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JLPT N2 Vocabulary
1,210words ・ 0Learned
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N1, N2
現象
げんしょう
Something that appears in a form that can be seen or felt; a phenomenon. 自然現象 (natural phenomenon), 社会現象 (social phenomenon). Refers to the outward appearance of things, as opposed to their cause or substance.
AI-generated translation
N2
現状
げんじょう
The present state of affairs. 現状を維持する (maintain the status quo), 現状では実現が難しい (hard to achieve under the present conditions).
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N2
厳然
げんぜん
「厳」 means stern or severe, and 「然」 means in the manner of; together they mean a stern manner. It is a word expressing that an unshakeable fact clearly exists. Used in expressions like 「厳然たる事実」 or 「厳然として存在する」, it is a formal word emphasizing harsh reality that cannot be denied.
AI-generated translation
N2
健全
けんぜん
The mind, body, an organization, etc. being in a good, balanced condition without bias. 「健全な経営」.
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N2
謙遜
けんそん
It refers to speaking modestly about one's own ability or achievements. Used in expressions like 「謙遜してそう言うのだろう」 or 「過度な謙遜」, it is a formal word used when a person who has been praised speaks of themselves humbly.
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N2
見地
けんち
The standpoint or viewpoint from which one thinks about or judges something. 「教育的見地から」.
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N2
堅調
けんちょう
「堅」 means firm, and 「調」 means tone or condition; together they mean a firm condition. It refers to a state being stable and progressing smoothly. Used in expressions like 「業績が堅調だ」 or 「堅調に伸びる」, it is a formal word for positively evaluating trends in economy or sales.
AI-generated translation
N2
原典
げんてん
It refers to the original work that serves as the source of translations, citations, or summaries. Used in expressions like 「原典に当たる」 or 「原典を確認する」, it is a formal word used in research and academic contexts.
AI-generated translation
N2
見当
けんとう
A rough guess or estimate. 見当がつく (can roughly guess), 見当外れ (off the mark). Attached after a number, it shows an approximate amount (千円見当 "around 1,000 yen"). The homophone 検討 means examining something carefully, which is a different meaning.
AI-generated translation
N2
原動力
げんどうりょく
It refers to the original power that drives or develops things. Used in expressions like 「成長の原動力」 or 「改革の原動力」, it is a metaphorical expression for the fundamental power that brings about change or development.
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N2
憲法
けんぽう
The most fundamental law of a country, which defines its structure and the rights and duties of its people; a constitution.
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N2
賢明
けんめい
Making a wise and correct judgment after carefully observing the situation. Often used to praise a decision or method, as in 「賢明な選択」.
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N2
倹約
けんやく
It refers to cutting down on expenses by eliminating waste. Used in expressions like 「倹約家」 or 「倹約に努める」, it is used positively to express the attitude of reducing expenditures in a planned way.
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N2
兼用
けんよう
To use one item for two or more purposes. 「晴雨兼用」.
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N2
原理
げんり
It refers to the fundamental law that allows things to come into being. Used in expressions like 「てこの原理」 or 「需要と供給の原理」, it indicates the basic mechanism in natural sciences and social sciences.
AI-generated translation
N2
権力
けんりょく
It refers to a strong power that can make others submit. Used in expressions like 「権力を握る」 or 「権力を振るう」, it indicates the dominant power in politics or an organization.
AI-generated translation
N2
故意
こい
It refers to doing something on purpose. Used in expressions like 「故意に」 or 「故意の」, it is a formal word indicating that something is not by negligence, used in legal contexts and situations involving trouble.
AI-generated translation
N2
講演
こうえん
Giving a talk on a topic before a large audience; a lecture. 講演会 (a lecture event). The homophone 公演 means performing a play, music, etc. for an audience, and is distinguished from 講演, which is about giving a talk.
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N2
硬貨
こうか
Money made of metal; a coin. Money made of paper is called 「紙幣」.
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N2
光景
こうけい
A scene or sight before one's eyes. Often used for scenes that carry the viewer's impression, as in 悲惨な光景 (a tragic sight), ほほえましい光景 (a heartwarming scene). Whereas 風景 refers to views of land or nature, 光景 includes how events appear.
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N2
貢献
こうけん
To exert effort and be of use for the sake of something or for society.
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N1, N2
交差
こうさ
Two or more lines or roads crossing each other.
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N2
功罪
こうざい
Both the good and bad sides that a matter or person possesses. Used in expressions like 「功罪相半ばする」 or 「功罪を論じる」, it is a formal word used in situations of stating both sides of an evaluation together.
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N2
後者
こうしゃ
The latter of two things mentioned. The opposite is 前者 (the former). Used in writing.
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N2
控除
こうじょ
To subtract a fixed portion from a certain amount. 「医療費控除」. Used in procedures involving money and taxes.
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N2
交渉
こうしょう
To talk with another party in order to settle a matter.
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N2
向上
こうじょう
An ability or condition becoming better than before. The paired opposite word is 「低下」.
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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.
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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.
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N2
構成
こうせい
To assemble several elements into a single whole; also, that assembly itself.
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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」.
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N2
抗争
こうそう
To fight fiercely against an opponent. Often used for conflict between groups or organizations.
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N2
構想
こうそう
To work out in one's mind the overall plan for how to carry something forward.
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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」.
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N2
光沢
こうたく
The surface of an object being smooth and shiny.
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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.
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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.
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N2
好調
こうちょう
A condition being good and progressing smoothly. The paired opposite word is 「不調」.
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N2
肯定
こうてい
To acknowledge that something is indeed the case.
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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」.
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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.
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N2
公認
こうにん
For a country or organization to officially recognize something. 「公認会計士」.
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N2
購買
こうばい
To purchase goods. A formal, written way of saying "to buy," used in economic contexts.
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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.
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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
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.