officially hand over a document, money, etc. 「証明書を交付する」. Used in the context of official procedures.
AI-generated translation
N2
降伏
こうふく
To admit defeat in a battle, lay down one's arms, and submit to the opponent. Also written 「降服」. It refers to an army or nation stopping combat and coming under the control of the victor, and is also used when an individual stops fighting and yields to an opponent. Note that 「降伏」 also has a Buddhist meaning: defeating evil spirits or enemies through the power of the buddhas and gods.
AI-generated translation
N2
公平
こうへい
Treating everyone alike without favoring either side; fairness, impartiality. 公平な判断 (a fair judgment). Whereas the similar word 平等 refers to a state in which rights and treatment are equal, 公平 refers to freedom from bias in judgment or treatment.
AI-generated translation
N2
候補
こうほ
Being named as having a possibility of being chosen for a certain position or selection; also, that person or thing.
AI-generated translation
N2
公募
こうぼ
To recruit widely from the general public.
AI-generated translation
N2
高慢
こうまん
「高」 means to view oneself as highly placed, and 「慢」 means to be arrogant or to belittle others. It describes the attitude of believing oneself to be superior and looking down on others. Used in expressions like 「高慢な態度」 or 「高慢にふるまう」, it is a formal word used to criticize a person's character.
AI-generated translation
N2
巧妙
こうみょう
It refers to means or mechanisms being made extremely well. Used in expressions like 「巧妙な手口」 or 「巧妙に仕組まれた」, it is especially often used when the means of a crime or scheme has been carefully crafted.
AI-generated translation
N2
拷問
ごうもん
「拷」 means to strike or torment, and 「問」 means to interrogate; together they mean to interrogate while inflicting torment. It refers to inflicting severe physical and mental pain in order to extract a confession. Used in expressions like 「拷問にかける」 or 「拷問を受ける」, in contexts strongly criticized as a human rights violation.
AI-generated translation
N2
高揚
こうよう
「高」 means high, and 「揚」 means to rise; together they mean for one's spirits to rise high. It refers to feelings or emotions becoming heightened and lively. Used in expressions like 「気分が高揚する」 or 「高揚感」, it is a formal word used when excitement or fervor wells up.
AI-generated translation
N2
公用
こうよう
(1) An errand for official work. 「公用で出かける」. A personal errand is called 「私用」. (2) Official use by a country or government office. 「公用語」.
AI-generated translation
N2
強欲
ごうよく
「強」 means strong, and 「欲」 means desire; together they mean strong desire. It refers to having extremely strong desire that knows no satisfaction. Used in expressions like 「強欲な人」 or 「強欲にまみれる」. It is a somewhat formal word used in negative evaluation, frequently appearing in literature and criticism.
AI-generated translation
N2
小売
こうり
To sell goods that have been purchased directly to consumers. Selling them in bulk to retail shops and the like is called 「卸売」.
AI-generated translation
N2
拘留
こうりゅう
「拘」 means to detain, and 「留」 means to hold; together they mean to detain and hold. It refers to the police temporarily holding a person for a short period. It is a legal term used in situations of temporarily detaining a suspect's person, as in 「拘留される」 or 「拘留期間」.
AI-generated translation
N2
考慮
こうりょ
To carefully weigh various circumstances together.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
声
こえ
voice. A sound made from the mouth by a person or animal. Example: 「大きな声で話す」 (to speak in a loud voice).
AI-generated translation
N2
護衛
ごえい
To stay by a person's or thing's side and protect it from danger; also, the person who does this.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
越える
こえる
To go over to the other side of a mountain, river, border, etc. Example: 「国境を越える」 (to cross a border), 「峠を越える」 (to go over a mountain pass). The homophone 「超える」 refers to a quantity or limit being exceeded, as in 「1万人を超える」 (to exceed 10,000 people), and is written differently.
AI-generated translation
N2
故郷
こきょう
It refers to the land where one was born and raised. Used in expressions like 「故郷に帰る」 or 「故郷を離れる」, it is a somewhat formal word for the place of one's roots, with the same meaning as ふるさと.
AI-generated translation
N2, N4
国際
こくさい
Something between countries. It is always attached to the front of another word, and 「国際」 alone never stands in a sentence. A plane that flies between countries is a 「国際線（こくさいせん）」, and ties between countries are 「国際関係（こくさいかんけい）」; there are also 「国際けっこん」 and 「国際くうこう」. In the form 「国際的（こくさいてき）」 it becomes a word that describes what something is like, as in 「国際的にゆうめいな店」.
AI-generated translation
N2
告示
こくじ
It refers to the state or public office widely informing the general public of matters that have been decided. Used in expressions like 「選挙の告示」 or 「告示する」, it is a formal word used in situations of official announcement.
AI-generated translation
N2
極上
ごくじょう
It refers to quality or degree being so good that it cannot be better. Used in expressions like 「極上の品」 or 「極上のひととき」, it is a somewhat formal word for the highest-grade things.
AI-generated translation
N2
酷評
こくひょう
「酷」 means cruel or severe, and 「評」 means to evaluate. It refers to criticizing a work or behavior severely and without mercy. Used in expressions like 「批評家に酷評される」 or 「酷評を浴びる」, in situations where a strongly negative evaluation is given.
AI-generated translation
N2
克服
こくふく
「克」 means to win over, and 「服」 means to make submit; the original meaning is to defeat an enemy and bring them under control. From this, it came to mean to overcome difficulties or weaknesses through effort. Used in expressions like 「病気を克服する」 or 「困難を克服する」, in contexts speaking about the results of overcoming obstacles.
AI-generated translation
N2
克明
こくめい
「克」 means to thoroughly accomplish, and 「明」 means to make clear; together they mean to make clear down to every corner. It refers to being precise to the smallest detail, without overlooking anything. Used in expressions like 「克明に記録する」 or 「克明な描写」, it is a formal word expressing thoroughness in reporting, observation, and description.
AI-generated translation
N2
心地
ここち
The feeling or sensation one experiences when doing something. When used on its own it is read 「ここち」, as in 「生きた心地がしない」. It is mostly used attached after other words, as in 「乗り心地」「居心地」「夢心地」, and in this case it is read with the voiced sound 「〜ごこち」.
AI-generated translation
N2
心当たり
こころあたり
Something that comes to mind; a rough idea or guess. 「心当たりがない」.
AI-generated translation
N2
心掛ける
こころがける
To always be mindful and make an effort to do something.
AI-generated translation
N2
試みる
こころみる
「試」 means to try, and 「みる」 means to try doing something. It refers to attempting something whose success is uncertain. Used in expressions like 「新しい方法を試みる」 or 「挑戦を試みる」, it is a formal verb expressing experimental action.
AI-generated translation
N2
快い
こころよい
Pleasant, feeling good; also describes accepting something willingly and readily. 「快い風」「快く承諾する」.
AI-generated translation
N2
誤差
ごさ
The difference between a correct value and the value actually measured.
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.