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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
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4,238words (N1–N5 total)
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Filtered by N2・N3・N4
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158words
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N4
娘
むすめ
One's own daughter.
AI-generated translation
N3
無駄
むだ
waste. Being of no use. Having no effect. Example: 「時間の無駄」 (a waste of time), 「無駄づかい」 (wasteful spending).
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
夢中
むちゅう
Being so absorbed in one thing that one forgets everything else. Example: 「ゲームに夢中になる」 (to be absorbed in a game).
AI-generated translation
N2
空しい
むなしい
A state in which there is no content or substance, and no value or meaning can be felt. Originally meaning "empty inside," it broadened from there to the nuances of "without substance" and "unrewarded." A representative usage expresses the feeling when effort or expectations go unrewarded, as in 「空しい努力」, 「空しく終わる」, 「空しい気持ち」. It also frequently appears in philosophical and literary contexts expressing a state of having lost the meaning of life or existence. Also written 「虚しい」, which is likewise common as a modern spelling.
AI-generated translation
N3
胸
むね
chest. The front part of the body between the neck and the abdomen. Example: 「胸が痛い」 (one's chest hurts). Also used to mean the heart/mind, as in 「胸がいっぱいになる」 (to be filled with emotion).
AI-generated translation
N2
無念
むねん
A feeling of frustration and regret because something one had hoped for did not come true. Originally a Buddhist term meaning "a state free of worldly thoughts," but in modern usage it means "regretful and frustrated because a wish was not fulfilled." Used in contexts expressing strong frustration, as in 「無念の涙」, 「無念を晴らす」, 「無念の思い」, 「無念な最期」. A hard word frequently appearing in situations where effort or hopes went unrewarded, such as matches, contests, and turning points in life. The intensity of emotion is greater than mere 「残念」, carrying a nuance of bitter regret.
AI-generated translation
N2
無闇
むやみ
A state of acting thoughtlessly and recklessly without proper consideration. 「闇」 originally means "dark and unable to see ahead," carrying the nuance of "pushing forward without thinking about what lies ahead." Mostly used adverbially in the form 「無闇に」, as in 「無闇に動く」, 「無闇に信じる」, 「無闇に薬を飲む」, in contexts criticizing carelessness or lack of judgment. Also frequently appears in the doubled form 「無闇やたらに」, further emphasizing lack of discretion. A bookish word carrying a negative evaluation.
AI-generated translation
N3
紫
むらさき
purple. A color made by mixing red and blue. Example: 「紫の花」 (a purple flower).
AI-generated translation
N4
無理
むり
Not being possible. Also used to mean overexerting oneself in a way that's bad for one's health, as in 「無理をする」 (to push oneself too hard).
AI-generated translation
N3
無料
むりょう
Not requiring any fee. Example: 「入場無料」 (free admission). In spoken language, 「ただ」 is also used. The antonym is 「有料」 (requiring payment).
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
目
め
eye. The part of the body for seeing things.
AI-generated translation
N2
明確
めいかく
Being clear and leaving no room for confusion.
AI-generated translation
N2
銘柄
めいがら
The name of a product, stock, or the like; a brand name. 「銘」 means an inscribed or proper name, 「柄」 means an item or type, together expressing "an item identified by its proper name." Used as in 「人気銘柄」, 「優良銘柄」, 「お気に入りの銘柄」. In everyday use, the representative usages are referring to product brands such as cigarettes, alcohol, and rice, and referring to individual stocks traded on the stock market. A word with a strong sense of distinguishing from others, as a proper name for a trademark or item.
AI-generated translation
N3
名刺
めいし
A small card printed with one's name and company name, etc. Exchanged with people one meets for the first time at work.
AI-generated translation
N2
名目
めいもく
A reason or title held up on the surface. 「名」 means a surface name, 「目」 means an item or heading, together expressing "a surface name." Often used in situations where reality and pretext diverge, as in 「会議という名目で集まる」, 「名目上は休暇だが実際には仕事をしている」, frequently referring to a pretext that conceals the real purpose. Used idiomatically in forms like 「名目上」, 「名目だけ」, 「〜という名目で」. In economics it is also used to mean a surface figure before reflecting price changes, as in 「名目賃金」, 「名目GDP」, paired with 「実質」.
AI-generated translation
N2
名誉
めいよ
Being recognized by society as excellent and highly regarded; also, the pride that comes with this.
AI-generated translation
N3
命令
めいれい
command. An instruction given by a person of higher standing telling someone to do something. Example: 「命令に従う」 (to follow an order).
AI-generated translation
N3
迷惑
めいわく
Having an unpleasant experience or being troubled because of someone else. Example: 「迷惑をかける」 (to cause trouble for someone).
AI-generated translation
N2
恵まれる
めぐまれる
Being given good conditions or an environment, and being in a fortunate state.
AI-generated translation
N3
めくる
めくる
To turn something like paper over as if flipping it. Example: 「ページをめくる」 (to turn a page).
AI-generated translation
N3
目指す
めざす
To move toward something. To make it one's goal. Example: 「優勝を目指す」 (to aim for the championship).
AI-generated translation
N4
召し上がる
めしあがる
A very polite way of saying 「食べる」 (to eat) or 「飲む」 (to drink).
AI-generated translation
N4
珍しい
めずらしい
A state of being unusual and special, not often seen.
