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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5

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4,238words (N1–N5 total)

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Filtered by N1・N2・N3・N5 · 452words Clear filters
N1 撥ねる はねる
Refers to forcefully flicking or splashing something away. Used in expressions like 「車が水を撥ねる (a car splashes water)」「不良品を撥ねる (to reject defective products)」「税金を撥ねる (to skim off taxes)」. In addition to physically splashing, it has the sense of "excluding what does not meet standards" in screening, and the sense of taking a portion of profit, as in 「上前を撥ねる (to skim off a cut)」. It is a verb whose meaning branches widely depending on context, and there are several kanji forms such as 「跳ねる」 and 「刎ねる」, distinguished by meaning.

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N2, N3 はば
width. The length across something. Example: 「道の幅」 (the width of a road). Also used to mean breadth of range, as in 「幅広い知識」 (broad knowledge).

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N1 はばかる はばかる
Means to hold back or be reserved out of consideration. A stiff word used as in 「人目をはばかる」, 「世間をはばかる」, and 「はばかりながら申し上げる」, describing restraining one's actions or speech out of concern for how others see them. 「はばかりながら」 is a humble set phrase used as a preface. In the proverb 「憎まれっ子世にはばかる」 (the disliked thrive in the world), it is used in an older, different sense of "to spread, to flourish." In kanji it is written 「憚る」, but it is more often written in hiragana.

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N1 派閥 はばつ
Refers to small groups formed by people who share interests or ways of thinking within large organizations such as political parties or companies. Used in expressions like 「派閥争い (factional struggle)」「派閥に属する (to belong to a faction)」「派閥を超えて (across factions)」. 「派」 means branch, 「閥」 means clique or group; together they express "a divided group". It is mostly accompanied by negative connotations, used widely in contexts that critically describe factional confrontation and personnel struggles within organizations. It is a word frequently encountered in news reports about politics and large corporations.

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N2 阻む はばむ
Refers to blocking something that is trying to advance and not allowing it to proceed further. Used in expressions like 「行く手を阻む (to block one's way)」「進出を阻む (to block an advance)」「優勝を阻む (to block a championship)」. It is used broadly, from physical obstruction of a path to scenes in which abstract realization is hindered, such as plans, advances, or achievements, expressing the sense of halting partway a movement toward a goal or success. It appears frequently in diverse contexts such as sports, business, and geographical description.

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N1 はびこる はびこる
Refers to plants or harmful things spreading vigorously. Used in expressions like 「悪習がはびこる (bad customs run rampant)」「不正がはびこる (corruption runs rampant)」「雑草がはびこる (weeds spread)」. It is a derivative usage from the original sense of weeds growing thickly over a whole area, and in modern usage is widely used in situations where undesirable things — vices, corruption, misinformation, harmful forces — gain in power. It carries a negative evaluation, used in contexts criticizing situations where what ought to be kept in check is not being kept in check.

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N1 羽振り はぶり
Refers to one's clout in the world or one's economic prosperity. Used in expressions like 「羽振りがいい (to be prosperous)」「羽振りを利かせる (to throw one's weight around)」「羽振りのいい商売人 (a prosperous merchant)」. It is a derivative usage from the image of a bird flapping its wings, established as a metaphor for the appearance of being economically well-off and full of momentum. It is mostly used in the form 「羽振りがいい」, appearing frequently in contexts that describe a flush of cash and great social influence.

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N1 刃向かう はむかう
Refers to standing up against and going against a powerful opponent. Used in expressions like 「権力に刃向かう (to defy power)」「親に刃向かう (to defy one's parents)」「刃向かう者は許さない (those who defy will not be forgiven)」. It is a derivative expression from the original sense of literally pointing a blade at the other party, used in scenes of resisting a great existence above oneself. Rather than physical attack, it is a word expressing the structure in which the lower party in a hierarchy of position or power opposes the upper party.

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N1 羽目 はめ
Refers to a troublesome situation or unfavorable position. Used in expressions like 「羽目になる (to find oneself in a tight spot)」「羽目に陥る (to fall into a predicament)」「面倒な羽目になった (one ended up in a troublesome situation)」. There is the noun use expressing a situation in which one finds oneself as an unwanted result, and the idiomatic use 「羽目を外す (to go too far, to let loose)」 expressing "appropriate limits". The 「羽目」 in the latter is originally a kind of part of a horse's bit, and the sense "to lose moderation" was established from the idea that, once removed, the horse runs wild.

