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ALL LEVELS・N1–N5
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4,256words (N1–N5 total)
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Filtered by N2・N3・N4
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N2
巧妙
こうみょう
It refers to means or mechanisms being made extremely well. Used in expressions like 「巧妙な手口」 or 「巧妙に仕組まれた」, it is especially often used when the means of a crime or scheme has been carefully crafted.
AI-generated translation
N4
公務員
こうむいん
civil servant. A person who does work for the country or town, such as at a city hall.
AI-generated translation
N2
拷問
ごうもん
「拷」 means to strike or torment, and 「問」 means to interrogate; together they mean to interrogate while inflicting torment. It refers to inflicting severe physical and mental pain in order to extract a confession. Used in expressions like 「拷問にかける」 or 「拷問を受ける」, in contexts strongly criticized as a human rights violation.
AI-generated translation
N2
高揚
こうよう
「高」 means high, and 「揚」 means to rise; together they mean for one's spirits to rise high. It refers to feelings or emotions becoming heightened and lively. Used in expressions like 「気分が高揚する」 or 「高揚感」, it is a formal word used when excitement or fervor wells up.
AI-generated translation
N2
公用
こうよう
(1) An errand for official work. 「公用で出かける」. A personal errand is called 「私用」. (2) Official use by a country or government office. 「公用語」.
AI-generated translation
N2
強欲
ごうよく
「強」 means strong, and 「欲」 means desire; together they mean strong desire. It refers to having extremely strong desire that knows no satisfaction. Used in expressions like 「強欲な人」 or 「強欲にまみれる」. It is a somewhat formal word used in negative evaluation, frequently appearing in literature and criticism.
AI-generated translation
N2
小売
こうり
To sell goods that have been purchased directly to consumers. Selling them in bulk to retail shops and the like is called 「卸売」.
AI-generated translation
N3
効率
こうりつ
The ratio of results achieved relative to the time or effort spent. 「効率がいい」 means little is wasted.
AI-generated translation
N2
拘留
こうりゅう
It refers to the police or similar authorities seizing a person and holding them for a certain period. Used as in 「拘留される」 or 「拘留期間」. As a legal term, it refers to a penalty of confinement in a penal institution for at least 1 day and less than 30 days, and is a different word from 「勾留」, which means holding a suspect in custody before trial.
AI-generated translation
N2
考慮
こうりょ
To carefully weigh various circumstances together.
AI-generated translation
N2, N5
声
こえ
voice. A sound made from the mouth by a person or animal. Example: 「大きな声で話す」 (to speak in a loud voice).
AI-generated translation
N2
護衛
ごえい
To stay by a person's or thing's side and protect it from danger; also, the person who does this.
AI-generated translation
N2, N3
越える
こえる
To go over to the other side of a mountain, river, border, etc. Example: 「国境を越える」 (to cross a border), 「峠を越える」 (to go over a mountain pass). The homophone 「超える」 refers to a quantity or limit being exceeded, as in 「1万人を超える」 (to exceed 10,000 people), and is written differently.
AI-generated translation
N3
凍る
こおる
freeze. For water, etc., to cool and solidify. Example: 「湖が凍る」 (a lake freezes), 「道路が凍る」 (a road freezes over).
AI-generated translation
N3
誤解
ごかい
misunderstanding. To mistakenly take in the meaning or feeling of something. Example: 「誤解を招く」 (to invite misunderstanding), 「誤解を解く」 (to clear up a misunderstanding).
AI-generated translation
N3
語学
ごがく
To study a foreign language. Example: 「語学が得意だ」 (good at languages), 「語学学校」 (a language school).
AI-generated translation
N3
呼吸
こきゅう
breathing. To breathe in and out. Example: 「深く呼吸する」 (to breathe deeply). Also used to mean being in sync with someone, as in 「呼吸が合う」 (to be in rhythm with each other).
AI-generated translation
N2
故郷
こきょう
It refers to the land where one was born and raised. Used in expressions like 「故郷に帰る」 or 「故郷を離れる」, it is a somewhat formal word for the place of one's roots, with the same meaning as ふるさと.
AI-generated translation
N2, N4
国際
こくさい
Something between countries. It is always attached to the front of another word, and 「国際」 alone never stands in a sentence. A plane that flies between countries is a 「国際線（こくさいせん）」, and ties between countries are 「国際関係（こくさいかんけい）」; there are also 「国際けっこん」 and 「国際くうこう」. In the form 「国際的（こくさいてき）」 it becomes a word that describes what something is like, as in 「国際的にゆうめいな店」.
AI-generated translation
N2
告示
こくじ
It refers to the state or public office widely informing the general public of matters that have been decided. Used in expressions like 「選挙の告示」 or 「告示する」, it is a formal word used in situations of official announcement.
AI-generated translation
N2
極上
ごくじょう
It refers to quality or degree being so good that it cannot be better. Used in expressions like 「極上の品」 or 「極上のひととき」, it is a somewhat formal word for the highest-grade things.
AI-generated translation
N3
国籍
こくせき
nationality. The status of which country a person is a citizen of. Example: 「日本国籍」 (Japanese nationality), 「国籍を取得する」 (to acquire nationality).
AI-generated translation
N2
酷評
こくひょう
「酷」 means cruel or severe, and 「評」 means to evaluate. It refers to criticizing a work or behavior severely and without mercy. Used in expressions like 「批評家に酷評される」 or 「酷評を浴びる」, in situations where a strongly negative evaluation is given.
AI-generated translation
N2
克服
こくふく
「克」 means to win over, and 「服」 means to make submit; the original meaning is to defeat an enemy and bring them under control. From this, it came to mean to overcome difficulties or weaknesses through effort. Used in expressions like 「病気を克服する」 or 「困難を克服する」, in contexts speaking about the results of overcoming obstacles.
