Start Your JLPT N3 Vocabulary Journey!

This is a complete list of the vocabulary you need to know to pass the JLPT N3 exam. In total, you should learn roughly 3700+ common words used in everyday Japanese.

Words are organized alphabetically to help you study step by step. Each entry includes reading (kana), English meaning, and example sentences where useful.

This list includes lessons for the most common and important words for you to know, all listed in alphabetical order.

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3700+ Total Words
N3 JLPT Level
Intermediate Difficulty
📘 N3 Level: Intermediate Japanese Proficiency

🎯 Pro Tip: Combine vocabulary study with grammar lessons for faster progress — try learning 15–20 new words per day and use them in sample sentences.

#語彙VocabularyTypeMeaning
1明かりakari
あかり
Nounlight; illumination; glow; gleam
2明けるakeru
あける
Verb, Ichidan verb, Transitive verbto dawn,to become daylight
3明らかakiraka
あきらか
Adjective, な-adjectiveclear; obvious
4悪魔akuma
あくま
Noundevil; demon; fiend; Satan
5暗記anki
あんき
Noun, Verb, Suru verbmemorization; learning by heart
6新たarata
あらた
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivenew; fresh; novel
7有らゆるarayuru
あらゆる
Pre-noun adjectivalall; every
8集まりatsumari
あつまり
Noungathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance
9部分bubun
ぶぶん
Nounportion; section; part
10bun
ぶん
Noun, Suffixpart; segment; share; ration
11文明bunmei
ぶんめい
Nouncivilization; culture
12分析bunseki
ぶんせき
Noun, Verb, Suru verbanalysis
13分野bunya
ぶんや
Nounfield; sphere; realm; division; branch
14父親chichioya
ちちおや
Nounfather
15地平線chiheisen
ちへいせん
Nounhorizon (related to land)
16地位chii
ちい
Noun(social) position; status
17長期chouki
ちょうき
Nounlong-term
18chuu
ちゅう
Noun, Prefix, Suffixduring; while; medium; middle
19中学chuugaku
ちゅうがく
Nounjunior high school; middle school
20昼食chuushoku
ちゅうしょく
Nounlunch; midday meal
21大部分daibubun
だいぶぶん
Nounmost part; greater part; majority
22駄目dame
だめ
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectiveno good; cannot
23男子danshi
だんし
Nounyouth; young man
24出会いdeai
であい
Nounmeeting; rendezvous; encounter
25出会うdeau
であう
Verbto meet (by chance); to come across; to run across; to encounter
26読書dokusho
どくしょ
Noun, Verb, Suru verbreading
27努力doryoku
どりょく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbeffort; exertion; endeavor; hard work; striving
28同一douitsu
どういつ
Adjective, な-adjectiveidentical; same; one and the same; equal
29en
えん
Nounyen; Japanese monetary unit; circle
30不利furi
ふり
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivedisadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
31不足fusoku
ふそく
Noun, Adjective, な-adjective, Verb, Suru verbinsufficiency; shortage; deficiency; lack; dearth
32再びfutatabi
ふたたび
Adverbagain; once more; a second time
33外交gaikou
がいこう
Noundiplomacy
34外出gaishutsu
がいしゅつ
Noun, Verb, Suru verbgoing out; outing; leaving (one's home, office, etc.)