AI-generated translation
N3
目立つ
めだつ
To stand out and catch attention more than other things. Example: 「目立つ色の服」 (clothes in an eye-catching color).
AI-generated translation
N2
滅多
めった
An adverb expressing that frequency is extremely low, used in the form 「滅多に〜ない」. Mostly used with a following negative. Used as in 「滅多に怒らない」, 「滅多に外出しない」, 「滅多にない機会」, emphasizing that something hardly ever happens. Note that in the affirmative form it is also used to mean "careless" or "thoughtless," as in 「滅多なことを言うな (= don't say careless things)」, but in modern usage the negative form is overwhelmingly more common.
AI-generated translation
N3
めったに
めったに
rarely. Almost (not). Followed by a negative form. Example: 「めったに風邪をひかない」 (rarely catches a cold).
AI-generated translation
N2
目安
めやす
A standard or marker used to make a rough estimate.
AI-generated translation
N3
免許
めんきょ
license. Official qualification permitting one to do something. Example: 「運転免許」 (driver's license).
AI-generated translation
N2
免除
めんじょ
To grant permission that an obligation or burden need not be fulfilled.
AI-generated translation
N3
面接
めんせつ
interview. Meeting someone directly to assess their character and ability, for school admission or employment, etc. Example: 「面接試験」 (interview exam).
AI-generated translation
N3
面倒
めんどう
Something that takes effort and is unpleasant. Example: 「手続きが面倒だ」 (the procedure is troublesome). 「面倒を見る」 means "to take care of someone."
AI-generated translation
N4
申し上げる
もうしあげる
A humble, polite way of saying 「言う」 (to say).
AI-generated translation
N3
申し込む
もうしこむ
apply. To formally convey to another party one's intention to participate or make a contract, etc. Example: 「大会に申し込む」 (to apply/register for a tournament).
AI-generated translation
N4
申す
もうす
A humble way of saying 「言う」 (to say).
AI-generated translation
N3
毛布
もうふ
blanket. A thick woven blanket used when sleeping.
AI-generated translation
N2
猛烈
もうれつ
A state in which momentum or degree is extremely intense. 「猛」 means wild and intense, 「烈」 means strong and intense, a word emphasizing intensity by combining characters of the same meaning. Used widely from natural phenomena to human activity, emotion, and criticism, as in 「猛烈な勢い」, 「猛烈に働く」, 「猛烈な暑さ」, 「猛烈な批判」. A word harder and more bookish than 「激しい」, frequently appearing in both the adjectival-noun form 「猛烈な」 and the adverbial form 「猛烈に」. Used in situations emphasizing the extremity of degree.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
燃える
もえる
For fire to catch and flames to rise. Example: 「紙が燃える」 (paper burns). Also used to mean feelings rising, as in 「やる気に燃える」 (burning with motivation). 「燃える」 is used when something is burning, while 「燃やす」 is used when a person sets it alight: compare 「紙が燃える」 with 「紙を燃やす」.
AI-generated translation
N3
目的
もくてき
purpose. The thing one is aiming to accomplish. Example: 「旅行の目的」 (the purpose of a trip).
AI-generated translation
N2
黙認
もくにん
To overlook something without reproach, even while knowing it is not good.
AI-generated translation
N3
目標
もくひょう
goal. A point one aims to reach. Example: 「今月の目標」 (this month's goal). While 「目的」 tends to refer to the ultimate thing one wants to accomplish, 「目標」 often refers to the concrete point to reach toward that end.
AI-generated translation
N2
模索
もさく
To search and seek by feeling one's way, without a clear method. 「模」 means to feel and search by touch, 「索」 means a rope or clue, together giving the original meaning of "searching for a clue by feeling one's way." Used for tasks where the answer is not fixed, exploring a direction through trial and error, as in 「解決策を模索する」, 「新たな道を模索する」, 「可能性を模索する」. A bookish, hard word, frequently appearing in contexts expressing prolonged exploration or a process of trying multiple options.
AI-generated translation
N3
文字
もじ
A symbol used to write down language, such as hiragana, kanji, or the alphabet. Example: 「大きな文字」 (large characters/letters).
AI-generated translation
N2
もたらす
もたらす
To bring about or cause a certain result or state; also, to bring something along.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3, N5
持つ
もつ
Hold. Grasping something with the hand. 「かばんを持つ」(hold a bag).
AI-generated translation
N3
戻す
もどす
To return something to its original place or state. Example: 「本を棚に戻す」 (to put a book back on the shelf). 「戻す」 is used when a person puts someone or something back, while 「戻る」 is used when one goes back oneself: compare 「本を棚に戻す」 with 「家に戻る」.
AI-generated translation
N3
求める
もとめる
To want something and wish for it. To try to obtain it. Example: 「助けを求める」 (to ask for help). Also used to mean trying to find something out, as in 「答えを求める」 (to seek an answer).
AI-generated translation
N3
もともと
もともと
originally. From the beginning, originally. Example: 「もともと丈夫な体だ」 (originally a sturdy body). Written with the kanji 「元々」.
AI-generated translation
N4
戻る
もどる
To return to the place or state one was originally in.
AI-generated translation
N3
物語
ものがたり
story. A coherent tale told about people or events. Example: 「昔から伝わる物語」 (a story passed down from long ago).
AI-generated translation
N2
模範
もはん
A good example that others should follow.
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.