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N3 場面 ばめん
scene. The state of the place where something is happening. Example: 「感動的な場面」 (a moving scene). Also used to refer to a segment of a movie or play.

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N2 破門 はもん
Refers to expelling a disciple or follower from a master-disciple relationship or a religious order. Used in expressions like 「師匠から破門される (to be expelled by one's master)」「破門状 (a letter of expulsion)」「破門に処する (to mete out expulsion)」. 「破」 means to break, 「門」 means the master's gate or sect; together they express "expelling from the gate". Originally a word concerning master-disciple relationships in Buddhism, martial arts, and traditional arts, it refers to the severe punishment of stripping away one's status as a disciple. In modern usage it is often encountered in contexts of the entertainment world and traditional performing arts.

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N2 早々 はやばや
The manner of getting something done earlier than usual. Mostly used in the form "早々と", as in "早々と帰り支度を始める" or "早々と売り切れる". The same "早々" read as "そうそう" attaches to a noun, as in "新年早々" or "開店早々", and is a different word expressing that something happens right after that point.

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N3 流行る はやる
To become widely popular with many people. Example: 「このアプリが流行っている」 (this app is popular). Also used when a disease spreads widely, as in 「インフルエンザが流行る」 (the flu is spreading). In written language, 「流行(りゅうこう)する」 is also used.

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N2 腹立たしい はらだたしい
Refers to the appearance of feeling anger and unpleasantness. It is an adjective used in expressions like 「腹立たしい言い方 (an irritating way of putting it)」「腹立たしい思いをする (to feel resentful)」「実に腹立たしい (truly infuriating)」. It expresses strong dissatisfaction or anger at the words, actions, or situation of another party, and is the adjective form of 「腹が立つ」. It is usable widely in everyday conversation and can express a wide range of intensity, from mild annoyance to strong anger.

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N3 はり
needle. A thin, pointed tool used for sewing or injections. Example: 「針と糸」 (needle and thread). Also broadly refers to thin, pointed objects such as a clock's hands or a fishing hook.

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N1 張り合い はりあい
Refers to the sense of worthwhileness and feedback when one tackles something. Used in expressions like 「張り合いのある仕事 (a rewarding job)」「張り合いがない (there is no satisfaction in it)」「張り合いを失う (to lose one's drive)」. It is a daily-use word expressing emotional fulfillment and the sense that one's effort is worthwhile, used in contexts that positively evaluate a state of having purpose and motivation. It is a different word from 「張り合い (rivalry)」, which also derives from 「張り合う」, and the meanings are distinguished by context.

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N1 張り詰める はりつめる
Refers to feelings or atmosphere being so tense that they are pulled tight. Used in expressions like 「神経を張り詰める (to keep one's nerves taut)」「張り詰めた空気 (a taut atmosphere)」「張り詰めた糸のような心 (a mind taut as a stretched string)」. It is a derivative usage from the sense of something being stretched tight across a surface, established as a metaphor for a psychological state with no slack or for the tension of a scene. Its focus is on prolonged high tension, indicating a sustained state of concentration rather than a momentary surprise or fear.

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N1 破廉恥 はれんち
Refers to behavior that lacks restraint and does not regard shame as shame. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「破廉恥な行為 (a shameless act)」「破廉恥極まりない (utterly shameless)」「破廉恥漢 (a shameless scoundrel)」. 「廉」 means a heart that is pure and upright, 「恥」 means the sense of shame; the original sense is "to break (disregard) these". It is an old-fashioned expression used in contexts that strongly condemn morally inexcusable speech or behavior, especially violations of sexual or financial morality.

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N5 はん
half. Attached after a number or a time, it adds the sense of one more half. 「三時半」 is midway between three and four o'clock, and 「一個半」 means one item and a half. It can also come in front, as in 「半年」「半日」. Unlike 「半分」, 「半」 is not used by itself as an independent word.

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N5 ばん
Night. Often used connected with other words, as in 「今晩」 (tonight), 「毎晩」 (every night).

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N2 反映 はんえい
The influence of one thing appearing in another.

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N1 反旗 はんき
Refers to the posture of rebellion against a ruler or superior. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「反旗を翻す (to raise the banner of revolt)」「反旗を掲げる (to hoist the banner of rebellion)」. It originally meant to raise a flag indicating the intention to revolt, and in modern usage is most often used as the idiom 「反旗を翻す」, used in scenes of clearly declaring rebellion against an entity one had previously been following. It is used in contexts that discuss political confrontation, organizational strife, and historical rebellions.

