JLPT N3 Vocabulary List — 292 Japanese Words with Meanings

JLPT N5 · JLPT N4 · JLPT N3 · JLPT N2 · JLPT N1 · Japanese for Beginners

N3 has a reputation as the hardest jump in the JLPT, and the vocabulary is the reason. The gap between N4 and N2 is wide enough that N3 was added to bridge it, and the words here are noticeably more abstract: feelings, judgements, social situations, and the kind of vocabulary that appears in conversation between adults rather than in a classroom exercise.

This is also the level where Japanese starts asking you to read register. Many N3 words have a plain, a polite, and a slangy sibling, and picking the wrong one is more conspicuous than a grammar mistake.

All JLPT N3 words on NihongoWords (292)

aho (アホ) — fool; idiot; stupid (Kansai dialect)
ai (愛) — love
aidoru (アイドル) — idol / pop star / celebrity performer
aitemu (アイテム) — item / object / thing (especially in gaming and commerce)
aitsu (あいつ) — he; she; that guy; that person (informal, sometimes dismissive)
akirame (諦め) — giving up / resignation / acceptance of what cannot be changed
akuyaku (悪役) — villain — an evil or wicked character in a story
anaunsaa (アナウンサー) — TV/radio announcer; news anchor; broadcaster
anko (あんこ) — anko — sweet red bean paste
antei (安定) — stability; steadiness; security
apu (アップ) — rise / increase / an upward movement
arubaito (アルバイト) — part-time job / part-time work / temporary work
atsukau (扱う) — to handle; to deal with; to treat; to manage

baito (バイト) — part-time job / to work part-time
baka (馬鹿) — idiot, fool, stupid; also used affectionately between close friends
barasu (バラす) — to expose (a secret); to dismantle; to disassemble; to kill (slang)
betsubetsu (別々) — separate / individual / each one’s own
bijin (美人) — beautiful woman; beauty; belle
bimyou (微妙) — subtle; so-so; not quite right
booru (ボール) — ball
bosu (ボス) — boss / leader / final challenge enemy (in games)
bukatsu (部活) — club — a school or university activity club where students pursue shared interests
bukka (物価) — prices of commodities; cost of living
bunka (文化) — culture / civilization / cultural
bunkasai (文化祭) — school cultural festival / school festival
butai (舞台) — stage; setting (of a story)

chiizu (チーズ) — cheese
choppiri (ちょっぴり) — a tiny bit; just a little; a smidgen
chuushoku (昼食) — lunch; midday meal

daibubun (大部分) — most part; greater part; majority; for the most part
dantai (団体) — group; organization; party; body
darui (だるい) — heavy-feeling / sluggish / lethargic / can’t be bothered
dasai (ださい) — uncool / lame / tacky / dorky
dashi (出汁) — dashi; Japanese soup stock
debu (デブ) — fat person; chubby; overweight
demo (デモ) — a demonstration; a protest; (also) a product demo
denshi meeru (電子メール) — email; electronic mail
dentou (伝統) — tradition; convention; heritage
dojo (道場) — dojo / training hall for martial arts and other “ways”
donbiki (ドン引き) — being put off / recoiling in discomfort / taken aback by someone’s behavior
doraibu (ドライブ) — a drive / a pleasure trip by car
dorama (ドラマ) — TV drama; television series
doresu (ドレス) — dress (formal/elegant gown)
doryoku (努力) — effort / hard work / endeavor
dotakyan (ドタキャン) — last-minute cancellation / to cancel at the last minute

ekiben (駅弁) — station bento; box lunch sold at train stations
en (縁) — fate / connection / destiny / karmic bond
erai (偉い) — great / admirable / impressive; (Kansai dialect) tough / exhausted / terrible

figyua (フィギュア) — figure / figurine / collectible statue
freeter (フリーター) — part-time worker / temp worker
fujisan (富士山) — Mount Fuji — Japan’s highest mountain and most iconic symbol
fujoshi (腐女子) — female fan of yaoi (male-male romance) content

