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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
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4,238words (N1–N5 total)
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N1
くしくも
くしくも
By a mysterious turn of events. Used in expressions like 「くしくも同じ日に」, it is an adverb leaning toward written language, used in situations where a coincidental match is felt to be fateful. It is also written with the kanji 「奇しくも」.
AI-generated translation
N5
薬
くすり
medicine. Something taken or applied to cure illness or injury. Used with the verb 「薬をのむ」 (to take medicine).
AI-generated translation
N3
癖
くせ
habit. A behavior peculiar to a person that they do unconsciously; often used for undesirable behaviors. Example: 「爪をかむ癖」 (a habit of biting one's nails), 「口癖」 (a pet phrase). While 「習慣」 can also be used for groups, 「癖」 is used for individuals, including animals. Also used to mean a trait different from the ordinary, as in 「癖のある字」 (handwriting with quirks).
AI-generated translation
N3
管
くだ
tube. A long, thin pipe through which water or air, etc., passes. Example: 「ゴムの管」 (a rubber tube). Read as 「かん」 in words like 「血管」 (blood vessel) and 「水道管」 (water pipe).
AI-generated translation
N3
砕く
くだく
crush. To break a hard object into small pieces. Example: 「氷を砕く」 (to crush ice). There is also the expression 「心を砕く」 (to take great pains over something). 「砕く」 is used when someone applies force to break something, and 「砕ける」 when it breaks apart of its own accord: 「氷を砕く」 versus 「氷が砕ける」.
AI-generated translation
N3
下り
くだり
Heading from a high place to a low place. Example: 「下り坂」 (a downhill slope), 「下りの電車」 (a train heading away from the city center). The antonym is 「上り」 (going up).
AI-generated translation
N1
口裏
くちうら
「口裏」 refers to the back side of spoken words—that is, the content of what has been said. It expresses multiple people aligning the content of their stories. It is a noun used in a virtually fixed form as 「口裏を合わせる」, and often appears in contexts suggesting illicit collusion.
AI-generated translation
N1
駆逐
くちく
「駆」 means to drive away, and 「逐」 means to drive away; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to driving away undesirable things. Used in expressions like 「悪貨は良貨を駆逐する」 or 「敵を駆逐する」, it is a formal word used in the sense of completely removing something from a certain area.
AI-generated translation
N1
口車
くちぐるま
「口車」 is a metaphorical term referring to something that, like a wheel, uses skillful words to move the other person. It refers to a way of speaking that tries to deceive others through clever talk. Used idiomatically in the forms 「口車に乗る」 or 「口車に乗せる」, in situations of being deceived by clever speech.
AI-generated translation
N1
口先
くちさき
A word transferred from the original meaning of the tip of the mouth, referring to superficial words that have no heart in them. Used in expressions like 「口先だけ」 or 「口先で言う」, it critically points to a manner in which words do not match action or one's true heart.
AI-generated translation
N1
口添え
くちぞえ
It refers to adding helpful words from the side so that another's request or negotiation goes smoothly. Used in expressions like 「口添えを頼む」, in situations where a third party steps in between to provide support.
AI-generated translation
N1
口止め
くちどめ
It refers to telling someone not to mention something to others. Used in expressions like 「口止めをする」 or 「口止め料」, in situations of warning someone in advance to keep something secret.
AI-generated translation
N1
口走る
くちばしる
It refers to thoughtlessly, or in excitement, blurting out something one should not say. Used in expressions like 「秘密を口走る」 or 「失言を口走る」, it indicates a remark made contrary to the speaker's intention.
AI-generated translation
N1
口火
くちび
「口火」 originally referred to the part used to light the first fire in a matchlock gun or a stove. From this, it came to be used metaphorically for the trigger that starts something. As in 「議論の口火を切る」 or 「事件の口火となる」, it refers to an action or event that becomes the initial trigger for something to occur.
AI-generated translation
N3
唇
くちびる
lips. The soft part around the mouth. There is also the expression 「唇をかむ」 (to bite one's lip, i.e., to hold back frustration).
AI-generated translation
N1
朽ちる
くちる
It refers to wood or plants rotting and falling to pieces over time. Used in expressions like 「朽ちた門」 or 「名声が朽ちる」, by metaphor it is also used for the decline of reputation or memory, not just for physical things.