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N5 番号 ばんごう
number. A number assigned for order or to distinguish things.

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N5 晩御飯 ばんごはん
A meal eaten at night. 「夕飯」 has nearly the same meaning.

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N1 煩雑 はんざつ
Refers to the appearance of a matter being complicated and laborious. Used in expressions like 「煩雑な手続き (cumbersome procedures)」「業務が煩雑だ (the work is intricate)」「煩雑な事務作業 (complicated clerical work)」. 「煩」 means troublesome, 「雑」 means tangled; together they express "a state of being troublesome and tangled". Rather than mere complexity, it focuses on the burden and bothersomeness for the one handling it, used widely in evaluations of administrative procedures, clerical work, and regulations.

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N1 半信半疑 はんしんはんぎ
Refers to a state of half-belief, half-doubt. It is a four-character idiom expressing the hesitant feeling of being unable to judge whether a story is true or false. Used in expressions like 「半信半疑で話を聞く (to listen with half-belief)」「半信半疑のまま試す (to try while remaining doubtful)」「半信半疑だった (was half in doubt)」. It expresses the intermediate psychological state of being unable to fully trust, yet unable to dismiss outright. It is an established expression used in everyday conversation, novels, and news reports.

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N1 反芻 はんすう
Refers to animals such as cows bringing food they have once swallowed back into the mouth to chew again. By extension, it refers to thoughts or words being repeatedly recalled. Used in expressions like 「言葉を反芻する (to ruminate on a word)」「教訓を反芻する (to ruminate on a lesson)」「会話を反芻する (to replay a conversation in one's mind)」. It is a metaphor derived from the zoological term, expressing the act of savoring memories, emotions, or knowledge over and over in the mind. It is widely used in contexts of book impressions, recollection, and meditation.

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N3 反省 はんせい
To reflect on one's own words and actions and think about what was wrong. Example: 「反省して謝る」 (to reflect and apologize).

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N1 判然 はんぜん
Refers to the appearance of a matter becoming clearly understood. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「原因が判然としない (the cause is not clear)」「判然たる証拠 (clear evidence)」. 「判」 means to distinguish or clarify, 「然」 is a suffix indicating manner; together they express "a state of being clearly distinguished". It is mostly used in the negative form 「判然としない」, appearing widely in contexts that describe ambiguous, indeterminate situations. The style is biased toward news reports, official documents, and analysis.

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N3 判断 はんだん
judgment. To think about something and decide. Example: 「状況を判断する」 (to judge the situation).

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N3 犯人 はんにん
A person who has committed a crime. Example: 「犯人を捕まえる」 (to catch the criminal).

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N3 販売 はんばい
To sell goods. Example: 「チケットを販売する」 (to sell tickets). A more formal, business-oriented way of saying 「売る」 (to sell).

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N1 反駁 はんばく
Refers to refuting and denying another's opinion or claim by providing grounds. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「論文に反駁する (to rebut a paper)」「反駁の余地がない (there is no room for rebuttal)」「鋭く反駁する (to rebut sharply)」. 「反」 means to oppose, 「駁」 means to argue down; together they express "to argue back and refute". Rather than mere opposition, it carries the nuance of rebutting the other party's claim with supporting reasons, used in discussion, academic, and legal contexts.

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N2, N5 半分 はんぶん
half. One of the two equal parts into which a whole is divided. 「ケーキを半分に切る」「半分だけたべる」. 「半」 also means half, but it attaches to numbers or times, as in 「三時半」「一個半」, and is not used by itself.

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N1 繁忙 はんぼう
Refers to work and the like being extremely busy. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「繁忙期 (a busy season)」「繁忙な日々 (busy days)」「繁忙を極める (to be extremely busy)」. 「繁」 means abundant or thriving, 「忙」 means busy; together they express "a state in which busyness is at its peak". It is mostly used in the form 「繁忙期」, as a noun referring to a time when workload concentrates in a particular industry. It is widely used in business and economic contexts, while in everyday conversation 「忙しい」 is the common form.

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N2 汎用 はんよう
Refers to not being limited to a single use, but being usable broadly for various purposes. Used in expressions like 「汎用性が高い (highly versatile)」「汎用品 (general-purpose goods)」「汎用エンジン (a general-purpose engine)」. 「汎」 means widely spreading, 「用」 means to use; together they express "usable widely". As the antonym of 「専用 (dedicated)」, it is used in contexts evaluating versatility and a wide range of applicability not limited to special purposes, used widely in technology, industry, and IT.

