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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
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4,238words (N1–N5 total)
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Filtered by N1・N3
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N1
旧弊
きゅうへい
「旧」 means old, and 「弊」 means bad practice; together they mean old bad practice. It refers to bad customs or ways of thinking that have continued from old times. Used in expressions like 「旧弊を打破する」 or 「旧弊にとらわれる」, it is used negatively in contexts speaking of reform or modernization. It is a formal word.
AI-generated translation
N1
窮乏
きゅうぼう
「窮」 means to be cornered, and 「乏」 means to be scarce; together they mean to fall into a state of being cornered and lacking. It refers to a state of being severely in trouble due to lack of money or goods. Used in expressions like 「窮乏生活」 or 「家計が窮乏する」. It is a formal word used in newspapers and editorials rather than everyday conversation, indicating serious economic distress.
AI-generated translation
N1
急務
きゅうむ
「急」 means urgent, and 「務」 means duty; together they refer to a duty that must be undertaken urgently. It refers to a task that must be tackled as soon as possible. Used in expressions like 「急務である」 or 「○○は急務だ」. It is a formal word frequently appearing in policy and management contexts, indicating high priority.
AI-generated translation
N1
究明
きゅうめい
「究」 means to investigate to the utmost, and 「明」 means to make clear; together they mean to investigate thoroughly and make clear. It refers to deeply investigating the cause or truth of a matter and making it plain. Used in expressions like 「原因究明」 or 「真相究明」. It is a formal word frequently appearing in public contexts such as accident reports and investigation findings.
AI-generated translation
N1
丘陵
きゅうりょう
「丘」 means hill, and 「陵」 means a mound or low hill; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to a low mountainous area with gentle undulations. It refers to terrain that lies between plains and mountains. Used in expressions like 「丘陵地帯」 or 「多摩丘陵」, it is a formal word used in geographical and nature descriptions.
AI-generated translation
N1
仰々しい
ぎょうぎょうしい
It describes a manner that is exaggerated beyond necessity, trying to appear grander than reality. Used in expressions like 「仰々しい身ぶり」 or 「仰々しい言い方」, it is an adjective with a slightly critical tone toward affected attitudes or expressions.
AI-generated translation
N1
凝視
ぎょうし
「凝」 means to concentrate on one point, and 「視」 means to look; together they mean to concentrate one's gaze on one point. It refers to staring without averting one's eyes. Used in expressions like 「凝視する」 or 「凝視を続ける」. It is a formal, literary, observational word expressing looking with strong attention or concern.
AI-generated translation
N1
享受
きょうじゅ
「享」 means to receive and savor, and 「受」 means to receive; together they mean to receive and savor. It refers to accepting something good and enjoying it as one's own. Used in expressions like 「自由を享受する」 or 「恩恵を享受する」, in the sense of receiving and enjoying rights, benefits, or arts. It is a formal word.
AI-generated translation
N1
強靭
きょうじん
「強」 means strong, and 「靭」 means tough and supple; together they mean strong and resilient. It refers to not easily breaking or losing. Used in expressions like 「強靭な肉体」 or 「強靭な精神力」. It is a somewhat formal word used for both physical and mental strength.
AI-generated translation
N1
矯正
きょうせい
「矯」 means to straighten what is bent, and 「正」 means to correct; together they mean to straighten distortion. It refers to correcting a bad state or habit into a good one. Used in expressions like 「歯列矯正」, 「視力矯正」, or 「矯正施設」. It is a formal word used in the sense of returning the body, character, or behavior to a normal state.
AI-generated translation
N1
驚嘆
きょうたん
「驚」 means to be amazed, and 「嘆」 means to exclaim in admiration; together they mean to be amazed and admire. It refers to being deeply impressed and amazed. Used in expressions like 「驚嘆に値する」 or 「驚嘆の声を上げる」. It is a formal word with a sense of praise, expressing deep emotion at something excellent.
AI-generated translation
N3
共通
きょうつう
common. Something that applies to any of two or more things. Example: 「共通の友人」 (a mutual friend), 「共通点」 (a common point), 「共通の話題」 (a shared topic).