35学期gakki
がっき
Nounschool term; semester
36gaku
がく
Noun, Suffixlearning; education; study of
37学問gakumon
がくもん
Noun, Verb, Suru verbscholarship; study; learning
38学者gakusha
がくしゃ
Nounscholar
39学習gakushuu
がくしゅう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbstudy; learning; tutorial
40議長gichou
ぎちょう
Nounchairman; president; moderator
41議会gikai
ぎかい
Nouncongress; parliament; diet; legislative assembly
42語学gogaku
ごがく
Nounstudy of foreign languages; linguistics
43激しいhageshii
はげしい
Adjective, い-adjectiveviolent; extreme; intense
44母親hahaoya
ははおや
Nounmother
45博物館hakubutsukan
はくぶつかん
Nounmuseum
46販売hanbai
はんばい
Noun, Verb, Suru verbsales; selling; marketing
47発明hatsumei
はつめい
Noun, Adjective, な-adjective, Verb, Suru verbinvention
48外すhazusu
はずす
Verb, Godan verb, Transitive verbto remove; to undo; to drop; to miss
49hin
ひん
Nounelegance, article
50一言hitokoto
ひとこと
Noun, Verb, Suru verbsingle word; a few words; brief comment
51一人一人hitorihitori
ひとりひとり
Noun, Suffixone by one; each; one at a time
52本物honmono
ほんもの
Noungenuine article; real thing; real deal
53本人honnin
ほんにん
Nounthe person in question; the person themselves; said person
54一致icchi
いっち
Noun, Verb, Suru verbagreement; union; match ; coincidence
55一時ichiji
いちじ
Nounone o'clock
56意外igai
いがい
Adjective, な-adjective, Adverbunexpected; surprising
57一家ikka
いっか
Nouna family; a household; a home; one's family; whole family
58今にimani
いまに
Adverbbefore long; even now
59今にもimanimo
いまにも
Adverbat any moment; at any minute; on the verge of
60一般ippan
いっぱん
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivegeneral; universal; ordinary; average; common
61一方ippou
いっぽう
Nounone (esp. of two); one way; the other direction; although
62一生isshou
いっしょう
Nounwhole life; a lifetime; a generation
63一種isshu
いっしゅ
Noun, Adverbspecies; kind; variety
64一瞬isshun
いっしゅん
Nouninstant; moment; for an instant
65一層issou
いっそう
Noun, Adverbmuch more; still more; all the more; single layer; sooner; preferably
66一体ittai
いったい
Noun, Adverb(what) the heck; (why) in the world
67所謂iwayuru
いわゆる
Pre-noun adjectivalwhat is called; as it is called; the so-called; so to speak
68邪魔jama
じゃま
Noun, Adjective, な-adjective, Suru verbhindrance
69化学kagaku
かがく
Nounchemistry
70kai
かい
Noun, Suffixmeeting; assembly; party; association; club
71会員kai'in
かいいん
Nounmember
72海外kaigai
かいがい
Noun, Adjectiveforeign; abroad; overseas
73会合kaigou
かいごう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbmeeting; assembly; gathering; association
74会計kaikei
かいけい
Nounfinance; account; treasurer; bill
75開始kaishi
かいし
Noun, Verb, Suru verbstart; commencement; beginning; initiation
76科目kamoku
かもく
Noun(school) subject; curriculum; course
77権利kenri
けんり
Nounright; privilege
78基本kihon
きほん
Nounbasics; fundamentals; basis; foundation
79記事kiji
きじ
Nounarticle; news story; report; account
80気味kimi
きみ
Nounsensation; feeling ; tendency
81記念kinen
きねん
Noun, Verb, Suru verbcommemoration; celebration; honoring the memory of something
82気に入るkiniiru
きにいる
Verb, Godan verb, Expressionto like; to take a liking to
83記入kinyuu
きにゅう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbentry; filling in; filling out
84記憶kioku
きおく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbmemory; recollection; remembrance
85記者kisha
きしゃ
Nounreporter; journalist
86期待kitai
きたい
Noun, Verb, Suru verbexpectation; anticipation; hope
87国家kokka
こっか
Nounstate; country; nation
88国会kokkai
こっかい
NounNational Diet; legislative assembly of Japan; parliament; congress
89国境kokkyou
こっきょう
Nounnational border
90国語kokugo
こくご
Nounnational language
91国民kokumin
こくみん
Nounpeople (of a country); nation; citizen; national
92今後kongo
こんご
Noun, Adverbial Nounfrom now on; hereafter
