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JLPT N2 Vocabulary
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N2
優位
ゆうい
Being in an advantageous position or a superior status compared to others. 「優」 means "to excel" and 「位」 means "rank" or "position." Used in expressions such as 「優位に立つ」, 「優位を保つ」, 「圧倒的な優位」, or 「優位性」, the word expresses being in a higher position or under more favorable conditions than an opponent in situations of competition, opposition, or comparison. Frequently appears in contexts where victory or balance of power is at issue, such as sports, business, or international relations. The antonym is 「劣位」.
AI-generated translation
N2
有効
ゆうこう
Having an effect or being valid; being useful.
AI-generated translation
N2
融通
ゆうずう
To lend or arrange money or goods for each other as needed; also, to handle a situation flexibly as it arises.
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
誘導
ゆうどう
To guide a person or thing toward an intended direction or state.
AI-generated translation
N2
裕福
ゆうふく
Having abundant wealth and a comfortable, unhurried life.
AI-generated translation
N2
油断
ゆだん
To let one's guard down and neglect to pay attention.
AI-generated translation
N2
揺らぐ
ゆらぐ
To sway or shake; also, for something that was stable to become unstable.
AI-generated translation
N2
容易
ようい
Being easy; something that can be done simply.
AI-generated translation
N2
要因
よういん
The main cause or factor behind a result or event. The character 「因」 means "cause" and refers to elements that influence an outcome. Used in expressions such as 「成功の要因」, 「失敗の要因を分析する」, or 「複数の要因が絡む」, the word frequently appears when multiple causes combine to produce an outcome. Compared to 「原因」, which refers to a single direct cause, this word carries an analytical nuance of identifying multiple contributing factors, and is used in written and analytical contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
様子
ようす
The visible state or condition of something. Example: 「空の様子」 (the look of the sky), 「様子を見る」 (to see how things are/wait and see).
AI-generated translation
N2
要請
ようせい
To strongly request something as being necessary.
AI-generated translation
N2
養成
ようせい
To teach and train someone so that they acquire full-fledged ability or skill.
AI-generated translation
N2
要約
ようやく
To sum up the main points of a piece of writing or speech briefly.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
よく
よく
often. A state of doing something many times. Also used to mean "skillfully," as in 「よくできました」 (well done).
AI-generated translation
N2
予言
よげん
Foretelling something that will happen in the future, or the content of such a foretelling. Used in expressions such as 「予言する」, 「予言者」, or 「予言が的中する」. Often used in fortune-telling, religious, or mystical contexts, referring to announcements about the future based on intuition, inspiration, or revelation rather than firm evidence. Scientific predictions of the future are expressed with 「予測」 or 「予報」, not 「予言」. Also used for predictions whose accuracy is not assured, as in 「世紀末の予言」 or 「ノストラダムスの予言」.
AI-generated translation
N2
余地
よち
Room or possibility for doing or accepting something. Originally referred to physical "leftover space," but in modern Japanese the word is mainly used in an abstract sense meaning "the range of what can be allowed" or "room still available for something." Used in expressions such as 「議論の余地」, 「弁解の余地がない」, 「改善の余地」, or 「疑う余地もない」, and frequently appears in negative contexts in the form 「〜の余地がない」.
AI-generated translation
N2
予知
よち
Sensing or knowing in advance that something will happen before it occurs. The character 「知」 means "to know," and the word is used for grasping future events through observation, reasoning, or supernatural ability. Used in both scientific and technical contexts such as 「地震予知」 (earthquake prediction) and supernatural contexts such as 「予知能力」 or 「予知夢」 (premonitory dream). While 「予言」 emphasizes the act of telling, 「予知」 emphasizes the act of knowing or perceiving.
AI-generated translation
N2
呼びかけ
よびかけ
To call out to many people and urge them to take a certain action.
AI-generated translation
N2, N4, N5
呼ぶ
よぶ
call. To say a person's name, etc., aloud to get their attention.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
読む
よむ
read. To look at characters and grasp their meaning.
AI-generated translation
N2
落差
らくさ
The difference in height that water or the like falls; also, a large gap between two things.
AI-generated translation
N2
楽観
らっかん
To think positively that things will go well.
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N2
乱用
らんよう
To use a right, power, or the like carelessly or excessively.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
理解
りかい
understanding. Correctly grasping the meaning or content of something. Example: 「話を理解する」 (to understand what someone is saying). Also used to mean being considerate of another person's feelings, as in 「理解のある上司」 (an understanding boss).
