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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
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4,238words (N1–N5 total)
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N4
美術館
びじゅつかん
art museum. A building that displays art such as paintings.
AI-generated translation
N3
非常
ひじょう
An unusual, urgent situation. It is used on its own as a noun, as in 「非常の際」 (in an emergency), 「非常の場合」 (in case of emergency). It is also often combined with other words, as in 「非常口」 (emergency exit), 「非常ベル」 (emergency bell), 「非常階段」 (emergency stairs), 「非常食」 (emergency rations). Adding 「に」 gives 「非常に」, an adverb meaning the same as 「とても」 (very); the part of speech and the meaning both change, as in 「非常の際に備える」 versus 「非常に寒い」.
AI-generated translation
N3, N4
非常に
ひじょうに
Expresses that the degree of something is very strong. It has the same meaning as 「とても」 and 「たいへん」, and is often used in written language. It is formed by adding 「に」 to the noun 「非常」 (an unusual, urgent situation; 「非常口」「非常ベル」); 「非常」 on its own does not mean 「とても」. Compare 「非常の場合」, which means in an emergency, with 「非常に寒い」, which means very cold.
AI-generated translation
N3
額
ひたい
forehead. The part of the face from above the eyebrows to the hairline. Also called おでこ. When read as 「がく」, it means a sum of money or a frame for holding a picture.
AI-generated translation
N4
びっくりする
びっくりする
To be surprised because something unexpected happened.
AI-generated translation
N4
引っ越す
ひっこす
To change where one lives to another place.
AI-generated translation
N3
ぴったり
ぴったり
A state of fitting together without any gap. Example: 「サイズがぴったりだ」 (the size fits perfectly). Also used to mean "exactly," as in 「3時ぴったり」 (exactly 3 o'clock).
AI-generated translation
N2
筆頭
ひっとう
Refers to occupying the top position in a list or ranking, or to the person in that position. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「候補者の筆頭 (the foremost candidate)」「筆頭株主 (the largest shareholder)」「筆頭格 (top-ranking class)」. Originally meaning the person whose name was written first on a list (literally "head of the brush"), it came to refer to the entity regarded as most important or highest in a list. It is a word that indicates ranking within an organization or order, and is widely used in business, news reporting, and historical writing.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
引っ張る
ひっぱる
To pull something toward oneself with force. Example: 「ロープを引っ張る」 (to pull a rope). Also used to mean leading a group from the front, as in 「チームを引っ張る」 (to lead the team).
AI-generated translation
N4
必要
ひつよう
necessary. A state of being indispensable.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
人
ひと
person. A human being. It is also used as a word for counting people. ひとり・ふたり・さんにん・よにん・ごにん・ろくにん・しちにん・はちにん・きゅうにん・じゅうにん, and 「なんにん」. For 1 and 2 it becomes 「ひとり」 and 「ふたり」, and for 4 it becomes 「よにん」.
AI-generated translation
N4
酷い
ひどい
A very bad state. Example:「酷いあめ」(terrible rain),「酷いことを言う」(to say cruel things).
AI-generated translation
N2
微動
びどう
Refers to moving only very slightly. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「微動だにしない (not stirring at all)」「微動の気配 (signs of slight movement)」. Most uses are the idiomatic form 「微動だにしない」, emphasizing the appearance of being entirely still. It is used in expressions of small tremors picked up by seismographs and the like, or states of stiffening with tension, and is biased toward written language rather than everyday conversation.
AI-generated translation
N2
一際
ひときわ
An adverb expressing the appearance of standing out conspicuously in degree above the rest. Used in expressions like 「一際目立つ (to stand out conspicuously)」「一際輝く (to shine conspicuously)」「一際大きな歓声 (a particularly loud cheer)」. It refers to standing out especially among many, and is often used with positive evaluation. Synonymous with 「一段と」, but 「一際」 is more written-language in character, and tends to be used especially for visually impressive objects, as in 「目立つ」「美しい」「光る」.
AI-generated translation
N2
人質
ひとじち
Refers to a person whose body is held as a means in negotiation or threat. Used in expressions like 「人質を取る (to take a hostage)」「人質を解放する (to release a hostage)」「人質事件 (a hostage incident)」. It is a word used for incidents in which kidnappers, armed groups, and the like restrain people as bargaining chips to push their demands through, appearing frequently in incident reports, historical writings, and international news. By extension, it is also used in scenes where one seizes another's weak point to gain leverage in negotiation, as in 「データを人質にする (to hold data hostage)」.