AI-generated translation
N1
仰天
ぎょうてん
「仰」 means to look up, and 「天」 means the sky or heaven; the original meaning is being so astonished that one looks up to the sky. From this, it came to mean being so amazed that one cannot even speak. Used in expressions like 「びっくり仰天」 or 「仰天する」. It is a somewhat archaic word expressing amazement of a greater degree than ordinary surprise.
AI-generated translation
N1
共謀
きょうぼう
「共」 means together, and 「謀」 means to plot or scheme; together they mean to plot together. It refers to two or more people conspiring to carry out a wrongful act. Used in expressions like 「共謀して犯行に及ぶ」 or 「共謀罪」. It is a formal word frequently appearing in legal and crime news, always used in a negative sense.
AI-generated translation
N1
極限
きょくげん
「極」 means to reach the extreme, and 「限」 means a limit; together they mean a limit pushed to the utmost. It refers to a state from which one can go no further. Used in expressions like 「極限状態」 or 「極限まで追求する」. It is a somewhat formal word for physical or mental limits, used broadly in academic papers, novels, and sports.
AI-generated translation
N3
極端
きょくたん
extreme. A state greatly deviating from the normal degree. Example: 「極端な意見」 (an extreme opinion), 「極端に少ない」 (extremely few).
AI-generated translation
N1
極致
きょくち
「極」 means to reach the extreme, and 「致」 means to arrive; together they mean a state of arriving at the extreme. It refers to the highest state reached by pursuing something to its end. Used in expressions like 「美の極致」 or 「贅沢の極致」, it is a formal word expressing a quality having reached its limit, carrying praise or criticism.
AI-generated translation
N1
極力
きょくりょく
「極」 means to reach the extreme, and 「力」 means power; together they mean to exert oneself to the utmost. It means "as much as possible" or "to the maximum within what is feasible". Used in expressions like 「極力避ける」 or 「極力協力する」, it is an adverb modifying verbs. It is a formal expression used in formal situations and business documents.
AI-generated translation
N1
挙動
きょどう
「挙」 means to behave or carry oneself, and 「動」 means to move; together they refer to a person's behavior and movement. It refers to a person's actions and conduct. Used in expressions like 「挙動が怪しい」 or 「不審な挙動」. It is a formal word describing the movements of an observed subject, frequently appearing in security and investigation contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
拒否反応
きょひはんのう
Originally a medical term referring to the immune response in which the body rejects a transplanted organ as a foreign substance and tries to eliminate it. From this, the term came to be used metaphorically for an unconscious strong refusal to accept something new or unfamiliar. It is a relatively formal word frequently used in psychological and social contexts, as in 「○○に拒否反応を示す」.
AI-generated translation
N3
距離
きょり
The length between two places or things. Also used when a relationship with a person is distant, as in 「距離を置く」 (to keep one's distance).
AI-generated translation
N1
切り口
きりくち
Originally it means the cross-section that appears when something is cut. From this, it came to be used metaphorically for the perspective or angle from which one approaches a matter. Used in expressions like 「新しい切り口」 or 「斬新な切り口」, it is a somewhat formal word for grasping things from one's own perspective.
AI-generated translation
N1
切り詰める
きりつめる
It refers to eliminating waste and reducing costs or quantities to the minimum necessary. It is a word used in forms like 「生活費を切り詰める」 or 「支出を切り詰める」, used in the context of frugality and saving.
AI-generated translation
N1
切り盛り
きりもり
The original meaning is the action of cutting food and dividing it onto plates. From this, it came to be used metaphorically for skillfully managing household finances or running a shop. Used in expressions like 「家計を切り盛りする」 or 「店を切り盛りする」, it is a somewhat formal word for managing a household or small-scale business.
AI-generated translation
N1
極める
きわめる
「極」 means the utmost, the very edge. It refers to deeply pursuing something to its highest stage. Used in expressions like 「道を極める」 or 「栄華を極める」, in the sense of skill or state reaching its highest stage. While the same-reading 「究める」 means to pursue and understand truth, 「極める」 more often expresses the peak of a state.
