JLPT N1 vocabulary list
220 core JLPT N1 words, each with its reading and meaning, studied with real spaced repetition. Free, no signup, works in your browser.
N1 vocabulary is the formal, written and literary register — the abstract nouns, set phrases and low-frequency words you meet in editorials, law and academic prose. Each card shows the word, its reading, and a precise English meaning, none of it repeated from N2. Tap any group to study it with the forgetting-curve scheduling that times each review to memory.
N1 nouns I
Study these 20 →- 妥協だきょうcompromise, concession
- 偏見へんけんprejudice, bias
- 風潮ふうちょうtrend, current (of the times), tendency
- 措置そちmeasure, step, action (taken)
- 抜粋ばっすいexcerpt, extract, selection
- 見地けんちstandpoint, point of view
- 発端ほったんorigin, beginning, inception
- 醍醐味だいごみreal pleasure, true charm, essence (of an activity)
- 矛先ほこさきfocus of an attack, brunt, point (of a spear)
- 概要がいようoutline, summary, overview
- 真相しんそうtruth, real situation, facts (of a case)
- 気概きがいspirit, mettle, strong will
- 兆候ちょうこうsign, indication, symptom
- 格差かくさgap, disparity, difference (in quality or rank)
- 便宜べんぎconvenience, accommodation, expediency
- 形跡けいせきtrace, evidence, sign (of something having happened)
- 趣向しゅこうplan, idea, design (intended to please)
- 陳列ちんれつdisplay, exhibition (of goods)
- 観念かんねんidea, notion, sense (e.g. of duty); resignation
- 実態じったいactual condition, real state, true situation
N1 nouns II
Study these 20 →- 結束けっそくunity, solidarity, banding together
- 歳月さいげつtime, years, months and years
- 代償だいしょうcompensation, price (paid), reparation
- 盲点もうてんblind spot, oversight
- 境地きょうちstate (of mind), stage, mental state reached
- 概略がいりゃくoutline, summary, gist
- 気品きひんdignity, grace, refinement, elegance
- 極致きょくちculmination, acme, the height (of perfection)
- 規範きはんnorm, standard, model, criterion
- 拠点きょてんbase, foothold, stronghold
- 業績ぎょうせきachievement, performance, results (of a company)
- 均衡きんこうbalance, equilibrium
- 苦痛くつうpain, anguish, suffering
- 経緯けいいdetails, particulars, course of events, sequence
- 決意けついdetermination, resolve, decision
- 権威けんいauthority, power, an authority (expert)
- 貢献こうけんcontribution, service
- 誇張こちょうexaggeration, overstatement
- 根底こんていroot, basis, foundation
- 施策しさくpolicy, measure, action (by government)
N1 nouns III
Study these 20 →- 憂慮ゆうりょanxiety, grave concern, worry
- 発足ほっそくinauguration, launch, start (of an organization)
- 葛藤かっとうconflict, discord, inner struggle
- 発覚はっかくdetection, discovery (of a crime or wrongdoing), coming to light
- 概念がいねんconcept, general notion
- 趣旨しゅしpurport, gist, point (of a statement); objective
- 頻度ひんどfrequency
- 観点かんてんviewpoint, point of view
- 弊害へいがいharmful effect, ill effect, evil practice
- 懸念けねんconcern, apprehension, fear
- 醍醐だいごthe finest taste; the truth of Buddhism; clarified butter
- 観衆かんしゅうspectators, audience, onlookers
- 極端きょくたんextreme, extremity
- 重複ちょうふくduplication, repetition, overlap
- 本音ほんねreal intention, true feelings (one's honest opinion)
- 建前たてまえstated position, official stance (as opposed to true feelings)
- 風物ふうぶつnatural features, scenery; things associated with a season
- 醜態しゅうたいshameful behavior, disgraceful conduct
- 疎外そがいalienation, estrangement, exclusion
- 核心かくしんcore, kernel, heart (of a matter)
N1 nouns IV
Study these 20 →- 面目めんぼくface, honor, reputation, prestige
- 気質きしつtemperament, disposition, nature
- 節度せつどmoderation, restraint, decorum
- 風采ふうさいappearance, mien, bearing (of a person)
- 汚名おめいstigma, disgrace, dishonor, bad name
- 発想はっそうidea, conception, way of thinking
- 潜在せんざいpotential, latency, dormancy
- 頂点ちょうてんsummit, peak, apex, climax
- 本質ほんしつessence, true nature, substance
- 余地よちroom, margin, scope (for something)
- 前提ぜんていpremise, prerequisite, precondition
- 妄想もうそうdelusion, wild fancy, fantasy
- 顛末てんまつcircumstances, whole story, details (from start to finish)
- 醜聞しゅうぶんscandal, sordid rumor
- 遺憾いかんregret, regrettable, unsatisfactory
- 風土ふうどnatural features, climate and culture (of a region)
