Log in to save your learning history.
Sign up
ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
Search words across all levels
4,238words (N1–N5 total)
Searches word and reading by partial match. Tick the box below to search meanings too
Status
Filtered by N1・N5
·
231words
Clear filters
N1
忙殺
ぼうさつ
Refers to the state of being so overwhelmed by work or errands that one has no time at all for anything else. As in 「仕事に忙殺される (to be swamped by work)」「雑務に忙殺される日々 (days buried under miscellaneous tasks)」, it is almost always used in the passive form 「忙殺される」, and is a formal word. Active usage is rare; the word expresses a passive situation of being overwhelmed by sheer workload rather than by one's own will. It is used in formal styles such as reports, letters, and newspaper articles.
AI-generated translation
N5
帽子
ぼうし
hat. Something worn on the head.
AI-generated translation
N1
傍若無人
ぼうじゃくぶじん
Refers to behaving as one pleases as if no one were around, lacking consideration for others. It is a four-character idiom used in expressions like 「傍若無人な振る舞い (high-handed conduct)」「傍若無人に振る舞う (to behave as if no one else exists)」. Read in classical Chinese style as 「傍らに人無きが若し (as if there were no one beside one)」, its literal meaning is "as if there were no one beside you". It is used in contexts strongly criticizing an attitude that pays absolutely no regard to those around.
AI-generated translation
N1
呆然
ぼうぜん
Refers to the appearance of standing dazed, with one's mind unable to function, when confronted with an unexpected event or a strong shock. Used in expressions like 「呆然と立ち尽くす (to stand stunned)」「呆然とする (to be stunned)」「呆然自失 (utterly stupefied)」. 「然」 is a suffix expressing a manner, and the word expresses 「a state as if dazed」. It refers to a temporary state of blank-mindedness in which both thought and reaction have come to a halt, caused by surprise, sorrow, loss, despair, and the like.
AI-generated translation
N1
忙中
ぼうちゅう
Refers to the midst of being busy. It is a formal word known for the proverb 「忙中閑あり (even in the midst of busyness, there are moments of leisure)」, and is rarely used on its own — it almost always appears as a component of this set phrase. Carrying a classical-Chinese resonance, it is used in formal styles.
AI-generated translation
N1
冒涜
ぼうとく
Refers to defiling and treating with contempt what is sacred, exalted, or worthy of reverence. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「神を冒涜する (to blaspheme against the gods)」「死者への冒涜 (a desecration of the dead)」「芸術の冒涜 (a desecration of art)」. It is used for acts of insulting things that ought to be respected — religious objects, the deceased, art, lofty ideals — and carries a strongly condemnatory implication. It is used frequently in news reports, criticism, and protest statements.
AI-generated translation
N1
放任
ほうにん
Refers to a person who is in a position to manage or guide deliberately refraining from interference and leaving the subject to act freely. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「子供を放任する (to leave a child to themselves)」「自由放任 (laissez-faire)」「放任主義 (a hands-off policy)」. It is used in contexts of education, economic policy, and organizational management, and can be used with either positive or negative evaluation. Because it expresses intentional hands-off behavior, its nuance differs from 「放置 (irresponsible neglect)」, but there are also contexts in which the result is criticized as abandonment of responsibility.
AI-generated translation
N1
彷彿
ほうふつ
Refers to the appearance of vividly coming to mind, or the appearance of so resembling something as to bring it to mind. It is a formal word used most often in expressions like 「彷彿させる (to evoke)」「彷彿たる思い (a hazily evocative feeling)」, especially in the form 「〜を彷彿させる」. It expresses the sensation that a past person, event, or scene is vividly revived through something in the present, and appears frequently in literary and critical contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
方便
ほうべん
Refers to an expedient, temporary means used to achieve a goal. It is originally a Buddhist term referring to the various staged methods of teaching used to guide people to the truth, but today, as represented by the idiom 「うそも方便 (even a lie can be a means to an end)」, it is used to mean a means that is not the main path but is used out of necessity to achieve a goal. It is used in contexts indicating that something is a means that is not one's true intention, as in 「方便として (as a means)」「方便にすぎない (nothing more than a means)」.
AI-generated translation
N1
放免
ほうめん
Refers to releasing someone being held in custody and setting them free. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「容疑者を放免する (to release a suspect)」「無罪放免 (acquittal and release)」. It refers to the public act of release from a state of confinement such as arrest or detention, and is widely used in legal and criminal contexts. There is also a metaphorical use expressing release from obligation or burden, as in 「ようやく仕事から放免された (at last released from work)」.
