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JLPT N2 Vocabulary
1,210words ・ 0Learned
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N2
古びる
ふるびる
Refers to becoming aged with the passage of time and losing the appearance of newness. Used in expressions like 「古びた建物 (a weathered building)」「古びた写真 (an aged photograph)」「古びた看板 (a faded signboard)」. It expresses a state in which objects show changes such as fading, dimming, or wear, and is a word formed by combining 「古い (old)」 with 「びる (a suffix meaning "to become in a state of ~")」. It implies the process of gradually taking on age — not becoming old suddenly, but the appearance of having passed through time.
AI-generated translation
N2
雰囲気
ふんいき
Refers to the atmosphere or air given off by a place or person, which can be sensed. It points to an impression that cannot be clearly stated but is conveyed from the whole. Used in expressions like 「和やかな雰囲気 (a peaceful atmosphere)」「店の雰囲気 (the ambience of a shop)」. Both 「雰」 and 「囲気」 mean "what surrounds an essence", and the compound expresses "the air or feeling that fills the surroundings". It is used widely in expressing impressions of places, groups, or persons.
AI-generated translation
N2
分解
ぶんかい
To break something that forms a single whole down into its constituent parts.
AI-generated translation
N2
奮起
ふんき
Refers to summoning up one's spirit and tackling a task. Used in expressions like 「奮起を促す (to urge someone to rouse themselves)」「敗戦を機に奮起する (to rouse oneself on the occasion of a defeat)」「再起奮起 (rising again with renewed vigor)」. 「奮」 means to enliven one's spirit, 「起」 means to rise; together they express "to rouse one's spirit and rise". It expresses the appearance of pulling up sunken feelings and moving toward action, and is used widely in contexts of encouragement, sports, and recovery from defeat.
AI-generated translation
N2
分岐
ぶんき
Refers to a single flow or path dividing into several branches. It is used not only for physical roads or railway lines, but also for the branching points of discussions, choices, or careers. Used in expressions like 「分岐点 (a turning point)」「議論が分岐する (a discussion branches off)」. 「分」 means to divide, 「岐」 means a fork in the road. It is also widely used as a metaphor to express critical points of judgment or moments of transition.
AI-generated translation
N2
噴出
ふんしゅつ
Refers to gushing out forcefully from the inside by inner power. Used in expressions like 「溶岩の噴出 (a lava eruption)」「不満の噴出 (an outpouring of discontent)」「問題が噴出する (problems erupt)」. It has both physical senses (volcanoes, hot springs, water pipes) and metaphorical senses in which complaints, problems, or doubts surface all at once. In the metaphorical sense, it expresses the force of suppressed things bursting forth together.
AI-generated translation
N2, N4
文章
ぶんしょう
Something in which several sentences are connected to convey a single piece of content.
AI-generated translation
N2
奮戦
ふんせん
Refers to fighting with all one's might. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「孤軍奮戦 (a lone-handed fight)」「最後まで奮戦する (to fight valiantly to the end)」「奮戦むなしく敗れる (to be defeated in spite of a gallant fight)」. 「奮」 means to summon up one's spirit, 「戦」 means to fight; together they express "to fight summoning all one's strength". It is widely used in contexts of competitions, sports, and battles, and carries the implication of evaluating the very posture of giving one's all, regardless of the outcome.
AI-generated translation
N2
紛争
ふんそう
Refers to disputes arising between nations, groups, or individuals from conflicts of interest or opinion. Used in expressions like 「国際紛争 (international conflict)」「労使紛争 (labor disputes)」「紛争解決 (dispute resolution)」. 「紛」 means to become tangled, 「争」 means to contend; together they express a state of opposition between parties that cannot be easily resolved. It is a formal word covering broadly from armed conflict to legal disputes, used widely in news reports and contexts of international relations and labor issues.
AI-generated translation
N2
奮闘
ふんとう
Refers to fighting and striving with all one's might. It expresses the appearance of tenaciously tackling something in a difficult situation. Used in expressions like 「孤軍奮闘 (lone-handed struggle)」「奮闘努力 (strenuous effort)」. 「奮」 means to enliven one's spirit, 「闘」 means to fight; together they express "summoning up one's spirit and fighting". It is used in scenes of giving one's all regardless of the object, whether in competitions, work, or nursing.