gakkari (がっかり) — disappointed; let down; dejected; crestfallen
gasorinsutando (ガソリンスタンド) — gas station; petrol station; service station
geemu (ゲーム) — game (video game, board game, sport game)
gekijou (劇場) — theatre; theater; playhouse
gijutsu (技術) — technology; technical skill; technique; craftsmanship
guguru (ぐぐる) — to Google / to search online
guruupu (グループ) — group (esp. of people)
gyoza (餃子) — gyoza / pan-fried dumplings

hanami (花見) — flower viewing; cherry blossom viewing party
hanasu (話す) — to speak / to talk / to tell
harahara (ハラハラ) — heart pounding with anxiety; on edge; worriedly watching
heiwa (平和) — peace / tranquility / a state free from conflict or disturbance
henshin (変身) — transformation / to transform
hetakuso (へたくそ) — unskilled; clumsy; lousy at something; terrible (at a skill)
hikidasu (引き出す) — to pull out; to draw out; to withdraw; to bring out (potential)
hissatsuwaza (必殺技) — special move / finishing move / killer technique
houhou (方法) — method; way; means; approach
hyakkin (百均) — 100-yen store / discount variety shop

idai (偉大) — great; grand; magnificent
ikari (怒り) — anger / rage / wrath
ikemen (イケメン) — good-looking guy; handsome man
inochi (命) — life / one’s life / the vital force that keeps a living being alive
iraira (イライラ) — feeling irritated; frustrated; on edge
isshou kenmei (一生懸命) — with all one’s might / earnestly / as hard as one can
isu (椅子) — chair; seat; stool
itoko (従兄弟) — cousin
itterasshai (行ってらっしゃい) — have a safe trip; go and come back
iwau (祝う) — to celebrate; to congratulate; to mark an occasion

jidai (時代) — era / age / period / epoch / times
jouhou (情報) — information; news; intelligence; data
judo (柔道) — a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport focused on throws, grappling, and submission techniques, founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882
juumin (住民) — resident; inhabitant; local resident
juuryou (重量) — weight; mass (as a physical measurement)

kabin (花瓶) — vase; flower vase
kabocha (かぼちゃ) — kabocha; Japanese pumpkin; squash (Cucurbita maxima)
kagaku (科学) — science / natural science
kami (神) — god / deity / spirit (Shinto); slang: godly, amazing
kando (感動) — being deeply moved; strong emotion; impression; touching
kankyo (環境) — environment; surroundings; circumstances
kansha (感謝) — gratitude / thankfulness / appreciation
karate (空手) — karate / “empty hand” martial art
kashira (かしら) — I wonder; maybe; do you think…? (soft, often feminine)
katana (刀) — katana / Japanese sword / samurai sword
keikaku (計画) — plan / scheme / project
kekka (結果) — result; consequence; outcome; effect
kendo (剣道) — Japanese fencing / way of the sword
kibishii (厳しい) — strict; harsh; severe; tough
kibou (希望) — hope / wish / aspiration
kiku (聞く) — to listen / to hear / to ask
kimoi (キモい) — gross / creepy / disgusting / repulsive
kimono (着物) — kimono / traditional Japanese garment
kiro (キロ) — kilo- (kilogram or kilometer, by context)
kiseki (奇跡) — miracle / wonder / something beyond natural explanation
kissaten (喫茶店) — old-style Japanese coffee shop / tearoom / cafe
kitsune (狐) — fox / fox spirit (supernatural trickster in Japanese folklore)
kodawari (こだわり) — obsessive attention to detail / personal commitment
koitsu (こいつ) — this guy; this person; this one (informal, can be contemptuous)
kokumin (国民) — citizen; national; the people (of a nation)
kokyuu (呼吸) — breathing; respiration; (fig.) harmony; coordination
konomi (好み) — preference; taste; liking; one’s type
kooru (凍る) — to freeze; to ice over; to become frozen
kopii (コピー) — copy; photocopy; to copy
kosupure (コスプレ) — cosplay / costume play
kotaeru (答える) — to answer / to reply / to respond
kouhai (後輩) — junior / younger colleague at school or work
kowasu (壊す) — to break / to destroy / to smash / to ruin / to wreck
kumori (曇り) — cloudiness; cloudy weather
kurashi (暮らし) — living / livelihood / life / daily life / way of life
kurikaesu (繰り返す) — to repeat; to do again; to go over and over
kutabaru (くたばる) — to drop dead; to kick the bucket; to die (crude/vulgar); to be exhausted
kuu (食う) — to eat (rough/casual, masculine) — also: to eat up (time/money), to get bitten by insects, to make a living, to get the short end of a deal, to upstage someone
kuyashii (悔しい) — the frustrated, mortified feeling of losing, failing, or being wronged when you know you could have done better
kyoumi (興味) — interest; curiosity; fascination
kyoushi (教師) — teacher; instructor