AI-generated translation
N1
覆す
くつがえす
Originally it means to physically turn over a boat or vessel. From the original use as in 「机を覆す」, it came to be used metaphorically for overturning a stable state and changing it at its root. It is most often used in situations of reversing what has been decided or an established view, such as judgments, accepted theories, or political systems, as in 「定説を覆す」 or 「政権を覆す」.
AI-generated translation
N1
覆る
くつがえる
Originally it means for a boat or vessel to physically turn over. From the original use as in 「船が覆る」, it came to be used metaphorically for a stable state being overturned and changing at its root. It is most often used in situations where what had been decided or an established view is reversed, as in 「判決が覆る」 or 「定説が覆る」.
AI-generated translation
N1
屈強
くっきょう
「屈」 means to bend or be broken in spirit, and 「強」 means strong. It describes being so strong that even when bent one does not yield, hence having a sturdy build and strong physical power. Used in expressions like 「屈強な体格」 or 「屈強な男たち」, it is a formal word for describing a person of outstanding physical strength.
AI-generated translation
N1
屈指
くっし
It refers to being so few that they can be counted on one's fingers, or outstanding enough to be included among them. Used in expressions like 「世界屈指の名選手」 or 「業界屈指の企業」, it is a formal word for being included in the top few people or companies.
AI-generated translation
N1
屈託
くったく
A state in which worry or anxiety lingers in one's heart and does not clear away. It is also used in the affirmative, as in 「屈託のある表情」, but it is especially often used in the negative form, as in 「屈託のない笑顔」 or 「屈託なく笑う」, to express a bright, carefree appearance.
AI-generated translation
N1
屈服
くっぷく
「屈」 means to bow one's body, and 「服」 means to submit; together they mean to bow one's body and submit. It refers to losing to the other's force or pressure and submitting. Used in expressions like 「武力に屈服する」 or 「圧力に屈服する」, in situations of being forced to stop resisting and follow the other party's will.
AI-generated translation
N1
駆動
くどう
「駆」 means to drive forward, and 「動」 means to set in motion; together they mean to apply power to make something move. It refers to supplying motive power to machines or devices to make them operate. Used in expressions like 「四輪駆動」 or 「電動で駆動する」, it is a technical word expressing power transmission in automobiles and machinery.
AI-generated translation
N3
配る
くばる
distribute. To divide something up and give it to many people. Example: 「プリントを配る」 (to hand out worksheets). Also used to mean paying close attention to something, as in 「気を配る」 (to be attentive).
AI-generated translation
N1
具備
ぐび
「具」 means to fully equip, and 「備」 means to prepare; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to fully meeting all required conditions or qualifications. Used in expressions like 「要件を具備する」, it is a formal administrative term used in application or qualification review contexts.
AI-generated translation
N4
首
くび
neck. The part that connects the head and body. Also used to mean being fired from a job, as in 「首になる」 (to get fired).
AI-generated translation
N1
くまなく
くまなく
An adverb meaning "to every corner without remainder, with no place left untouched." Used in expressions like 「くまなく探す」 or 「くまなく調べる」, it is used in situations of carrying out search or investigation thoroughly.
AI-generated translation
N3
組合
くみあい
union. An organization formed by people who share the same purpose. Example: 「労働組合」 (labor union), 「組合に入る」 (to join a union).
AI-generated translation
N1
組み直す
くみなおす
It refers to once undoing what has already been put together and rebuilding it anew. Used in expressions like 「予算を組み直す」 or 「計画を組み直す」, in situations of reconstructing after a review.
AI-generated translation
N1
組み伏せる
くみふせる
It refers to grappling with the other party and pinning them down by force so that they cannot move. It is a somewhat formal word used in situations of fighting or arrest, and also appears in news articles.
AI-generated translation
N1
汲む
くむ
Originally a verb meaning to scoop up liquid with a vessel. From this it developed the figurative meaning of perceiving and showing consideration for another person's circumstances or feelings. Used in situations where one reads and accepts another's unspoken thoughts, as in 「事情を汲む」(understand someone's circumstances)、「気持ちを汲む」(understand someone's feelings)、「真意を汲む」(grasp the true intention). The form 「汲み取る」 is also commonly used. The figurative usage is central.
