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JLPT N2 Vocabulary
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N2, N3
結ぶ
むすぶ
To tie things together with a string, etc., and fasten them. Example: 「くつのひもを結ぶ」 (to tie one's shoelaces). Also used to mean establishing a promise or relationship, as in 「契約を結ぶ」 (to conclude a contract).
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
夢中
むちゅう
Being so absorbed in one thing that one forgets everything else. Example: 「ゲームに夢中になる」 (to be absorbed in a game).
AI-generated translation
N2
空しい
むなしい
A state in which there is no content or substance, and no value or meaning can be felt. Originally meaning "empty inside," it broadened from there to the nuances of "without substance" and "unrewarded." A representative usage expresses the feeling when effort or expectations go unrewarded, as in 「空しい努力」, 「空しく終わる」, 「空しい気持ち」. It also frequently appears in philosophical and literary contexts expressing a state of having lost the meaning of life or existence. Also written 「虚しい」, which is likewise common as a modern spelling.
AI-generated translation
N2
無念
むねん
A feeling of frustration and regret because something one had hoped for did not come true. Originally a Buddhist term meaning "a state free of worldly thoughts," but in modern usage it means "regretful and frustrated because a wish was not fulfilled." Used in contexts expressing strong frustration, as in 「無念の涙」, 「無念を晴らす」, 「無念の思い」, 「無念な最期」. A hard word frequently appearing in situations where effort or hopes went unrewarded, such as matches, contests, and turning points in life. The intensity of emotion is greater than mere 「残念」, carrying a nuance of bitter regret.
AI-generated translation
N2
無闇
むやみ
A state of acting thoughtlessly and recklessly without proper consideration. 「闇」 originally means "dark and unable to see ahead," carrying the nuance of "pushing forward without thinking about what lies ahead." Mostly used adverbially in the form 「無闇に」, as in 「無闇に動く」, 「無闇に信じる」, 「無闇に薬を飲む」, in contexts criticizing carelessness or lack of judgment. Also frequently appears in the doubled form 「無闇やたらに」, further emphasizing lack of discretion. A bookish word carrying a negative evaluation.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
目
め
eye. The part of the body for seeing things.
AI-generated translation
N2
明確
めいかく
Being clear and leaving no room for confusion.
AI-generated translation
N2
銘柄
めいがら
The name of a product, stock, or the like; a brand name. 「銘」 means an inscribed or proper name, 「柄」 means an item or type, together expressing "an item identified by its proper name." Used as in 「人気銘柄」, 「優良銘柄」, 「お気に入りの銘柄」. In everyday use, the representative usages are referring to product brands such as cigarettes, alcohol, and rice, and referring to individual stocks traded on the stock market. A word with a strong sense of distinguishing from others, as a proper name for a trademark or item.
AI-generated translation
N2
名目
めいもく
A reason or title held up on the surface. 「名」 means a surface name, 「目」 means an item or heading, together expressing "a surface name." Often used in situations where reality and pretext diverge, as in 「会議という名目で集まる」, 「名目上は休暇だが実際には仕事をしている」, frequently referring to a pretext that conceals the real purpose. Used idiomatically in forms like 「名目上」, 「名目だけ」, 「〜という名目で」. In economics it is also used to mean a surface figure before reflecting price changes, as in 「名目賃金」, 「名目GDP」, paired with 「実質」.
AI-generated translation
N2
名誉
めいよ
Being recognized by society as excellent and highly regarded; also, the pride that comes with this.
AI-generated translation
N2
恵まれる
めぐまれる
Being given good conditions or an environment, and being in a fortunate state.
AI-generated translation
N2
滅多
めった
An adverb expressing that frequency is extremely low, used in the form 「滅多に〜ない」. Mostly used with a following negative. Used as in 「滅多に怒らない」, 「滅多に外出しない」, 「滅多にない機会」, emphasizing that something hardly ever happens. Note that in the affirmative form it is also used to mean "careless" or "thoughtless," as in 「滅多なことを言うな (= don't say careless things)」, but in modern usage the negative form is overwhelmingly more common.
AI-generated translation
N2
目安
めやす
A standard or marker used to make a rough estimate.
AI-generated translation
N2
免除
めんじょ
To grant permission that an obligation or burden need not be fulfilled.
AI-generated translation
N2
猛烈
もうれつ
A state in which momentum or degree is extremely intense. 「猛」 means wild and intense, 「烈」 means strong and intense, a word emphasizing intensity by combining characters of the same meaning. Used widely from natural phenomena to human activity, emotion, and criticism, as in 「猛烈な勢い」, 「猛烈に働く」, 「猛烈な暑さ」, 「猛烈な批判」. A word harder and more bookish than 「激しい」, frequently appearing in both the adjectival-noun form 「猛烈な」 and the adverbial form 「猛烈に」. Used in situations emphasizing the extremity of degree.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
燃える
もえる
For fire to catch and flames to rise. Example: 「紙が燃える」 (paper burns). Also used to mean feelings rising, as in 「やる気に燃える」 (burning with motivation). 「燃える」 is used when something is burning, while 「燃やす」 is used when a person sets it alight: compare 「紙が燃える」 with 「紙を燃やす」.
AI-generated translation
N2
黙認
もくにん
To overlook something without reproach, even while knowing it is not good.
AI-generated translation
N2
模索
もさく
To search and seek by feeling one's way, without a clear method. 「模」 means to feel and search by touch, 「索」 means a rope or clue, together giving the original meaning of "searching for a clue by feeling one's way." Used for tasks where the answer is not fixed, exploring a direction through trial and error, as in 「解決策を模索する」, 「新たな道を模索する」, 「可能性を模索する」. A bookish, hard word, frequently appearing in contexts expressing prolonged exploration or a process of trying multiple options.
AI-generated translation
N2
もたらす
もたらす
To bring about or cause a certain result or state; also, to bring something along.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3, N5
持つ
もつ
Hold. Grasping something with the hand. 「かばんを持つ」(hold a bag).
AI-generated translation
N2
模範
もはん
A good example that others should follow.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
燃やす
もやす
To set fire to something so that it burns. Example: 「落ち葉を燃やす」 (to burn fallen leaves). Also used to mean intensifying one's feelings, as in 「闘志を燃やす」 (to fire up one's fighting spirit). 「燃やす」 is used when a person sets something alight, while 「燃える」 is used when something is burning: compare 「紙を燃やす」 with 「紙が燃える」.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
模様
もよう
pattern. A drawing or arrangement of colors on the surface of an object. Example: 「花の模様」 (a floral pattern). Also used to mean a general state or condition, as in 「空模様」 (the look of the sky/weather).
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
催す
もよおす
To gather people and hold an event or meeting; also, to give rise to a certain feeling or state within oneself.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
文句
もんく
complaint. Words of dissatisfaction. Example: 「文句を言う」 (to complain). Also has the meaning of wording or a set phrase, as in song lyrics or fixed expressions.
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.