AI-generated translation
N2
奮発
ふんぱつ
Refers to spending money with a willingness to splurge. Also refers to summoning up one's spirit. Used in expressions like 「奮発して時計を買う (to splurge on a watch)」「一念奮発 (a sudden surge of resolve)」. 「奮」 means to make one's spirit vigorous, 「発」 means to start; together they express "to summon up one's spirit". In everyday life it is most often used for boldness in spending, in contexts that positively describe an extravagance for a special occasion.
AI-generated translation
N2
分布
ぶんぷ
Something existing spread across several locations; the extent of that spread.
AI-generated translation
N2
分別
ふんべつ
Refers to the power to grasp the logic of matters and exercise appropriate judgment without acting rashly. Used in expressions like 「分別のある大人 (a mature, thoughtful adult)」「分別がつく年齢 (an age at which one can exercise discretion)」「分別を欠いた行動 (rash action)」. It often refers to the calm judgment found in those who have accumulated experience with age, appearing frequently in contexts that contrast it with the rashness of the young. Since the same characters are also read 「ぶんべつ (sorting, as in garbage separation)」, the reading must be distinguished by context.
AI-generated translation
N2
分別
ぶんべつ
Separating things by type. Used in situations of sorting according to fixed criteria, as in "ごみを分別する" (to separate the garbage) or "資源ごみの分別". The same "分別" read as "ふんべつ" is a different word meaning the power to grasp the logic of matters and judge appropriately.
AI-generated translation
N2
平易
へいい
Refers to content or expression being easy and understandable. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「平易な言葉で説明する (to explain in easy language)」「平易な文章 (a plain piece of writing)」「平易に解説する (to explain plainly)」. It is used when evaluating the clarity of an explanation or description, with 「難解 (difficult to understand)」 as its antonym. It is used widely in educational, publishing, and explanatory contexts, and is established as a more formal written word than 「易しい」.
AI-generated translation
N2
平穏
へいおん
Refers to a state in which there are no incidents, disturbances, or upheavals, and things are calm. Used in expressions like 「平穏な暮らし (a peaceful life)」「平穏に過ぎる日々 (days that pass peacefully)」「平穏無事 (peaceful and uneventful)」. It is used to describe daily life or the flow of time, and is used in contexts where the absence of special events is positively evaluated. Whereas 「平和」 refers to the absence of war at the national or social level, 「平穏」 tends to refer to the everyday tranquility of individuals or local communities.
AI-generated translation
N2
閉口
へいこう
Refers to being utterly at a loss in the face of another's words or a situation and becoming thoroughly fed up. Used in expressions like 「閉口する (to be at a loss)」「閉口させられる (to be made fed up)」. The original meaning is "to be unable to retort and close one's mouth", from which the senses "to be at a loss as to how to handle" and "to be fed up" developed. It is a somewhat casual word expressing perplexity at the level of having difficulty managing rather than deep despair, and can be used even in everyday conversation.
AI-generated translation
N2
平然
へいぜん
Refers to an appearance of remaining unshaken and composed even when faced with serious circumstances. It is a formal word used in forms like 「平然と」「平然たる態度 (a composed attitude)」「平然としている (to remain unperturbed)」. It expresses the appearance of maintaining calm in a scene where one ought to be shaken, and is used both positively and negatively. Positively it is the evaluation of 「胆力がある (having nerve)」「冷静沈着 (cool and collected)」; negatively it carries the critical implication of 「無神経 (insensitive)」「悪びれない (showing no remorse)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
閉幕
へいまく
Refers to an event, tournament, play, conference, etc. coming to an end. Used in expressions like 「閉幕を迎える (to reach the closing)」「閉幕の辞 (closing address)」「大会が閉幕する (the tournament closes)」. The original meaning is the lowering of the theater curtain to end a performance, from which the meaning extended to the conclusion of events in general. Paired with 「開幕」, it is a word that formally expresses the ending of some time-limited event.
AI-generated translation
N2
隔たり
へだたり
Refers to the distance, gap, or difference between two things. Used in expressions like 「両者の間に大きな隔たりがある (there is a great gap between the two)」「世代の隔たり (a generation gap)」「意見の隔たり (a divergence of opinion)」. It points broadly to physical distance, the passage of time, and differences in thinking or position, and is often used especially in the psychological, abstract sense of "gap". It implies the existence of an element that separates the two parties.