- 真髄しんずいessence, quintessence, soul (of an art or discipline)
- 威厳いげんdignity, majesty, gravity
- 報酬ほうしゅうremuneration, reward, compensation
- 潔白けっぱくinnocence, purity, integrity
N1 verbs
Study these 20 →- 損なうそこなうto harm, to damage, to impair
- 怠るおこたるto neglect, to be negligent, to shirk
- 賄うまかなうto cover (costs), to finance, to provide for
- 培うつちかうto cultivate, to foster, to nurture
- 顧みるかえりみるto look back on, to reflect on, to take heed of
- 唆すそそのかすto instigate, to incite, to tempt
- 覆すくつがえすto overturn, to overthrow, to reverse
- 携わるたずさわるto be engaged in, to take part in
- 滞るとどこおるto be delayed, to fall into arrears, to stagnate
- 唱えるとなえるto advocate, to chant, to recite
- 免れるまぬがれるto escape, to avoid, to be exempted from
- 繕うつくろうto mend, to repair, to patch up (appearances)
- 募るつのるto grow intense; to recruit, to solicit
- 捗るはかどるto make progress, to proceed smoothly
- 費やすついやすto spend, to expend, to waste
- 司るつかさどるto administer, to govern, to be in charge of
- 葬るほうむるto bury, to consign to oblivion
- 脅かすおびやかすto threaten, to endanger, to imperil
- 貫くつらぬくto pierce; to carry through, to stick to (one's beliefs)
- 報いるむくいるto reward, to recompense, to repay
N1 verbs II
Study these 20 →- 委ねるゆだねるto entrust (to), to leave (to), to devote oneself (to)
- 阻むはばむto hinder, to obstruct, to block, to thwart
- 陥るおちいるto fall into (a state, trap), to lapse into
- 促すうながすto urge, to prompt, to spur on, to encourage
- 拒むこばむto refuse, to reject, to decline; to obstruct
- 携えるたずさえるto carry (in one's hand), to bring along, to take with
- 誓うちかうto swear, to vow, to pledge
- 営むいとなむto run (a business), to carry on, to conduct, to engage in
- 甘んじるあまんじるto content oneself with, to be resigned to, to put up with
- 覆うおおうto cover, to conceal, to hide, to envelop
- 潤ううるおうto become moist; to profit, to benefit, to prosper
- 嘆くなげくto grieve, to lament, to deplore
- 怠けるなまけるto be idle, to slacken off, to neglect (one's work)
- 強いるしいるto force, to compel, to coerce
- 弾むはずむto bounce, to spring; to get lively (conversation)
- 潜むひそむto lurk, to lie hidden, to be concealed
- 群がるむらがるto swarm, to gather, to crowd, to flock
- 報じるほうじるto report (news), to inform; to requite
- 称えるたたえるto praise, to extol, to glorify
- 操るあやつるto manipulate, to operate, to handle; to have command of (a language)
N1 adjectives
Study these 20 →- 著しいいちじるしいremarkable, striking, conspicuous
- 紛らわしいまぎらわしいconfusing, misleading, easily mistaken
- 煩わしいわずらわしいtroublesome, bothersome, complicated
- 顕著けんちょnotable, marked, striking (na-adj)
- 速やかすみやかspeedy, prompt, swift (na-adj)
- 円滑えんかつsmooth, harmonious (na-adj)
- 切実せつじつacute, pressing, earnest (na-adj)
- 厳かおごそかsolemn, grave, dignified (na-adj)
- 希薄きはくthin, sparse, lacking (e.g. interest) (na-adj)
- 頑なかたくなstubborn, obstinate, inflexible (na-adj)
- 巧妙こうみょうskillful, clever, ingenious (na-adj)
- 気軽きがるcarefree, lighthearted, casual (na-adj)
- 粗末そまつcrude, plain, shabby; wasteful (na-adj)
- 妥当だとうvalid, proper, reasonable, appropriate (na-adj)
- 膨大ぼうだいenormous, vast, huge (na-adj)
- 緩やかゆるやかgentle, gradual, loose, lenient (na-adj)
- 潔いいさぎよいgraceful (in defeat), manly, pure, resolute
- 甚だしいはなはだしいextreme, excessive, terrible
- 脆いもろいfragile, brittle, frail
- 切ないせつないpainful, heartrending, trying (emotionally)
N1 adjectives II
Study these 20 →- 浅ましいあさましいwretched, miserable; despicable, shameful, sordid
- 卑しいいやしいlowly, vulgar, mean; greedy
- 快いこころよいpleasant, agreeable, comfortable; willing
- 乏しいとぼしいmeager, scarce, lacking, scanty
- 尊いとうといprecious, valuable; noble, exalted
- 渋いしぶいastringent, bitter; tasteful, sober, refined; sullen
- 和やかなごやかharmonious, peaceful, congenial, friendly
- 煩雑はんざつcomplicated, troublesome, intricate
- 露骨ろこつblunt, frank, plain; open, undisguised
- 克明こくめいdetailed, scrupulous, careful, minute
- 緻密ちみつprecise, meticulous, fine-grained (as in 緻密な計画)
- 華奢きゃしゃdelicate, slender, fragile, dainty
- 閑静かんせいquiet, tranquil, peaceful (of a place)
- 厄介やっかいtroublesome, burdensome, annoying; care, dependence
- 些細ささいtrivial, trifling, slight, petty
