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JLPT N3 Vocabulary
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N3
開会
かいかい
To begin a meeting or event. Example: 「開会式」 (opening ceremony), 「開会を宣言する」 (to declare the opening). The antonym is 「閉会」 (closing).
AI-generated translation
N3
解決
かいけつ
To properly settle a problem or dispute. Example: 「事件を解決する」 (to resolve an incident), 「問題が解決した」 (the problem has been resolved).
AI-generated translation
N3
開始
かいし
start. To begin something. Example: 「試合開始」 (the start of the match), 「販売を開始する」 (to start sales). A more formal word than 「始める」. The word with the opposite meaning is 「終了」 (end).
AI-generated translation
N3
外出
がいしゅつ
To go out from one's home or workplace. Example: 「外出中」 (out at the moment), 「外出をひかえる」 (to refrain from going out).
AI-generated translation
N3
改善
かいぜん
improvement. To fix something bad and make it better. Example: 「生活を改善する」 (to improve one's lifestyle), 「関係が改善する」 (relations improve). The antonym is 「改悪」 (a change for the worse).
AI-generated translation
N3
快適
かいてき
comfortable. A pleasant, comfortable state. Example: 「快適な部屋」 (a comfortable room), 「快適に過ごす」 (to spend time comfortably).
AI-generated translation
N3
開発
かいはつ
To create something new. To make land or ability useful. Used as in 「商品開発」 (product development), 「能力開発」 (skill development).
AI-generated translation
N3
回復
かいふく
recovery. For something that had worsened to return to its former good state. Example: 「体力が回復する」 (to regain physical strength), 「景気の回復」 (economic recovery).
AI-generated translation
N3
替える
かえる
To stop using something up to now and switch to a different one. Example: 「シーツを替える」 (to change the sheets), 「電池を替える」 (to change the batteries). The homophone 「変える」 means to change a state or content, and 「代える」 means to have something take over a role instead; all are written differently.
AI-generated translation
N3
香り
かおり
fragrance. A pleasant smell. Example: 「花の香り」 (the fragrance of flowers), 「コーヒーの香り」 (the aroma of coffee). Not used for bad smells. The verb form is 「香る」.
AI-generated translation
N3
画家
がか
painter. A person whose job is painting pictures.
AI-generated translation
N3
抱える
かかえる
To hold something in one's arms as if wrapping around it. Example: 「荷物を抱える」 (to carry luggage in one's arms). Also used to mean having a trouble, as in 「問題を抱える」 (to have a problem to deal with), 「借金を抱える」 (to be carrying debt).
AI-generated translation
N3
価格
かかく
price. The price of a good. Example: 「価格が上がる」 (the price rises), 「販売価格」 (selling price). More formal than 「値段」, used in business and news.
AI-generated translation
N3
化学
かがく
chemistry. The study of the properties and changes of substances. Example: 「化学反応」 (chemical reaction), 「化学製品」 (chemical products). To distinguish it from the homophone 「科学」 (science), it is sometimes pronounced 「ばけがく」 in speech.
AI-generated translation
N3
輝く
かがやく
shine. To glitter and sparkle. Example: 「星が輝く」 (stars shine). Also used to mean looking full of life, as in 「目が輝く」 (one's eyes sparkle), 「輝かしい成績」 (a brilliant record).
AI-generated translation
N3
係
かかり
The person in charge of a certain task. Example: 「案内係」 (an information attendant), 「係の人に聞く」 (to ask the person in charge). Also forms compound words like 「係員」 (staff member) and 「係長」 (section chief).
AI-generated translation
N3
限る
かぎる
To decide a range up to a certain point. Example: 「参加は学生に限る」 (participation is limited to students). Often used in the forms 「〜に限って」 (an expression meaning something bad happens only at that particular time) and 「〜とは限らない」 (meaning that isn't always the case).
AI-generated translation
N3
隠す
かくす
hide. To keep something from being seen or known by others. Example: 「お金を隠す」 (to hide money), 「本心を隠す」 (to hide one's true feelings). 「隠す」 is used when someone makes a person or thing unseen, and 「隠れる」 when one becomes unseen oneself: 「子どもを隠す」 versus 「子どもが隠れる」.