AI-generated translation
N2
隔てる
へだてる
Refers to placing something between two things and separating them in terms of distance, space, or time. Used in expressions like 「川を隔てる (to be separated by a river)」「歳月を隔てる (to be separated by years)」「壁を隔てて声がする (a voice is heard through the wall)」. It is used for physical partitions, intervals of time, and even psychological distance. It is often used adverbially in the form 「〜を隔てて (separated by ~)」, appearing frequently in contexts that describe the relationship between two things.
AI-generated translation
N2
別段
べつだん
Refers to anything especially noteworthy to mention. Used in expressions like 「別段の事情 (any particular circumstances)」「別段気にしていない (not particularly bothered)」. It is mostly used together with negative expressions such as 「ない」「なかった」, and its central use is adverbial, expressing the sense of "nothing in particular". It is used in formal styles; in everyday conversation it is usually replaced with 「特に (in particular)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
別途
べっと
Refers to being separate from the main thread or main body, and added on. Used in expressions like 「別途請求 (to be billed separately)」「別途連絡する (to contact separately)」「別途料金がかかる (a separate fee applies)」. It indicates that something is handled separately from a certain item or main body, and is a formal word appearing widely in business documents, contracts, and notices. In everyday conversation it can be replaced with 「別に」 or 「別で」, but in writing 「別途」 has become standard.
AI-generated translation
N2
経る
へる
Refers to passing through time, places, or stages. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「歳月を経る (years pass)」「審査を経て採用される (to be hired after passing a screening)」「東京を経て大阪に向かう (to go via Tokyo to Osaka)」. It has three meanings — the passage of time, passing through a place, and going through procedures or stages — and the reading must be distinguished by context. The adverbial usage in the form 「〜を経て (after passing through)」, indicating a preceding stage, is especially common, and appears frequently in formal styles.
AI-generated translation
N2
変革
へんかく
Refers to fundamentally changing the structures of society, organizations, or systems. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「意識の変革 (a change in consciousness)」「構造変革 (structural reform)」「社会変革 (social transformation)」. It expresses change that reaches the structure itself, rather than surface-level adjustment or partial improvement, and is often discussed from a long-term, historical perspective. It appears frequently in political, business, and social-theory contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
返還
へんかん
Refers to returning something one has borrowed or been entrusted with to its original owner. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「土地の返還 (the return of land)」「優勝旗の返還 (the return of the championship flag)」. It is used in situations where ownership or possession reverts to its former place, and is often discussed in connection with public or symbolic objects such as national treasures, prizes, or items in trust. For the everyday returning of objects, 「返す」 is used.
AI-generated translation
N2
偏見
へんけん
Refers to a biased view of a particular target held without sufficient grounds. It generally points to negative assumptions. Used in expressions like 「偏見を持つ (to have prejudice)」「偏見を捨てる (to abandon prejudice)」「偏見に満ちた発言 (a prejudiced remark)」. Whereas 「先入観 (preconception)」 can be used positively or negatively, 「偏見」 is used almost always negatively. It is an important word appearing frequently in contexts of discrimination and social problems.
AI-generated translation
N2
弁明
べんめい
Refers to explaining one's circumstances and reasons in response to criticism, suspicion, or accusation, in an attempt to clear up misunderstanding. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「弁明の機会 (an opportunity to explain oneself)」「弁明に努める (to make efforts to defend oneself)」「弁明の余地がない (no room for excuse)」. It is synonymous with 「釈明」「弁解」, but tends to refer to explanation in more public, formal settings. It appears frequently in contexts discussing law, politics, and organizational scandals.
AI-generated translation
N2
法案
ほうあん
Refers to a draft being deliberated in the Diet at a stage where it has not yet become law. Used in expressions like 「法案を提出する (to submit a bill)」「法案が可決される (a bill is passed)」「法案を撤回する (to withdraw a bill)」. It is a formal word related to politics and legislation, appearing frequently in news reports. Once passed, it becomes a 「法律 (law)」, and at that point is no longer called a 「法案」.
AI-generated translation
N2
妨害
ぼうがい
Refers to deliberately interfering with another's actions or the progress of an affair. Used in expressions like 「業務を妨害する (to obstruct business operations)」「電波妨害 (radio jamming)」「公務執行妨害 (obstruction of public duties)」. Rather than mere careless interference, it points to intentional acts of obstruction, and has become established as a legal term. It is a formal word frequently used in news reports, legal documents, and business writing.