AI-generated translation
N1
究める
きわめる
「究」 means to investigate to the depths. It refers to deeply pursuing and clarifying the essence or truth of a matter. Used in expressions like 「学問を究める」 or 「真理を究める」, in contexts of intellectual inquiry. While the same-reading 「極める」 means to reach the peak of a state, 「究める」 leans toward the sense of pursuing and understanding deeply.
AI-generated translation
N1
均衡
きんこう
「均」 means equal, and 「衡」 means the crossbar of a balance, that is, equilibrium; the word combines two characters both related to balance. It refers to a state in which the forces or quantities of two or more things are balanced with each other. Used in expressions like 「均衡を保つ」 or 「均衡を破る」. It is a formal word frequently appearing in contexts of power relations in economy, politics, and nature.
AI-generated translation
N1
緊縮
きんしゅく
「緊」 means to tighten, and 「縮」 means to shrink; together they mean to tighten and shrink. It refers to constraining and reducing expenditure or scale. Used in expressions like 「緊縮財政」 or 「緊縮政策」, it is a formal word frequently appearing in economic and administrative contexts, contrasted with 「拡大」.
AI-generated translation
N1
緊迫
きんぱく
「緊」 means tense, and 「迫」 means to press in; together they mean tense and pressing in. It refers to a situation in a strained, imminent state. Used in expressions like 「緊迫した情勢」 or 「現場が緊迫する」, it is a formal word frequently appearing in news reports, used for political, diplomatic, or incident-scene contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
吟味
ぎんみ
「吟」 means to recite poetry and savor it, and 「味」 means to taste; the word combines two characters both meaning to savor and consider. It refers to closely examining content or quality and selecting carefully. Used in expressions like 「材料を吟味する」 or 「言葉を吟味する」, it means to carefully consider in order to choose what is good, and is a formal word used broadly for selecting ingredients, language, and products.
AI-generated translation
N1
食い込む
くいこむ
It refers to going beyond the original range and entering another domain. Used in expressions like 「予算に食い込む」 or 「上位に食い込む」, in situations where what should originally be on the outside enters the inside, such as time, budget, or ranking. It also has the physical meaning of being deeply embedded.
AI-generated translation
N1
食い下がる
くいさがる
It refers to not giving up and persistently pressing on the other party. Used in expressions like 「記者が大臣に食い下がる」, in situations of pursuing without retreating even when the other party hesitates to answer. It is derived from the original meaning of physically clinging on.
AI-generated translation
N1
苦境
くきょう
「苦」 means hardship, and 「境」 means situation; together they mean a painful situation. It refers to a position or circumstance that is extremely painful. Used in expressions like 「苦境に立たされる」 or 「苦境に陥る」, it is a formal word for situations of being driven into difficulty. It frequently appears in economic and political articles.
AI-generated translation
N1
具現化
ぐげんか
「具」 means concrete, 「現」 means to manifest, and 「化」 means to turn into; together they mean to manifest in a concrete form. It refers to giving an abstract idea or ideal a visible, concrete form and realizing it. Used in expressions like 「理想を具現化する」 or 「夢を具現化する」, it is a formal word used when bringing a concept into actual form.
AI-generated translation
N3
鎖
くさり
chain. Metal rings linked together to form something like a rope. Example: 「犬を鎖でつなぐ」 (to tie a dog with a chain).
AI-generated translation
N3
腐る
くさる
rot. For food, etc., to go bad from age. Example: 「魚が腐る」 (fish rots). Also used to mean losing motivation, as in 「気持ちが腐る」 (to become dispirited).
AI-generated translation
N1
駆使
くし
「駆」 means to drive forward, and 「使」 means to use; together they mean to drive forward and use at will. It refers to skillfully using knowledge, technique, or language that one possesses, as one wishes. Used in expressions like 「最新技術を駆使する」 or 「三カ国語を駆使する」, in situations of freely employing high-level abilities.
AI-generated translation
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
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
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.