machiya (町家) — traditional Japanese townhouse
mahou shoujo (魔法少女) — magical girl / girl with magical powers
maji (マジ) — seriously; for real (slang)
make (負け) — defeat; loss; losing (a game or contest)
manga (漫画) — manga / Japanese comic / graphic novel
mangaka (漫画家) — manga artist / comic creator
manjuu (饅頭) — steamed Japanese bun with sweet filling, usually red bean paste
matsuri (祭り) — festival / celebration / festive gathering
meccha (めっちゃ) — very / extremely / so much (Kansai slang, now nationwide)
menbaa (メンバー) — member; participant
mendokusai (面倒くさい) — troublesome, a hassle, too much bother to deal with
miso (味噌) — miso / fermented soybean paste
mochi (餅) — mochi / pounded rice cake
modoru (戻る) — to return / to go back / to come back / to revert
moe (萌え) — intense affection for anime/manga characters, usually cute or endearing
mondai (問題) — problem; question; issue; matter
mottainai (勿体ない) — wasteful; too good to waste; what a waste
moushiwake (申し訳) — excuse; justification — used in the phrase moushiwake nai/gozaimasen to express deep, sincere apology
mukatsuku (むかつく) — to be irritated / to be infuriated / to feel sick (from anger)
mune (胸) — chest / heart / feelings / mind
muri (無理) — impossible / unreasonable / no way / overdoing it / forcing

nakama (仲間) — companion / comrade / member of one’s group
nani sore (何それ) — what’s that? / what is that supposed to mean? / that’s so weird
naosu (直す) — to fix / to repair / to correct / to cure / to redo
nareru (慣れる) — to get used to / to become accustomed to / to grow familiar with
naruhodo (なるほど) — I see; indeed; I understand now; that makes sense
natsukashii (懐かしい) — nostalgic / heartwarming / fondly remembered
natto (納豆) — natto / fermented soybeans
nayamu (悩む) — to be troubled / to worry / to agonize / to be distressed
nengajou (年賀状) — New Year’s greeting card
netabare (ネタバレ) — spoiler / to spoil (a plot)
nezumi (ネズミ) — mouse; rat
nihonshu (日本酒) — nihonshu; Japanese rice wine (sake)
niko niko (にこにこ) — smiling; grinning; with a smile (onomatopoeia for a beaming smile)
nioi (匂い) — smell / scent / odor / fragrance
noh (能) — Japan’s oldest surviving classical theater form, featuring masked performers, slow ritualistic movements, and chanted poetry
nomikai (飲み会) — drinking party; social gathering centered on drinking
noren (暖簾) — shop curtain / fabric divider
nuku (抜く) — to pull out / extract / remove / omit / overtake / skip

obi (帯) — sash or belt worn with kimono
obon (お盆) — Obon; Japanese festival of the dead
ochazuke (お茶漬け) — ochazuke — rice with tea or broth poured over it
odoroku (驚く) — to be surprised / to be astonished / to be startled / to be amazed
oitsuku (追いつく) — to catch up (with); to draw level; to keep pace
okkakeru (追いかける) — to chase; to run after; to pursue
okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) — okonomiyaki; savory Japanese pancake
okoru (怒る) — to get angry / to be furious / to scold
omamori (お守り) — amulet; protective charm from a shrine or temple
omatsuri (お祭り) — festival / matsuri
omoiyari (思いやり) — empathy / consideration for others
omoshiroi (面白い) — interesting; funny; entertaining
oni (鬼) — demon / ogre / devil / troll / supernatural being (also: intensifier slang)
oobaa (オーバー) — overcoat; (also) excessive, over-the-top
ooini (大いに) — greatly; very much; in a big way
origami (折り紙) — origami / the art of paper folding
osewa (お世話) — care; help; assistance; looking after someone
oshi (推し) — one’s favorite (idol, character, or person); the one you actively support and champion
otoshidama (お年玉) — New Year’s gift money / money given to children at New Year’s
otsukare (お疲れ) — good work; thanks for your hard work; you must be tired (social acknowledgment of effort)
otsukaresama (お疲れ様) — thank you for your hard work