AI-generated translation
N2
忘却
ぼうきゃく
Refers to something completely disappearing from memory. Used in expressions like 「忘却の彼方 (the far side of oblivion)」「歴史の忘却 (the forgetting of history)」「忘却される (to be forgotten)」. Unlike 「ど忘れ (a momentary lapse of memory)」, which simply means being unable to recall, this word denotes the process by which something is lost from memory through the long passage of time or deliberate neglect. It is a formal written word, frequently used in historical, philosophical, or literary contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
防御
ぼうぎょ
Refers to protecting oneself or one's charge from attack or harm. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「敵の攻撃を防御する (to defend against an enemy attack)」「防御を固める (to strengthen one's defense)」「防御率 (earned run average)」. It refers to the act of defense against the attacking side in fields such as sports (especially as the performance index of baseball pitchers), the military, and cybersecurity. It is distinguished from 「防護」, which refers to protection from accidents, disasters, and hazardous substances; 「防御」 refers to defense against intentional attacks.
AI-generated translation
N2
暴言
ぼうげん
Refers to violent, rude speech that wounds or insults another person. Used in expressions like 「暴言を吐く (to spew abusive language)」「暴言を浴びせる (to hurl abusive words at someone)」. Heavier than merely 「ひどい言葉 (terrible words)」, it points to extreme remarks that society regards as problematic. It is a word that appears frequently in contexts where statements by politicians or public figures are reported in the news, and such remarks often become the subject of accountability demands.
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
冒険
ぼうけん
Boldly taking on something with an uncertain outcome despite danger; an adventure. 冒険小説 (adventure novel). Also used for an attempt whose success is uncertain (その計画は冒険だ "that plan is a gamble").
AI-generated translation
N2
防護
ぼうご
Refers to protecting one's body or possessions from dangers such as accidents, disasters, or hazardous substances. Used in expressions like 「防護服 (protective clothing)」「防護柵 (protective fence)」「放射線防護 (radiation protection)」. Unlike 「防御」, which refers to defending against attacks, 「防護」 is more often used for protection against unintentional harm such as accidents, pollution, or natural disasters, rather than against intentional, hostile attacks. It appears frequently in specialized contexts such as safety engineering, occupational hygiene, and the nuclear field.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
方向
ほうこう
direction. Which way something faces. Example: 「駅の方向」 (the direction of the station). Also used to mean the course/policy of something, as in 「話の方向が変わる」 (the direction of the conversation changes).
AI-generated translation
N2
奉仕
ほうし
Refers to working for society or others without seeking any return. Used in expressions like 「地域に奉仕する (to serve the community)」「奉仕活動 (volunteer activity)」, it is a formal word. Originally meaning to serve the gods, Buddha, or one's lord, it has selflessness and devotion at its core. In commercial settings there is a derivative usage like 「ご奉仕価格 (special service price)」 referring to a special discount, but this is a secondary usage.
AI-generated translation
N2
報酬
ほうしゅう
Refers to money or its equivalent paid in return for work, labor, or achievement. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「報酬を得る (to receive remuneration)」「高額な報酬 (a high reward)」「成功報酬 (success-based remuneration)」, used widely in business documents, contracts, and tax matters, functioning as an umbrella concept covering wages, salaries, and honoraria. It also appears as a contrasting term in contexts that emphasize the absence of remuneration, such as 「ボランティア (volunteer work)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
報じる
ほうじる
Refers to news organizations such as newspapers, television, or news agencies conveying events to the public. Used in expressions like 「事件を報じる (to report an incident)」「速報で報じる (to report as breaking news)」「各紙が一斉に報じた (all newspapers reported simultaneously)」. It is not used for the act of an ordinary individual conveying information, but is a formal word expressing the organizational, public act by the reporting side. In classical usage it also has the meaning 「恩に報いる (to repay a debt of gratitude)」, but in modern usage the reporting sense is dominant.
AI-generated translation
N2
膨大
ぼうだい
Refers to a quantity or scale that is extremely large. It is a formal na-adjective used in expressions like 「膨大な資料 (an enormous amount of material)」「膨大な費用 (huge expenses)」「膨大なデータ (massive data)」. Rather than physical size, it is often used for quantifiable objects such as volumes of information, amounts of money, or number of items, and frequently carries the nuance that there is 「処理しきれないほど多い (so much it cannot be fully handled)」. While 「莫大」 emphasizes the absolute magnitude of an amount or quantity, 「膨大」 carries a sense of having swollen up through accumulation.