AI-generated translation
N1
包容
ほうよう
Refers to embracing another person with a broad heart, including their flaws and mistakes. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「包容力のある人 (a person of broad-minded tolerance)」「包容して受け入れる (to embrace and accept)」. It expresses generosity and largeness of spirit, and is used in a positive sense in evaluating character. Both 「包」 and 「容」 mean "to wrap up and receive", forming a compound that stacks two characters to emphasize meaning. It is used frequently in contexts discussing business and human relationships.
AI-generated translation
N1
崩落
ほうらく
Refers to earth and sand, rocks, or parts of buildings collapsing and falling down. Used in expressions like 「土砂崩落 (a landslide)」「天井が崩落する (the ceiling collapses)」「橋が崩落する (a bridge collapses)」. Whereas 「崩壊」 refers broadly to a state in which something ceases to hold together, 「崩落」 focuses on the physical process of falling downward. It also has a metaphorical economic usage as in 「相場の崩落 (a collapse of market prices)」, expressing a sudden drop.
AI-generated translation
N1
暴落
ぼうらく
Refers to a sharp and large drop in stock prices, commodity prices, or market prices within a short period. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「株価が暴落する (stock prices crash)」「不動産価格の暴落 (a crash in real estate prices)」, appearing frequently in economic and financial contexts, with the antonym 「暴騰」. Unlike a mere 「値下がり (price decline)」, this word expresses a sudden, large-scale collapse of market prices, and is often discussed in connection with market turmoil or economic crises.
AI-generated translation
N1
飽和
ほうわ
Refers to a state of being so full that there is no more room to accept anything. Used in expressions like 「市場が飽和する (the market becomes saturated)」「飽和状態 (saturated state)」「飽和点に達する (to reach the saturation point)」. Originally a chemistry term denoting a state in which a liquid has dissolved a substance to its maximum, the meaning has shifted to metaphorically express situations such as markets, demand, capacity, or information volume having reached their limit. It is a formal word used frequently in economic and social contexts.
AI-generated translation
N5
ほか
ほか
Something different from that. Example: 「ほかの人」 (a different person). The kanji 「他」 is also used, but usually written in hiragana.
AI-generated translation
N1
墓穴
ぼけつ
Refers to a hole for burying the dead. However, in modern Japanese it is almost always used as the idiom 「墓穴を掘る (to dig one's own grave)」, expressing the idea of bringing oneself into a tight spot through one's own careless words or actions. Used in expressions like 「不用意な発言で墓穴を掘る (to dig one's own grave with a careless remark)」「弁解しようとして墓穴を掘った (one ended up digging one's own grave while trying to make excuses)」. The contexts in which it is used in its literal sense are limited, and the metaphorical usage overwhelmingly dominates in everyday conversation and news reports.
AI-generated translation
N1
保身
ほしん
Refers to trying to protect one's own position, standing, and personal safety while evading responsibility and danger. Used in expressions like 「保身を図る (to seek to protect oneself)」「保身に走る (to resort to self-preservation)」「保身的な態度 (a self-protective attitude)」. It is a formal word used frequently in critical contexts pointing to an attitude of evading one's organizational responsibilities and seeking only to secure one's own safe position. It appears often in discussions of political and corporate scandals.
AI-generated translation
N1
母性
ぼせい
Refers to qualities one has as a mother, or the instinctive tendency to cherish and protect one's child. Used in expressions like 「母性愛 (maternal love)」「母性本能 (maternal instinct)」「母性が芽生える (maternal feelings begin to grow)」. It is also a word used in psychological and sociological contexts, but in recent years there has been criticism of the view that takes this as something unique to women, and usage is shifting. Its conceptual counterpart is 「父性」.
AI-generated translation
N5
細い
ほそい
A state where the width of a round thing is small. The antonym is 「太い」 (thick).
AI-generated translation
N1
母胎
ぼたい
Refers to inside the mother's body, the womb. From there, by extension, it is used metaphorically for the organization or foundation that gives birth to something. It is a formal word used both in the physical sense, as in 「母胎から離れる (to leave the mother's body)」, and in the metaphorical sense, as in 「文化の母胎 (the matrix of culture)」「会社の母胎となった研究所 (the research institute that served as the matrix of the company)」. In the metaphorical sense, it often refers to the organization or environment that was the origin and starting point of what is now a developed form.