93今回konkai
こんかい
Noun, Adverbial Nounnow; this time; lately
94今日konnichi
こんにち
Expressiontoday; this day
95転ぶkorobu
ころぶ
Verb, Godan verb, Intransitive verbto fall down; to fall over
96高速kousoku
こうそく
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivehigh-speed; rapid; express
97訓練kunren
くんれん
Noun, Verb, Suru verbtraining; drill; practice; discipline
98教科書kyoukasho
きょうかしょ
Nountextbook; coursebook; schoolbook
99協力kyouryoku
きょうりょく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbcooperation; collaboration
100強力kyouryoku
きょうりょく
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivepowerful; strong
101急激kyuugeki
きゅうげき
Adjective, な-adjectivesudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical
102急にkyuuni
きゅうに
Adverbswiftly; rapidly; quickly; immediately; hastily
103吸収kyuushuu
きゅうしゅう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbabsorption; suction; attraction
104急速kyuusoku
きゅうそく
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectiverapid (e.g. progress)
105真面目majime
まじめ
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectiveserious; earnest
106真っ赤makka
まっか
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectivebright red; deep red; flushed (of face)
107学ぶmanabu
まなぶ
Verb, Godan verb, Transitive verbto study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
108万一manichi
まんいち
Noun, Adverbemergency; unlikely event ; by some chance; by some possibility
109満足manzoku
まんぞく
Noun, Adjective, な-adjective, Verb, Suru verbsatisfaction; contentment; sufficient; enough
110明確meikaku
めいかく
Adjective, な-adjectiveclear; precise; definite; distinct
111meshi
めし
Nouncooked rice; meal
112味方mikata
みかた
Noun, Verb, Suru verbfriend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting
113魅力miryoku
みりょく
Nouncharm; fascination; glamour; attraction; appeal
114木曜mokuyou
もくよう
Noun, Adverbial NounThursday
115半ばnakaba
なかば
Noun, Adverbial Noun, Suffix, Adverbial nounmiddle; half; semi; halfway; partly
116熱心nesshin
ねっしん
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectiveenthusiastic; eager
117日本nihon
にほん
NounJapan
118能力nouryoku
のうりょく
Nounability; faculty
119入場nyuujou
にゅうじょう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbentrance; admission; entering
120お昼ohiru
おひる
Nounlunch; midday; daytime
121収めるosameru
おさめる
Verb, Ichidan verb, Transitive verbto supply; to dedicate; to make an offering; to pay
122連続renzoku
れんぞく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbcontinuation; succession; series
123利益rieki
りえき
Noun, Verb, Suru verbprofit; gains; benefit
124利口rikou
りこう
Noun, Adjective, な-adjectiveclever; intelligent; wise; bright; sharp
125留学ryuugaku
りゅうがく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbstudying abroad
126作品sakuhin
さくひん
Nounwork of art; performance
127左右sayuu
さゆう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbleft and right
128成長seichou
せいちょう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbgrowth; development; growing up; becoming an adult
129製品seihin
せいひん
Nounmanufactured goods; finished goods; product
130青年seinen
せいねん
Nounyouth; young man
131刺激shigeki
しげき
Noun, Verb, Suru verbstimulus; impetus; incentive; encouragement; motivation; provocation; excitement; thrill
132資本shihon
しほん
Nounfunds; capital
133shina
しな
Nounarticle; item; thing; goods; stock; quality
134身長shinchou
しんちょう
Nounbody height; stature
135進学shingaku
しんがく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbentering a higher-level school (often university)
136新鮮shinsen
しんせん
Adjective, な-adjectivefresh
137支店shiten
してん
Nounbranch office; branch store
138使用shiyou
しよう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbuse; application; employment; utilization.