pekopeko (ペコペコ) — (stomach) growling with hunger; bowing repeatedly; being sycophantic
perapera (ペラペラ) — fluent (in a language); thin and flimsy; talking rapidly
pikunikku (ピクニック) — picnic
poddokyasuto (ポッドキャスト) — podcast

raibu (ライブ) — live performance / concert / live event
raku (楽) — easy; comfortable; relaxed; effortless
reisei (冷静) — calm; composed; cool-headed; collected
rekishi (歴史) — history; the past; historical records
renai (恋愛) — romantic love; romance
risou (理想) — ideal; ideal vision
ronbun (論文) — thesis; academic paper; essay
roujin (老人) — old person; elderly person; senior (formal/written)

sake (酒) — alcohol in general; overseas, Japanese rice wine specifically
samurai (侍) — samurai / warrior of premodern Japan
sarariman (サラリーマン) — salaryman; white-collar office worker; a company employee on a fixed salary
seibutsu (生物) — living thing; organism; biology (as a subject)
seinen (青年) — young adult man; manga and anime genre targeted at adult men aged roughly 18 to 40
seishin (精神) — mind; spirit; soul; psyche; mentality
seito (生徒) — student (middle school / high school pupil)
seiyuu (声優) — voice actor / voice actress / voice performer
sekai (世界) — world; the world; universe; realm; domain
senbei (煎餅) — Japanese rice crackers, typically flavored with soy sauce, salt, or seaweed
senmon (専門) — specialty / expertise / specialization / professional field
senpai (先輩) — senior / mentor / person with more experience
senshu (選手) — player (of a sport); athlete; team member
shabushabu (しゃぶしゃぶ) — shabu-shabu; hot pot of thinly sliced meat swished in broth
shakai (社会) — society / community / the world / social
shamisen (三味線) — three-stringed Japanese lute played with a plectrum
shibui (渋い) — subtly cool / refined and understated
shigoto (仕事) — job / work / occupation / task
shimin (市民) — citizen / resident / townsperson
shinrinyoku (森林浴) — forest bathing / forest immersion
shitashimi (親しみ) — familiarity / affection / sense of closeness or warmth toward someone
shizen (自然) — nature; natural; spontaneous
shodou (書道) — Japanese calligraphy / the way of writing
shokuhin (食品) — food; foodstuff; food product
shokuji (食事) — meal; dining
shokuryou (食料) — food; provisions; foodstuffs (especially as supplies/stock)
shokuryouhin (食料品) — groceries; foodstuffs; food items
shokuyoku (食欲) — appetite; desire to eat
shonen (少年) — young boy / boy / shonen genre (manga/anime aimed at boys)
shori (処理) — processing; dealing with; handling; treatment
shouganai (しょうがない) — it can’t be helped; nothing can be done about it
shougatsu (正月) — New Year / New Year’s holiday period
shoujo (少女) — young girl / girl / shoujo genre (manga/anime aimed at girls)
shujinkou (主人公) — protagonist / main character / hero
shuriken (手裏剣) — throwing blade used by ninja
shuukan (習慣) — habit; custom; practice; routine
sofuto (ソフト) — soft; software; soft ice cream; gentle
sugoi (凄い) — amazing / incredible / awesome / impressive
sukii (スキー) — skiing; ski
sukiyaki (すき焼き) — sukiyaki / sweet soy-simmered beef hot pot
sumo (相撲) — sumo / Japanese wrestling
sunao (素直) — honest, open-hearted, and unpretentious; willing to listen and receptive without stubbornness
sushi (寿司) — sushi / vinegared rice with toppings
susumu (進む) — to advance / to move forward / to make progress / to proceed
suteki (素敵) — lovely; wonderful; charming; amazing; fabulous
sutereo (ステレオ) — stereo; stereo system; stereophonic sound