AI-generated translation
N2
膨張
ぼうちょう
Refers to size, quantity, or scale swelling and increasing. As in 「気体が膨張する (a gas expands)」「予算が膨張する (the budget balloons)」「人口が膨張する (the population swells)」, it is used broadly from physical volume increases to abstract expansions of budgets, organizations, debt, or population. Rather than indicating a natural increase, it carries the nuance of swelling beyond what was anticipated or permissible, and is often used with negative evaluation.
AI-generated translation
N2
法廷
ほうてい
Refers to the place where trials are held. Used in expressions like 「法廷に立つ (to stand in court)」「法廷で証言する (to testify in court)」「法廷闘争 (a legal battle)」. It is a formal word referring to the public venue where defendants, plaintiffs, judges, lawyers, and others gather to conduct legal proceedings. It appears frequently in news reports, legal documents, and novels. Whereas 「裁判所」 refers to the entire building of a court, 「法廷」 refers to the specific room or scene where proceedings are held.
AI-generated translation
N2
暴動
ぼうどう
Refers to a crowd collectively engaging in violent acts such as destruction and looting against a background of political or social discontent. Used in expressions like 「暴動が起きる (a riot breaks out)」「暴動を鎮圧する (to suppress a riot)」. It is a formal word referring to collective violence on a scale that threatens social order, rather than a fight between individuals or a small group. It is frequently used in news reports and historical writing.
AI-generated translation
N2
冒頭
ぼうとう
Refers to the very first part of a piece of writing, speech, event, or work. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「冒頭で挨拶する (to give greetings at the opening)」「冒頭の場面 (the opening scene)」「冒頭発言 (opening remarks)」. It refers to the beginning portion of some coherent whole such as a speech, book, film, or meeting. Rather than 「最初 (the very first)」, it is a word conscious of structural position, used in situations where one treats it as a specific segment, as in 「冒頭から/冒頭部分 (from the opening / the opening section)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
褒美
ほうび
Refers to money, goods, or opportunities given by someone in a higher position to commend a good deed or achievement. Used in expressions like 「褒美を与える (to give a reward)」「褒美に旅行に連れて行く (to take someone on a trip as a reward)」. Historically the word referred to items granted by a lord to his retainers, but in modern usage the focus has shifted to casual situations within the family or workplace, such as parents rewarding their children or superiors rewarding their subordinates. In formal official documents, terms such as 「報奨 (commendation award)」 or 「賞与 (bonus)」 are used instead.
AI-generated translation
N2
抱負
ほうふ
Refers to a plan or resolve held in one's heart that one wishes to realize from now on. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「新年の抱負 (New Year's resolutions)」「抱負を語る (to speak of one's aspirations)」. Rather than a vague wish, it is used in situations where one states a goal or intention with a certain degree of concreteness. It appears frequently in remarks at formal milestones such as New Year's greetings, greetings on assuming a new post, entrance ceremonies, and inauguration press conferences.
AI-generated translation
N2
方々
ほうぼう
Refers to here and there, in various places. It is a word with both adverbial and nominal uses, used in expressions like 「方々を探す (to search all over)」「方々から苦情が来る (complaints come from all over)」. It expresses the appearance of something being done not in just one location but across many places and directions. Since the same written form is also read 「かたがた (an honorific for plural persons)」, the reading must be distinguished by context.
AI-generated translation
N2
法令
ほうれい
A general term covering laws enacted by the Diet and orders issued by administrative agencies. Used in expressions like 「法令を遵守する (to comply with laws and regulations)」「関連法令 (related laws and regulations)」「法令違反 (violation of laws and regulations)」. It is a formal word that encompasses the constitution, statutes, cabinet orders, ministerial ordinances, and rules, and is used widely in administrative, business, and compliance contexts. Compared to 「法律」, its scope is broader, also covering administrative legislation.
AI-generated translation
N2
捕獲
ほかく
Refers to capturing an animal or a fleeing person. Used in expressions like 「野生の鹿を捕獲する (to capture a wild deer)」「容疑者を捕獲する (to apprehend a suspect)」. The central context is planned capture as part of some operation, such as fishing, hunting, or police activity, and it carries a nuance of placing the target under some form of control. It is a formal word, not used in everyday situations where one would simply say 「捕まえる (to catch)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
保管
ほかん
To keep an item in one's custody and protect it so that it is not damaged or lost.
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.