AI-generated translation
N3
拡大
かくだい
expansion. To spread something out and make it bigger. To become bigger. Example: 「写真を拡大する」 (to enlarge a photo), 「感染が拡大する」 (infection spreads). The word with the opposite meaning is 「縮小」 (reduction).
AI-generated translation
N3
隠れる
かくれる
To hide oneself so that others cannot find you. Example: 「木の陰に隠れる」 (to hide in the shade of a tree). Also used to mean not known to the world, as in 「隠れた名店」 (a hidden gem restaurant). 「隠れる」 is used when one becomes unseen oneself, and 「隠す」 when someone makes a person or thing unseen: 「子どもが隠れる」 versus 「子どもを隠す」.
AI-generated translation
N3
影
かげ
shadow. A dark shape that forms behind an object when light hits it. Example: 「影ができる」 (a shadow forms), 「影ふみ」 (a shadow-tag game). There is also the expression 「影が薄い」 (to not stand out). The homophone 「陰」 refers to a place light does not reach, and is written differently.
AI-generated translation
N3
陰
かげ
A place where light or one's gaze does not reach. Example: 「木の陰で休む」 (to rest in the shade of a tree), 「ドアの陰にかくれる」 (to hide behind a door). Also used to mean somewhere out of a person's sight, as in 「陰で悪口を言う」 (to badmouth someone behind their back). The homophone 「影」 refers to a dark shape cast by light, and is written differently.
AI-generated translation
N3
欠ける
かける
For part of something to break off and be missing. Example: 「茶わんが欠ける」 (a chip breaks off a rice bowl). Also used to mean lacking something necessary, as in 「常識に欠ける」 (to lack common sense), 「メンバーが一人欠ける」 (one member is missing).
AI-generated translation
N3
過去
かこ
past. Time that has already passed. Example: 「過去をふり返る」 (to look back on the past), 「過去の失敗」 (past failures). The antonyms are 「未来」 (future) and 「現在」 (present).
AI-generated translation
N3
籠
かご
A container made by weaving bamboo, wire, etc. Example: 「買い物籠」 (a shopping basket), 「鳥籠」 (a birdcage).
AI-generated translation
N3
囲む
かこむ
surround. To encircle something. Example: 「テーブルを囲む」 (to sit around a table), 「山に囲まれた町」 (a town surrounded by mountains). The noun form is 「囲い」.
AI-generated translation
N3
火災
かさい
fire. A disaster in which a building, etc., burns. Example: 「火災報知器」 (fire alarm), 「火災が発生する」 (a fire breaks out). A more formal way of saying 「火事」, used in news and documents.
AI-generated translation
N3
重なる
かさなる
For objects to be piled one on top of another in the same place. Example: 「本が重なる」 (books are stacked). Also used to mean things concentrating at the same time, as in 「予定が重なる」 (schedules overlap), 「不幸が重なる」 (misfortunes pile up).
AI-generated translation
N3
重ねる
かさねる
To place things on top of each other and stack them. Example: 「皿を重ねる」 (to stack plates). Also used to mean repeating something continuously, as in 「努力を重ねる」 (to make repeated efforts), 「年を重ねる」 (to grow older). 「重ねる」 is used when someone piles things up, and 「重なる」 when things end up piled up: 「皿を重ねる」 versus 「皿が重なる」.
AI-generated translation
N3
飾り
かざり
decoration. Something attached to make a thing look beautiful. Example: 「クリスマスの飾り」 (Christmas decorations), 「首飾り」 (a necklace).
AI-generated translation
N3
飾る
かざる
decorate. To place or attach things so they look beautiful. Example: 「花を飾る」 (to decorate with flowers), 「部屋を飾る」 (to decorate a room). Also used to mean making something appear better than it really is, as in 「言葉を飾る」 (to embellish one's words).
AI-generated translation
N3
火山
かざん
volcano. A mountain formed by magma erupting from underground. Example: 「火山が噴火する」 (a volcano erupts), 「活火山」 (an active volcano).