taberu (食べる) — to eat
taishita (大した) — great / considerable / impressive (positive); “nothing much / no big deal” when negated
taiyaki (鯛焼き) — taiyaki — fish-shaped waffle cake filled with sweet red bean paste
tanabata (七夕) — Tanabata; Star Festival (July 7th)
tango (単語) — word; vocabulary; (individual) word; term
tani (谷) — valley / gorge / ravine
tanomu (頼む) — to ask / to request / to rely on / to depend on / to entrust
tataku (叩く) — to hit / strike / knock / clap / tap; figuratively, to bash or criticize
tatami (畳) — woven straw mat flooring used in traditional Japanese rooms
teinei (丁寧) — polite; careful; thorough; considerate
teishoku (定食) — Japanese set meal consisting of a main dish, rice, miso soup, and side dishes
tekisuto (テキスト) — textbook; text (digital); written material
tempura (天ぷら) — tempura / lightly battered deep-fried seafood and vegetables
tenkou (天候) — weather; atmospheric conditions
tenshon (テンション) — mood / excitement level / energy (not tension in the English sense)
teriyaki (照り焼き) — a Japanese cooking method in which meat or fish is grilled while being basted with a sweet soy-based glaze; also refers to dishes prepared this way
tofu (豆腐) — tofu / soybean curd
tonikaku (とにかく) — anyway; at any rate; in any case; regardless; for now
torii (鳥居) — Shinto shrine gate or entrance portal
toshiyori (年寄り) — elderly person; old person; senior
tsunami (津波) — tsunami; tidal wave caused by earthquakes
tsurai (辛い) — painful; bitter; heart-breaking; tough; hard
tsuri (釣り) — fishing; angling
tsuyu (つゆ) — tsuyu; dipping broth; noodle sauce (dashi-based soy seasoning)
tsuzukeru (続ける) — to continue / to keep doing / to go on / to carry on

udon (うどん) — udon / thick wheat noodles
uebusaito (ウェブサイト) — website; web site
unmei (運命) — fate / destiny / one’s predetermined lot in life
uzai (うざい) — annoying / irritating / a pain / creepy-persistent

wagamama (わがまま) — selfish; self-centered; willful; having one’s own way
wagashi (和菓子) — traditional Japanese confectionery made with ingredients such as red bean paste, rice flour, and seasonal flavors
wain (ワイン) — wine
wakuwaku (わくわく) — excited / thrilled / feeling of excited anticipation
warikan (割り勘) — going Dutch; splitting the bill equally

yabai (やばい) — dangerous / amazing (slang)
yakitori (焼き鳥) — grilled chicken skewers; bite-sized pieces of chicken and vegetables threaded on bamboo skewers and grilled over charcoal, seasoned with tare sauce or salt
yamero (やめろ) — stop it; quit it; cut it out
yandere (ヤンデレ) — obsessively devoted character, often with unstable/violent behavior
yare yare (やれやれ) — good grief / what a pain / what a hassle
yasashii (優しい) — kind; gentle; tender; considerate
yatsura (やつら) — they; those guys; those people (informal, often contemptuous)
yoisho (よいしょ) — come on / let’s go / heave-ho (effort exclamation)
yorokobi (喜び) — joy / delight / happiness
yorokobu (喜ぶ) — to rejoice / to be glad / to be pleased / to be delighted
yukata (浴衣) — a lightweight, informal cotton kimono worn in summer at festivals, fireworks events, or in ryokan and hot spring resorts
yuki-onna (雪女) — the ‘Snow Woman’ — a yokai from Japanese folklore appearing as a beautiful pale woman in blizzards, often lethal to travelers
yuri (百合) — lily (flower); girls’ love genre in manga/anime

zaseki (座席) — seat; assigned seat