AI-generated translation
N2
克明
こくめい
「克」 means to thoroughly accomplish, and 「明」 means to make clear; together they mean to make clear down to every corner. It refers to being precise to the smallest detail, without overlooking anything. Used in expressions like 「克明に記録する」 or 「克明な描写」, it is a formal word expressing thoroughness in reporting, observation, and description.
AI-generated translation
N3
国立
こくりつ
Being built with the nation's money and run by the nation. It is most often attached to the name of a facility, as in 「国立大学」 (a national university), 「国立公園」 (a national park), 「国立博物館」 (a national museum), 「国立図書館」 (a national library), 「国立競技場」 (a national stadium). It is also used alone, as in 「この大学は国立だ」. Used in contrast with 「私立」 (private), 「県立」 (prefectural), and 「市立」 (municipal).
AI-generated translation
N3
焦げる
こげる
burn. To become blackened from being overcooked. Example: 「パンが焦げる」 (bread burns), 「焦げたにおい」 (a burnt smell). Something turning black on its own is 「焦げる」, while a person making it turn black by overcooking it is 「焦がす」; they are used as in 「ごはんが焦げる」 versus 「ごはんを焦がす」.
AI-generated translation
N3, N5
ここ
ここ
A word referring to a place close to the speaker.
AI-generated translation
N3
凍える
こごえる
For the body to lose sensation from cold. Example: 「手が凍える」 (one's hands go numb from cold), 「凍えるような寒さ」 (bone-chilling cold).
AI-generated translation
N2
心地
ここち
The feeling or sensation one experiences when doing something. When used on its own it is read 「ここち」, as in 「生きた心地がしない」. It is mostly used attached after other words, as in 「乗り心地」「居心地」「夢心地」, and in this case it is read with the voiced sound 「〜ごこち」.
AI-generated translation
N4
心
こころ
heart. The thing inside a person that feels happiness, sadness, etc. Also used to mean a way of thinking, as in 「心がひろい」 (broad-minded).
AI-generated translation
N2
心当たり
こころあたり
Something that comes to mind; a rough idea or guess. 「心当たりがない」.
AI-generated translation
N2
心掛ける
こころがける
To always be mindful and make an effort to do something.
AI-generated translation
N3
試み
こころみ
attempt. To try doing something. Example: 「新しい試み」 (a new attempt/initiative). The verb form is 「試みる」.
AI-generated translation
N2
試みる
こころみる
It refers to attempting something whose success is uncertain. Used in expressions like 「新しい方法を試みる」 or 「挑戦を試みる」, it is a formal verb expressing experimental action.
AI-generated translation
N2
快い
こころよい
Pleasant, feeling good; also describes accepting something willingly and readily. 「快い風」「快く承諾する」.
AI-generated translation
N2
誤差
ごさ
The difference between a correct value and the value actually measured.
AI-generated translation
N2
誇示
こじ
「誇」 means to boast, and 「示」 means to show; together they mean to display something boastfully. It refers to showing off one's power or position with self-satisfaction. Used in expressions like 「権力を誇示する」 or 「誇示するように」, it is a slightly critical word for behavior aimed at impressing others.
AI-generated translation
N2
孤児
こじ
It refers to a child who has lost their parents and has no guardian. Used in expressions like 「戦災孤児」 or 「孤児院」, it is a formal word used in contexts of social protection.
AI-generated translation
N3
腰
こし
waist. The bendable part of the body below the back. Example: 「腰が痛い」 (one's lower back hurts). There are also the expressions 「腰が低い」 (having a humble/polite manner) and 「腰を下ろす」 (to sit down).
AI-generated translation
N4
故障
こしょう
For a machine or tool to break and stop working. Example: 「くるまが故障する」 (a car breaks down).
AI-generated translation
N2
こじれる
こじれる
It refers to a relationship or problem becoming complicated in a bad direction and difficult to resolve. Used in expressions like 「話がこじれる」 or 「関係がこじれる」, in situations of becoming entangled and worsening.
AI-generated translation
N2
故人
こじん
A person who has died. A different word from 「個人」 (each individual person), which has the same reading.
AI-generated translation
N3
個人
こじん
individual. Each single person, as opposed to a group. Example: 「個人の意見」 (an individual's opinion), 「個人的な問題」 (a personal matter), 「個人情報」 (personal information).
AI-generated translation
N3
越す
こす
To pass a place or time and go to the other side. Example: 「年を越す」 (to see out the year/into the new year), 「冬を越す」 (to get through the winter), 「引っ越す」 (to move house). In the form 「お越しください」, it also serves as an honorific way of saying 「来る」 (to come).
AI-generated translation
N1, N2
擦る
こする
To press something firmly against the surface of an object and move it. A different action from 「摩る」 (to stroke gently) or 「刷る」 (to print), which are also read 「する」.
AI-generated translation
N2
個性
こせい
A unique quality that belongs only to that person or thing, different from others. Used as in 「個性を生かす」.
AI-generated translation
N2
古代
こだい
Ancient times. One of the periods into which history is divided, coming after the primitive age and before the medieval age. 「古代ローマ」.
AI-generated translation
N2
こだわる
こだわる
The word originally had a somewhat negative meaning of being caught up in trivial matters and unable to be free of them. From this, it developed the meaning of being strongly attentive to one thing and not letting it go easily. It is still used negatively, as in 「過去にこだわる」, but in modern Japanese it is more often used positively to describe an attitude of standing by one's beliefs or preferences, as in 「味にこだわる」 or 「細部にこだわる」.
AI-generated translation
N2
誇張
こちょう
To express something in an exaggerated way, beyond what it actually is.
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.