AI-generated translation
N2
一筋
ひとすじ
Refers to the appearance of focusing on and devoting oneself to a single thing. Used in expressions like 「研究一筋 (devoted solely to research)」「仕事一筋に生きる (to live solely for one's work)」「料理一筋四十年 (forty years devoted solely to cooking)」. It expresses a long-term commitment to a particular target, and is often used with positive, respectful evaluation. There is also a counter-like usage for things forming a thin extended line, as in 「一筋の光 (a single ray of light)」「一筋の涙 (a single trail of tears)」, distinguished by context.
AI-generated translation
N2
一握り
ひとにぎり
A noun expressing the fact that the number or quantity of something is extremely small. Used in expressions like 「一握りの人々 (a handful of people)」「一握りの成功者 (a handful of successful people)」「一握りの土 (a handful of earth)」. It is a derivative usage from the metaphor of a quantity that fits in the palm of the hand, and is used in contexts emphasizing a very small portion relative to the whole. It mostly refers to "an extreme minority within a whole", often carrying nuances like "a privileged minority" or "exceptional winners".
AI-generated translation
N2
ひとまず
ひとまず
An adverb expressing the appearance of provisionally drawing a line and proceeding forward, although the matter is not fully resolved. Used in expressions like 「ひとまず安心する (to be relieved for now)」「ひとまず合意する (to come to a tentative agreement)」「ひとまず保留にする (to put on hold for now)」. It is a word indicating provisional, stepwise measures, used widely in contexts that describe postponement of fundamental resolution or immediate responses. It is a versatile adverb usable both in everyday conversation and business writing.
AI-generated translation
N2
批判
ひはん
To discern and discuss whether something is good or bad; in particular, to point out its errors or flaws.
AI-generated translation
N2
批評
ひひょう
To discuss and evaluate the worth or quality of something.
AI-generated translation
N3
皮膚
ひふ
What covers the surface of the body. A medical/formal term; in daily conversation, 「肌」 is more commonly used.
AI-generated translation
N2
日増しに
ひましに
An adverb expressing the appearance of degree increasing gradually day by day. Used in expressions like 「日増しに寒くなる (it grows colder by the day)」「日増しに回復する (to recover day by day)」「日増しに人気が高まる (popularity grows day by day)」. It is used in situations where change progresses with the passage of time, and is a neutral word usable for both positive change (recovery, growth, improvement) and negative change (deterioration, decline). It carries the nuance of change accumulating gradually and steadily.
AI-generated translation
N3
秘密
ひみつ
secret. Something kept hidden from others. Example: 「秘密を守る」 (to keep a secret).
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
微妙
びみょう
Having fine differences that are hard to state clearly; subtle. 微妙な色の違い (a subtle difference in color). In conversation, also used as an indirect way of saying something is not good (味は微妙だった "the taste was so-so").
AI-generated translation
N3
ひも
ひも
A long, thin thing used for tying or binding items. Thicker than thread but thinner than rope. Written with the kanji 「紐」, but since this kanji is not used in daily life, it is usually written in hiragana.
AI-generated translation
N3
冷やす
ひやす
To lower the temperature of something to make it cold. Example: 「ビールを冷やす」 (to chill beer). 「頭を冷やす」 means "to calm down." 「冷やす」 is used when a person lowers the temperature, while 「冷える」 is used when it drops on its own: compare 「ビールを冷やす」 with 「ビールが冷える」.
AI-generated translation
N2
冷ややか
ひややか
Refers to the appearance of being cool to the touch, slightly chilly. Or, the appearance of an attitude, gaze, or reaction being cold and devoid of sympathy or empathy. Used in expressions like 「冷ややかな目 (a cold gaze)」「冷ややかな反応 (a chilly reaction)」「冷ややかな笑い (a cold laugh)」. Compared with the physical use for low temperature, the metaphorical use for psychological distance or coldness is more frequent. It contains critical, negative emotion, depicting an attitude of looking down on or rejecting the other party.
AI-generated translation
N3
費用
ひよう
expense. Money required to do something. Example: 「旅行の費用」 (travel expenses).
AI-generated translation
N3
表
ひょう
table, chart. Something in which figures or items are arranged vertically and horizontally so they are easy to read. Used as in "調査の結果を表にまとめる" (to compile survey results into a table), "成績表", or "時刻表". The same "表" read as "おもて" is a different word meaning the side of an object seen from the front or outside.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
評価
ひょうか
evaluation. To judge and determine the value or quality of something. 「作品を評価する」「高い評価を受ける」. Going a step further from this, it is also used to mean recognizing something as good, or thinking highly of it. 「努力が評価される」「その点は評価できる」 do not mean judging whether something is good or bad, but recognizing its good points.