139食品shokuhin
しょくひん
Nounfood; food products
140書物shomotsu
しょもつ
Nounbook; volume
141書類shorui
しょるい
Noundocument; official papers
142書斎shosai
しょさい
Nounstudy; library; den; home office; reading room
143商売shoubai
しょうばい
Nountrade; business; commerce; transaction; occupation
144奨学金shougakukin
しょうがくきん
Nounscholarship; stipend; student loan
145正午shougo
しょうご
Noun, Adverbial Nounmidday
146商品shouhin
しょうひん
Nouncommodity; article of commerce; goods; stock; merchandise
147少女shoujo
しょうじょ
Nounlittle girl; maiden; young lady
148証明shoumei
しょうめい
Noun, Verb, Suru verbproof; verification; certification
149少年shounen
しょうねん
Nounboy; juvenile; young boy; youth; lad
150少々shoushou
しょうしょう
Noun, Adverbial Nounjust a minute; small quantity
151招待shoutai
しょうたい
Noun, Verb, Suru verbinvitation
152shuu
しゅう
Noun, Suffixweek
153集中shuuchuu
しゅうちゅう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbconcentration; focusing; centralization; integration
154集団shuudan
しゅうだん
Noungroup; mass
155収穫shuukaku
しゅうかく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbharvest; crop; fruits (of one's labors)
156週間shuukan
しゅうかん
Nounweek
157週刊shuukan
しゅうかん
Nounweekly publication
158収入shuunyuu
しゅうにゅう
Nounincome; receipts; revenue; salary
159速度sokudo
そくど
Nounspeed; velocity; pace; rate
160少しもsukoshimo
すこしも
Adverbanything of; not one bit (with negative sentence)
161大半taihan
たいはん
Noun, Adverbial Nounmajority; more than half; most; largely; mainly
162大会taikai
たいかい
Nounconvention; rally; conference; tournament;
163大したtaishita
たいした
Pre-noun adjectivalconsiderable; great; important; significant; a big deal
164単なるtannaru
たんなる
Pre-noun adjectivalmere; simple; sheer
165多少tashou
たしょう
Noun, Adverbmore or less; somewhat; a little; a few; some
166手品tejina
てじな
Nounmagic trick; illusion
167哲学tetsugaku
てつがく
Nounphilosophy
168徹夜tetsuya
てつや
Noun, Verb, Suru verbstaying up all night
169土地tochi
とち
Nounplot of land; lot; soil
170都会tokai
とかい
Noun(big) city
171取れるtoreru
とれる
Verb, Ichidan verb, Intransitive verb, Transitive verbto come off; to be removed; to be obtainable
172取り上げるtoriageru
とりあげる
Verb, Ichidan verb, Transitive verbto pick up
173図書tosho
としょ
Nounbooks
174通学tsuugaku
つうがく
Noun, Verb, Suru verbcommuting to school; school commute
175受け取るuketoru
うけとる
Verb, Godan verb, Transitive verbto receive; to understand
176上手いumai
うまい
Adjective, い-adjectiveskillful; delicious
177運転unten
うんてん
Noun, Verb, Suru verboperation; driving
178売れるureru
うれる
Verb, Ichidan verb, Intransitive verbto sell (well)
179分けるwakeru
わける
Verb, Ichidan verb, Transitive verbto divide; to split; to part; to separate
180悪口waruguchi
わるぐち
Noun, Verb, Suru verbslander; bad-mouthing; abuse; insult; speaking ill (of)
181夜明けyoake
よあけ
Noundawn; daybreak
182余分yobun
よぶん
Nounextra; excess; surplus
183読みyomi
よみ
Nounreading (of a kanji, situation, etc)
184夜中yonaka
よなか
Noun, Adverbial Nounmiddle of the night; dead of night
185宜しいyoroshii
よろしい
Adjective, い-adjective(respectful) OK; all right
186唯一yuiitsu
ゆいいつ
Noun, Adverbial Nounonly; sole; unique
187輸入yunyuu
ゆにゅう
Noun, Verb, Suru verbimport; importation; introduction
188輸出yushutsu
ゆしゅつ
Noun, Verb, Suru verbexport; exportation
189夕べyuube
ゆうべ
Noun, Adverbial Nounevening / last night; yesterday evening
190有利yuuri
ゆうり
Noun, な-adjectiveadvantageous; favorable; profitable
191全国zenkoku
ぜんこく
Nounthe whole country
192随分zuibun
ずいぶん
Adjective, な-adjective, Adverbvery; extremely; surprisingly; considerably; awfully