AI-generated translation
N3
組む
くむ
To combine separate things into one. Also used when cooperating with a person or making a plan, as in 「腕を組む」 (to fold one's arms), 「予算を組む」 (to put together a budget).
AI-generated translation
N1
工面
くめん
「工」 means craft or effort, and 「面」 means contrivance; together they mean to contrive through ingenuity. It refers to somehow managing to prepare money or other things through hard effort. Used in expressions like 「学費を工面する」 or 「資金を工面する」, in situations of scraping together what is lacking.
AI-generated translation
N4
雲
くも
cloud. A white or dark mass floating in the sky.
AI-generated translation
N5
曇り
くもり
Weather in which the sky is covered with clouds. The antonym is 「はれ」 (clear weather).
AI-generated translation
N5
曇る
くもる
For the sky to become full of clouds. Example: 「午後から曇る」 (it will become cloudy in the afternoon).
AI-generated translation
N1
苦悶
くもん
「苦」 means pain or suffering, and 「悶」 means to writhe in agony; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to writhing intensely in physical pain or mental suffering. Used in expressions like 「苦悶の表情を浮かべる」, it is a formal written word expressing deep suffering, used in newspapers and literary writing.
AI-generated translation
N3
悔しい
くやしい
A frustrated, angry feeling that comes from losing or failing and being unable to accept it. Example: 「試合に負けて悔しい」 (frustrated at losing the match), 「悔しい思いをする」 (to feel frustration).
AI-generated translation
N3
悔やむ
くやむ
regret. To feel sorry, thinking one should have done otherwise at that time. Example: 「失敗を悔やむ」 (to regret a failure). 「悔いる」 is a formal word with the same meaning.
AI-generated translation
N1, N3, N5
暗い
くらい
dark. Having little light, so things are hard to see. Example: 「暗いへや」 (a dark room). The antonym is 「明るい」 (bright).
AI-generated translation
N3
暮らす
くらす
To live and spend one's days. Example: 「一人で暮らす」 (to live alone), 「幸せに暮らす」 (to live happily). The noun form is 「暮らし」 (life/living).
AI-generated translation
N4
比べる
くらべる
To look at two or more things and examine their differences. Example: 「ねだんを比べる」 (to compare prices).
AI-generated translation
N3
繰り返す
くりかえす
repeat. To do the same thing many times. Example: 「失敗を繰り返す」 (to repeat a mistake), 「同じ説明を繰り返す」 (to repeat the same explanation).
AI-generated translation
N1
苦慮
くりょ
「苦」 means painful, and 「慮」 means to consider or worry; together they mean to think while suffering. It refers to thinking and worrying over and over. Used in expressions like 「対応に苦慮する」 or 「処遇に苦慮している」, it is a formal expression for situations of struggling with how to handle a difficult problem. Often seen in newspapers and official announcements.
AI-generated translation
N5
来る
くる
come. For a person or thing to move toward where the speaker is. The antonym is 「行く」 (to go). The reading changes to 「こ」 or 「き」 in forms like 「来ない」 and 「来ます」.
AI-generated translation
N3
狂う
くるう
To go out of a normal state. Used to mean something not working correctly or not going as planned, as in 「時計が狂う」 (a clock goes out of order), 「計画が狂う」 (a plan goes awry).
AI-generated translation
N3
苦しい
くるしい
A state in which the body or mind is in distress. Example: 「息が苦しい」 (it's hard to breathe), 「生活が苦しい」 (life is hard, i.e., not enough money), 「苦しい言い訳」 (a strained/unconvincing excuse).
AI-generated translation
N5
車
くるま
car. A vehicle that carries people or things and runs on roads. Mainly refers to an automobile.
AI-generated translation
N3
くるむ
くるむ
To wrap something entirely. Example: 「赤ちゃんを毛布でくるむ」 (to wrap a baby in a blanket). Nearly the same as 「包む」, but used when wrapping something soft around an object like winding it.
AI-generated translation
N3
暮れ
くれ
The time toward the end of a day, season, or year. Example: 「年の暮れ」 (the end of the year), 「日の暮れ」 (evening/dusk). The verb form is 「暮れる」.
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.