AI-generated translation
N3
表現
ひょうげん
expression. To express one's thoughts or feelings in words or in some form. 「気持ちを言葉で表現する」「絵で表現する」. It also refers to the form of words expressed in that way, that is, the wording itself. As in 「丁寧な表現」「わかりにくい表現を直す」, it is used in the sense of what manner of speaking is used.
AI-generated translation
N2
描写
びょうしゃ
To depict the state of things or one's feelings through words, pictures, or the like.
AI-generated translation
N3
評判
ひょうばん
reputation. Public evaluation or rumor about something. Example: 「評判がいい店」 (a shop with a good reputation).
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
表面
ひょうめん
surface. The outermost side of an object. Example: 「水の表面」 (the surface of water). Also used to mean outward appearance, as in 「表面上は仲がいい」 (on the surface, they get along well).
AI-generated translation
N2
開き直る
ひらきなおる
Refers to suddenly switching one's attitude and turning defiant when cornered. Used in expressions like 「失敗を指摘されて開き直る (to brazen it out when one's failure is pointed out)」「開き直った態度 (a defiant attitude)」. It expresses the appearance of casting aside one's previously weak or cringing stance and turning bold and shameless, often with a critical, negative evaluation. The original meaning was "to straighten one's posture and face things squarely", but in modern usage it has settled into the sense of "shamelessly brazening it out".
AI-generated translation
N4
開く
ひらく
To open something that was closed, such as a door, a book, or one's eyes. It is also used to mean holding an event, as in 『かいぎを開く』 (to hold a meeting), and to start a new business, as in 『店を開く』 (to open a shop).
AI-generated translation
N3
昼寝
ひるね
nap. Sleeping for a short time during the daytime. Example: 「昼寝をする」 (to take a nap).
AI-generated translation
N4
昼間
ひるま
daytime. The bright hours from morning to evening.
AI-generated translation
N4
昼休み
ひるやすみ
The break time for eating lunch.
AI-generated translation
N2
比例
ひれい
A relationship in which, when one thing increases or decreases, the other increases or decreases by the same proportion accordingly.
AI-generated translation
N3, N5
広い
ひろい
A state where a place is large. The antonym is 「狭い」 (narrow).
AI-generated translation
N2
披露
ひろう
Refers to showing or announcing something to others for the first time. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「新作を披露する (to unveil a new work)」「腕前を披露する (to display one's skills)」「結婚披露宴 (a wedding reception)」. 「披」 means to open, 「露」 means to reveal; together they express "opening and bringing out". It refers to the act of publicly disclosing one's works, skills, or new information to others, and appears frequently in formal occasions such as weddings, stage performances, and product launches.
AI-generated translation
N4
拾う
ひろう
To pick up something that has fallen with one's hand.
AI-generated translation
N3
広がる
ひろがる
For an area or range to become larger. Example: 「うわさが広がる」 (a rumor spreads), 「景色が広がる」 (a view opens up/spreads out). 「広がる」 is used when something becomes larger on its own, while 「広げる」 is used when a person makes it larger: compare 「うわさが広がる」 with 「うわさを広げる」.
AI-generated translation
N3
広げる
ひろげる
To make an area or range larger. To open and stretch something out. Example: 「地図を広げる」 (to spread out a map), 「店を広げる」 (to expand a shop). 「広げる」 is used when a person makes something larger, while 「広がる」 is used when it becomes larger on its own: compare 「うわさを広げる」 with 「うわさが広がる」.
AI-generated translation
N3
瓶
びん
bottle. A container made of glass or similar material, used for holding liquids. Example: 「ジュースの瓶」 (a juice bottle).
AI-generated translation
N3
貧乏
びんぼう
Having no money and living a hard life. Example: 「貧乏な暮らし」 (a poor life). The antonym is 「金持ち」 (rich person).
AI-generated translation
N3
不安
ふあん
anxiety. Feeling worried and unable to settle down. Example: 「将来が不安だ」 (the future is uncertain/worrying). The antonym is 「安心」 (peace of mind).
AI-generated translation
N3
風
ふう
manner, style. The way something is done or appears. Expresses that something is in such a manner or style, as in "そんな風に言わないで" (don't say it like that), "日本風の部屋" (a Japanese-style room), or "昔風の建物" (an old-style building). The same "風" read as "かぜ" is a different word meaning moving air.
AI-generated translation
N3
風景
ふうけい
scenery. The natural or town scenery visible to the eye. Example: 「美しい風景」 (beautiful scenery). Nearly synonymous with 「景色」.
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.