- 歴然れきぜんobvious, evident, clear, unmistakable
- 懇切こんせつkind, considerate, exhaustive (in care)
- 曖昧あいまいvague, ambiguous, equivocal, obscure
- 壮大そうだいgrand, magnificent, majestic, spectacular
- 強烈きょうれつstrong, intense, severe, powerful
N1 adverbs & onomatopoeia
Study these 20 →- 軒並みのきなみacross the board, every (one of them), all alike
- 殊にことにespecially, particularly, above all
- 予てかねてpreviously, beforehand, for some time
- 概ねおおむねin general, mostly, on the whole
- 辛うじてかろうじてbarely, narrowly, just managing to
- 強いてしいてforcibly, by force; if anything, daringly
- もっぱらwholly, solely, exclusively, entirely
- とっくにlong ago, already, a long time ago
- ひたすらsingle-mindedly, intently, earnestly
- やむを得ずやむをえずunavoidably, out of necessity, having no choice
- ことごとくaltogether, entirely, every single one
- あえてdaringly, deliberately, going out of one's way
- おどおどnervously, timidly, hesitantly (gitaigo)
- うんざりtediously, wearily, fed up (gitaigo)
- ぐったりlimply, exhausted, worn out (gitaigo)
- うっとりentranced, spellbound, in rapture (gitaigo)
- まるまるentirely, completely, wholly
- ろくに(not) properly, (not) satisfactorily (with negative)
- てっきりsurely, certainly (of a mistaken assumption)
- まちまちvaried, divergent, all different
N1 する-verbs & compounds
Study these 20 →- 該当するがいとうするto correspond to, to apply to, to fall under
- 是正するぜせいするto correct, to rectify, to redress
- 網羅するもうらするto cover comprehensively, to encompass, to include all
- 把握するはあくするto grasp, to comprehend, to get a firm hold of
- 助長するじょちょうするto promote, to foster, to encourage (often undesirably)
- 考慮するこうりょするto consider, to take into account
- 起因するきいんするto originate from, to be caused by, to result from
- 踏襲するとうしゅうするto follow (a precedent), to adhere to, to carry on
- 凝縮するぎょうしゅくするto condense, to concentrate, to crystallize
- 誇示するこじするto show off, to flaunt, to display ostentatiously
- 克服するこくふくするto overcome, to conquer (a difficulty)
- 誘発するゆうはつするto induce, to trigger, to give rise to
- 緩和するかんわするto ease, to relieve, to relax (restrictions)
- 排除するはいじょするto exclude, to eliminate, to remove
- 崩壊するほうかいするto collapse, to crumble, to break down
- 妨害するぼうがいするto obstruct, to interfere with, to hamper
- 逸脱するいつだつするto deviate, to depart from, to stray from
- 暴露するばくろするto expose, to disclose, to reveal (a secret)
- 迎合するげいごうするto cater to, to pander to, to ingratiate oneself
- 錯覚するさっかくするto be under an illusion, to mistakenly perceive
N1 する-verbs & compounds II
Study these 20 →- 是認するぜにんするto approve of, to sanction, to recognize as proper
- 継承するけいしょうするto inherit, to succeed to, to carry on (a tradition, position)
- 凝固するぎょうこするto solidify, to congeal, to coagulate, to freeze
- 誘致するゆうちするto attract, to invite, to lure (e.g. industry, an event)
- 妥結するだけつするto reach agreement, to come to terms, to settle
- 破損するはそんするto be damaged, to suffer damage, to break
- 錯綜するさくそうするto be complicated, to be intricate, to become tangled
- 隔離するかくりするto isolate, to quarantine, to segregate
- 遂行するすいこうするto accomplish, to carry out, to execute (a task)
- 拘束するこうそくするto restrain, to restrict, to bind; to detain
- 脱却するだっきゃくするto break away from, to free oneself from, to shake off
- 波及するはきゅうするto spread, to extend, to have a ripple effect
- 封鎖するふうさするto blockade, to seal off, to freeze (e.g. assets)
- 示唆するしさするto suggest, to imply, to hint at
- 凌駕するりょうがするto surpass, to outdo, to excel beyond
- 邁進するまいしんするto push forward, to strive, to forge ahead
- 傍観するぼうかんするto look on, to stand by idly, to remain a spectator
- 統括するとうかつするto unify, to bring together, to oversee, to supervise
- 便乗するびんじょうするto take advantage of, to jump on the bandwagon, to cash in on
- 踏破するとうはするto travel (a long distance) on foot, to traverse, to hike across
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A curated core of the highest-yield N1 items — not the full N1 list (the JLPT hasn't published an official one since 2010). Every card is checked against the N1 level, and against our N2 set so nothing is repeated from the level below.