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N1 氾濫 はんらん
Refers to river water overflowing and spreading. By extension, it refers to a state in which things or information are so abundant that they overflow. Used in expressions like 「川が氾濫する (a river floods)」「情報が氾濫する (information floods)」「商品が氾濫する (goods are flooding the market)」. Both 「氾」 and 「濫」 mean water overflowing, forming a compound that stacks two characters to emphasize meaning. From the physical sense of flooding, it has extended in modern usage to metaphorical uses for information, goods, buzzwords, and the like spreading excessively, used widely in media and criticism contexts.

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N2 反論 はんろん
To argue back against another person's opinion from an opposing standpoint.

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N1 ひいては ひいては
An adverb expressing that as one matter spreads, its influence reaches another related matter as well. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「個人の利益、ひいては社会全体の利益 (the benefit of the individual, and by extension the benefit of society as a whole)」「健康、ひいては人生の質 (health, and by extension the quality of life)」. It expresses spreading and expansion to a larger scope, used in contexts that develop reasoning step by step. It mostly appears in formal styles such as academic papers, editorials, and speeches, and is hardly used in everyday conversation.

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N3 被害 ひがい
To suffer damage or harm. Also refers to the damage received. Example: 「台風の被害」 (typhoon damage). The antonym is 「加害」 (inflicting harm).

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N3 比較 ひかく
comparison. To compare two or more things. Example: 「値段を比較する」 (to compare prices).

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N5 ひがし
east. One of the directions. The antonym is 「西」 (west).

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N2 悲願 ひがん
Refers to a strong heartfelt wish that has been held for many years. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「悲願の優勝 (a long-desired victory)」「悲願達成 (the fulfillment of a long-held wish)」「悲願の初出場 (a first appearance long aspired to)」. 「悲」 was originally a Buddhist term, the 「悲」 of 「慈悲 (compassion)」, meaning the deep wish to save all beings. It is used for goals not easily attained and wishes aimed at realization through overcoming difficulty, and is widely used in sports reporting, biographies, and historical accounts.

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N5 ひき
counter for small animals. A word for counting small animals such as dogs, cats, fish, and insects. いっぴき・にひき・さんびき・よんひき・ごひき・ろっぴき・ななひき・はっぴき・きゅうひき・じゅっぴき, 「なんびき」. With 1, 6, 8, and 10 it becomes 「ぴき」, and with 3 and 「なん」 it becomes 「びき」.

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N1 卑近 ひきん
Refers to an appearance of being familiar, commonplace, and easily understandable by anyone. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「卑近な例 (a familiar example)」「卑近な話題 (a familiar topic)」「卑近な比喩 (a familiar metaphor)」. 「卑」 means low, 「近」 means near; together they express "something at a low, near position". As opposed to the abstract and difficult, it refers to the concrete and close at hand, and is widely used as an introductory phrase in explanation, as in 「卑近な例で言えば (to give a familiar example)」.

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N2〜N5 引く ひく
pull. To move something toward oneself by applying force. Example: 「戸を引く」 (to pull a door). The antonym is 「押す」 (to push). There is also the homophone 「弾く」 (to play a musical instrument), among others.

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N5 弾く ひく
To play an instrument such as a piano or guitar. Same reading as 「引く」, but used only for musical instruments.

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N3, N5 低い ひくい
low. A state where the length from bottom to top is small. The antonym is 「高い」 (high).

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N1 卑屈 ひくつ
Refers to viewing oneself lower than necessary, becoming dejected or fawning. Used in expressions like 「卑屈な態度 (a servile attitude)」「卑屈になる (to become servile)」「卑屈な笑い (a fawning smile)」. 「卑」 means low, 「屈」 means to bend; together they express a posture of lowering and bending oneself. It refers to a negative posture arising from failure, inferiority complexes, or differences in status, distinguished from appropriate modesty ('「謙虚」'). Whereas 「謙虚」 is a virtue, 「卑屈」 is excessive self-deprecation that becomes the object of criticism.

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N1 秘訣 ひけつ
Refers to a knack or method, little known to others, for doing something well. Used in expressions like 「成功の秘訣 (the secret of success)」「長寿の秘訣 (the secret of long life)」「秘訣を伝授する (to pass on a secret)」. 「秘」 means secret, 「訣」 means the heart of a mystery; together they express "the secret essence". It is a word for essential know-how hard to see from the surface, appearing frequently in self-help books, interview articles, and contexts that discuss the skills of artisans.

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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.