AI-generated translation
N2
理屈
りくつ
The logic of a matter; also, a forced or far-fetched reason.
AI-generated translation
N2
利点
りてん
A point in which something is superior compared to others; a useful feature.
AI-generated translation
N2
流通
りゅうつう
Goods passing from producers to consumers; also, something being widely used or accepted.
AI-generated translation
N2
良識
りょうしき
The ability to judge right and wrong calmly and soundly. Refers to the standard of judgment considered reasonable in society at large. Used in expressions such as 「良識ある大人」 or 「良識を疑う」. While 「常識」 refers to widely shared knowledge, 「良識」 emphasizes the judgment based on such knowledge.
AI-generated translation
N2
了承
りょうしょう
To take the circumstances into account and give one's consent.
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N2
臨機応変
りんきおうへん
Responding flexibly and appropriately to changes in situation or circumstance. Used both adjectivally and adverbially, as in 「臨機応変な対応」 or 「臨機応変に処理する」. A four-character idiom that positively evaluates an attitude of acting on the spot with resourcefulness rather than following a rigid template.
AI-generated translation
N2
臨時
りんじ
Doing something not at a fixed time, but as needed on a particular occasion.
AI-generated translation
N2
累計
るいけい
To add things up one after another into a running total; also, that total itself.
AI-generated translation
N2
類似
るいじ
Being very similar to one another.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
例
れい
example. A specific thing of the same kind shown to explain something. Example: 「例を挙げる」 (to give an example). Also used in the phrase 「例の話」 to refer to a matter that both parties already know about.
AI-generated translation
N2
冷静
れいせい
Judging things calmly, without being swayed by emotion.
AI-generated translation
N2
劣化
れっか
A quality or property deteriorating from what it originally was.
AI-generated translation
N2
劣等感
れっとうかん
The feeling that one is inferior to others. Used in expressions such as 「劣等感を持つ」 or 「劣等感を抱く」. It refers not to a momentary low mood but to a feeling that persists in the mind. The antonym is 「優越感」 (a sense of superiority). Another word containing 「劣等」 is 「劣等生」, which refers to a person whose grades or performance are poor.
AI-generated translation
N2
劣等生
れっとうせい
A student whose grades or performance are inferior to others'. The antonym is 「優等生」 (an honor student). Besides school grades, it is also used to humble oneself about being the weakest in a group, as in 「この分野では私は劣等生だ」 (In this field I am the poor performer). Another word containing 「劣等」 is 「劣等感」, which refers to the feeling of being inferior.
AI-generated translation
N2
廉価
れんか
Being inexpensive relative to quality, or selling something at a low price. Used in reference to the prices of products and services, as in 「廉価版」 or 「廉価で提供する」. The character 「廉」 means "cheap" or "inexpensive."
AI-generated translation
N2
連携
れんけい
Parties who share the same goal keeping in contact and cooperating with one another.
AI-generated translation
N2
連帯
れんたい
Two or more people being bound together and sharing their actions and feelings. As in 「連帯感」「労働者の連帯」, it expresses solidarity among companions. It also refers to several parties being bound together and bearing responsibility jointly; 「連帯責任」「連帯保証人」 express a relationship in which an obligation that one person would bear is taken on by everyone.
AI-generated translation
N2
老朽
ろうきゅう
Becoming old and no longer usable.
AI-generated translation
N2
労働
ろうどう
Working with one's body or mind to earn income; labor. 労働時間 (working hours), 肉体労働 (manual labor).
AI-generated translation
N2
浪費
ろうひ
To waste money, time, or the like.
AI-generated translation
N2
論争
ろんそう
To argue back and forth, each side asserting its own view.
AI-generated translation
N2
論評
ろんぴょう
Discussing the content or merits of a matter and giving an evaluation. Used in newspaper and magazine editorials, as well as in book reviews and critiques. Used in expressions such as 「政策を論評する」 or 「専門家による論評」. Its distinctive feature is that it goes beyond merely stating an opinion to giving an evaluation backed by reasoning.
AI-generated translation
N2
論理
ろんり
The reasoning that gives order and coherence to one's thinking or speech.
AI-generated translation
N2
和解
わかい
For parties who were in conflict to stop fighting and reconcile.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
若い
わかい
young. Having few years.
AI-generated translation
N2
枠組み
わくぐみ
The rough framework or underlying structure of something.
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.