AI-generated translation
N1
没収
ぼっしゅう
Refers to the act of forcibly taking away someone's property by authority based on law or regulation. Used in expressions like 「財産を没収する (to confiscate property)」「違反者から免許を没収する (to revoke a violator's license)」「カードを没収される (to have one's card confiscated)」. Unlike private 「取り上げ (taking away)」, its distinctive feature is that it accompanies the exercise of public authority, and it is a formal word used in legal, sports, and customs contexts.
AI-generated translation
N1
没落
ぼつらく
Refers to a family, nation, or organization that once flourished losing its status, wealth, and power, and falling into decline. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「名家が没落する (a noble family falls into ruin)」「没落貴族 (the fallen aristocracy)」. Rather than a temporary downturn, it expresses a decisive decline involving the loss of social standing, and often implies an irreversible change. It is frequently used in historical writings and literary works.
AI-generated translation
N5
本
ほん
book. Something with letters or pictures on it, made to be read. It is also used as a word for counting long, thin things such as pencils and bottles. いっぽん・にほん・さんぼん・よんほん・ごほん・ろっぽん・ななほん・はっぽん・きゅうほん・じゅっぽん, and 「なんぼん」. For 1, 6, 8 and 10 it becomes 「ぽん」, and for 3 and 「なん」 it becomes 「ぼん」.
AI-generated translation
N1
本意
ほんい
Refers to the true intention or feeling that one desires from the bottom of one's heart. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「本意ではない (it is not my true intention)」「本意を遂げる (to fulfill one's true wish)」. It expresses the genuine inner wish, not the surface words or the result of compromise. It is often used in the form 「本意ではないが (although it is not my true intention)」 as a preface when accepting a conclusion that differs from one's wishes. There is a tendency for 「本心」 to point to the emotional side and 「本意」 to point to the volitional, intentional side.
AI-generated translation
N1
翻意
ほんい
Refers to changing a thought or decision that one has once made. Used in expressions like 「翻意を促す (to urge someone to reconsider)」「翻意する (to change one's mind)」. It is a formal word used primarily in contexts where one tries to persuade a person who has announced resignation, retirement, withdrawal, or cancellation to retract that decision. It is hardly used in everyday conversation and is biased toward the style of news reports and official statements.
AI-generated translation
N5
本棚
ほんだな
A shelf for storing books.
AI-generated translation
N5
本当
ほんとう
Being true, not a lie. Example: 「本当ですか」 (is that true?).
AI-generated translation
N1
本末転倒
ほんまつてんとう
Refers to mistaking the essential parts of a matter for trivial ones. It is a four-character idiom that critically describes a state in which means have been substituted for ends, or in which priorities of importance have been reversed. Used in expressions like 「本末転倒な議論 (an argument that puts the cart before the horse)」「健康のためのダイエットで体を壊しては本末転倒だ (ruining one's health on a diet for one's health is putting the cart before the horse)」. 「本」 means the root or essence, 「末」 means the branches or tip, and the word expresses that this relationship has been 「転倒 (inverted)」.
AI-generated translation
N1
本望
ほんもう
Refers to the feeling of satisfaction that comes when a long-cherished wish is fulfilled. Used in expressions like 「本望を遂げる (to achieve one's heart's desire)」「これで本望だ (this is enough to satisfy me)」. It is a formal word expressing the sense of fulfillment when a long-held wish or a determined goal is achieved, and is often used for great wishes worth even risking one's life for. There is also an idiomatic expression like 「死んでも本望 (it would be worth dying for)」, indicating a resolve that accepts even sacrifice.
AI-generated translation
N1
凡庸
ぼんよう
Refers to something mediocre, lacking any distinguishing features, and unremarkable. Used in expressions like 「凡庸な作品 (a mediocre work)」「凡庸な人物 (a mediocre person)」. It is a formal na-adjective used by an evaluator to describe an object as having no notable qualities in terms of talent, personality, or quality. Compared to simply saying 「普通 (ordinary)」, this word carries a stronger negative, critical undertone, and is frequently used in critical or commentary-style writing. Its antonym is 「非凡 (extraordinary)」.
AI-generated translation
N1
翻弄
ほんろう
Refers to being tossed about as if being toyed with by some other force, regardless of one's own will. As in 「波に翻弄される (to be tossed about by the waves)」「運命に翻弄される (to be played with by fate)」「相手の戦術に翻弄される (to be confounded by the opponent's tactics)」, it is normally used in the passive form. It is a written-language word expressing situations of being swayed by great irresistible forces, such as the power of nature, fate, the intentions of the strong, or emotions.
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.