AI-generated translation
N3
歌手
かしゅ
singer. A person whose job is singing songs. Example: 「人気歌手」 (a popular singer).
AI-generated translation
N3, N5
貸す
かす
lend. To let someone use one's own thing for a certain time. The opposite, using someone else's thing, is 「かりる」 (to borrow).
AI-generated translation
N3
数
かず
number. Something that shows how many of something there are. Example: 「数が多い」 (a large number). The reading changes to 「かぞ(える)」 and 「すう」 in words like 「数える」 (to count) and 「数字」 (a numeral/figure).
AI-generated translation
N3
稼ぐ
かせぐ
earn. To obtain money by working. Example: 「生活費を稼ぐ」 (to earn living expenses). Also used to mean gaining a favorable state, as in 「時間を稼ぐ」 (to buy time).
AI-generated translation
N3
数える
かぞえる
count. To check how many there are of something. Example: 「人数を数える」 (to count the number of people), 「指を折って数える」 (to count on one's fingers).
AI-generated translation
N3
肩
かた
shoulder. The part of the body at the base of the arm, beside the neck. Example: 「肩をたたく」 (to tap someone's shoulder), 「肩がこる」 (to have stiff shoulders). There is also the expression 「肩を持つ」 (to take someone's side).
AI-generated translation
N3
刀
かたな
sword. A long, thin blade used by samurai in the past. Example: 「日本刀」 (a Japanese sword).
AI-generated translation
N3
語る
かたる
To tell a story to someone by speaking. Example: 「体験を語る」 (to talk about one's experience), 「夢を語る」 (to talk about one's dreams). More formal than 「話す」, used when conveying a coherent story carefully.
AI-generated translation
N3
価値
かち
value. The worth or importance a thing has. Example: 「価値がある」 (to have value), 「読む価値のある本」 (a book worth reading). 「価値観」 (values/one's sense of what matters) is also commonly used.
AI-generated translation
N3
活気
かっき
liveliness. A vibrant, energetic feeling. Example: 「活気のある市場」 (a lively market), 「活気にあふれる」 (overflowing with vitality).
AI-generated translation
N3
学期
がっき
semester. A period into which a school's year is divided. Example: 「新学期」 (a new semester), 「学期末テスト」 (an end-of-term exam).
AI-generated translation
N3
活動
かつどう
activity. To move actively with a purpose. Example: 「クラブ活動」 (club activities), 「火山活動」 (volcanic activity).
AI-generated translation
N2〜N4
家庭
かてい
The place where family members, such as parents and children, live together. Example: 「家庭で作る料理」 (home-cooked food).
AI-generated translation
N3
悲しむ
かなしむ
grieve. To feel sad. Example: 「別れを悲しむ」 (to grieve over a parting). The antonym is 「喜ぶ」 (to be glad). The adjective form is 「悲しい」.
AI-generated translation
N3
可能
かのう
possible. Being able to do something. Example: 「実現可能な計画」 (a feasible plan), 「予約が可能だ」 (booking is possible). The antonym is 「不可能」 (impossible).
AI-generated translation
N3
株
かぶ
The original meaning is the base of a cut tree that remains in the ground (切り株, stump). From this, it is widely used to mean the rights of someone who has invested in a company. Example: 「株を買う」 (to buy stock), 「株が上がる」 (stock rises). Also appears in the expression 「お株をうばう」 (to outdo someone at their own specialty).
AI-generated translation
N3
被る
かぶる
To put something like a hat on one's head. Example: 「帽子を被る」 (to wear a hat). Also used to mean receiving something from above, as in 「水を被る」 (to be doused with water), or to mean taking on someone else's responsibility, as in 「罪を被る」 (to take the blame). Often written in hiragana.
AI-generated translation
N3
構う
かまう
To pay attention to and take care of someone. 「子どもを構う」. It is also used to mean paying attention to something, and in this case the negative form is usual: 「身なりに構わない」 means not paying attention to one's clothes or appearance, and 「なりふり構わず」 means without caring how one looks. In the form 「構わない」 it means "not minding; no problem," and this usage is more common (「遅れても構いません」).
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.