JLPT N3 Vocabulary List

Over 3,100 words with readings, romaji, and English meanings

JLPT N3 sits between knowing some Japanese and being able to use it for real, and it is the level a lot of learners find hardest to reach. The support the beginner levels give you starts to fall away, and the amount of vocabulary jumps sharply.

What JLPT N3 covers

The words get more abstract and more grown-up: opinions and emotions, work and study vocabulary, the language of news headlines, and the nuance that lets you express how you feel about something, not just what happened. This is the biggest single jump in vocabulary at any level, around 2,200 new words, and the kanji count climbs to roughly 650.

Grammar and particles at this level

N3 grammar starts to carry nuance, not just plain meaning. You meet polite and humble language (keigo) properly, the full set of conditionals (ば, たら, なら and と, each used a little differently), and the passive and causative forms for describing things done to you or making someone do something. Sentences get longer, and how their parts fit together gets harder to follow.

How to study N3

N3 is where a lot of self-taught learners stall, usually from grinding vocabulary lists without doing much reading. The way through is to read a lot, at a level that is a little harder than feels comfortable. Learner news apps, simple blogs, and manga with furigana all work well. Words stick when you meet them in context, far more than from a flashcard on its own.

Planning to sit the N3 exam? Test dates, fees, and registration for your country are on the official JLPT website.

All N3 words

だがdaga

but, however (written or formal)

だとdato

if it is, in the case of

person (same as 人 (ひと))

いけないikenai

must not do, bad, wrong

為にためにtameni

for

それでもsoredemo

but (still), and yet, nevertheless

人間にんげんningen

human being, person

別にべつにbetsuni

(not) particularly, nothing

だけどdakedo

however

俺おれore

I (masculine, informal)

しかもshikamo

moreover, furthermore

ところでtokorode

by the way, even if

ですからdesukara

so, therefore (polite speech)

他ほかhoka

other (esp. places and things)

you (informal, blunt)

だったらdattara

if that is the case, then

全くまったくmattaku

really, completely

与えるあたえるataeru

to give to a subordinate, to award

結果けっかkekka

result, consequence

思わずおもわずomowazu

unintentional, spontaneous

ずっとzutto

all the time, for a long time

どうしてもdoushitemo

no matter what, at any cost

我々われわれwareware

we (formal)

ただtada

free of charge, just (~), only (~)

こんなにkonnani

so, like this, in this way

理解りかいrikai

understanding, comprehension

求めるもとめるmotomeru

to seek, to request

相手あいてaite

partner, the other person

よりyori

twist, ply

方法ほうほうhouhou

method, means, technique

あるいはaruiha

or, perhaps

付けるつけるtsukeru

to attach, to join, to add

願うねがうnegau

to desire, to wish, to request

起こるおこるokoru

to occur, to happen

姿すがたsugata

figure, shape, appearance

事件じけんjiken

event, affair, incident

全てすべてsubete

all, the whole, entirely

身みmi

body, main part

何とかなんとかnantoka

somehow, one way or another

情報じょうほうjouhou

information, intelligence

認めるみとめるmitomeru

to recognize, to admit

事実じじつjijitsu

fact, truth, reality

守るまもるmamoru

to protect, to keep (a promise, rules)

少年しょうねんshounen

boys, juveniles

性せいsei

nature, inherent quality

可能かのうkanou

possible, practicable, feasible

度たびtabi

counter for occurrences

by all means, everything

いるかiruka

dolphin

考えかんがえkangae

thinking, thought, ideas

to repeat, to do over again

considerably, fairly, quite

いつまでもitsumademo

forever, for good, eternally

行動こうどうkoudou

action, conduct, behavior

対するたいするtaisuru

to face, to confront, to oppose

状況じょうきょうjoukyou

state of affairs, situation

氏しshi

family name, lineage

失ううしなうushinau

to lose, to part with

示すしめすshimesu

to show, to indicate

離れるはなれるhanareru

to separate from, to leave

数かずkazu

number, figure

そのうちsonouchi

before long, eventually

役やくyaku

role, position

感じかんじkanji

feeling, sense, impression

友人ゆうじんyuujin

friend (formal)

違いないちがいないchigainai

no doubt, for certain

気に入るきにいるkiniiru

to like, to be please

自身じしんjishin

oneself, itself

実際じっさいjissai

in fact, in actuality

portion, section, part

許すゆるすyurusu

to permit, to allow, to approve

場ばba

place, field (physics)

to be attached, to stick

to be hit, to be successful

描くえがくegaku

to draw, to depict, to describe

abruptly, suddenly, unexpectedly

愛するあいするaisuru

to love

結局けっきょくkekkyoku

after all, eventually

to abide (by the rules), to obey

残すのこすnokosu

to leave behind, to save

限るかぎるkagiru

to restrict, to limit, to confine

参加さんかsanka

participation, joining

父親ちちおやchichioya

father

向けるむけるmukeru

to turn towards, to point

slowly, little by little

程度ていどteido

degree, amount, level

努力どりょくdoryoku

great effort, exertion, endeavor

あんなにannani

to that extent, to that degree

過ごすすごすsugosu

to pass, to spend (time)

したがってshitagatte

therefore, accordingly

sharing with, participate in

unrelated person, stranger

影響えいきょうeikyou

influence, effect

無むmu

nothing, naught, zero

能力のうりょくnouryoku

ability, faculty

激しいはげしいhageshii

violent, vehement, intense

if ever, in the unlikely event

追うおうou

to chase, to run after

非常ひじょうhijou

emergency, extraordinary, unusual

助けるたすけるtasukeru

to help, to save, to rescue

to meet by chance, to come across

全体ぜんたいzentai

the whole, entirety

受け取るうけとるuketoru

to receive, to get, to accept

ちゃんとchanto

perfectly, properly, exactly

affirmation, confirmation

約やくyaku

approximately, about, some

加えるくわえるkuwaeru

to append, to sum up, to add (up)

暮らすくらすkurasu

to live, to get along

健康けんこうkenkou

health(y)

意識いしきishiki

consciousness, senses

敵てきteki

enemy, rival

期待きたいkitai

expectation, anticipation, hope

to appear, to show up

立ち上がるたちあがるtachiagaru

to stand up

命いのちinochi

one's life, life force

語るかたるkataru

to talk, to tell, to recite

老人ろうじんroujin

the aged, old person

腹はらhara

abdomen, belly, stomach

馬うまuma

horse

政府せいふseifu

government, administration

detailed, full, accurate

change, variation, shift

抱くだくdaku

to embrace, to harbor (feelings)

活動かつどうkatsudou

action, activity

流れるながれるnagareru

to flow, to be washed away

plot of land, lot, soil

to contain, to include

so (conj.), accordingly

letter (of alphabet), character

述べるのべるnoberu

to state, to express, to mention

作品さくひんsakuhin

work, opus, production

一生いっしょうisshou

throughout (one's) life

隠すかくすkakusu

to hide, to conceal

記憶きおくkioku

memory, recollection, remembrance

最高さいこうsaikou

highest, supreme, the most

扱うあつかうatsukau

to treat, to handle, to deal with

様子ようすyousu

aspect, state, appearance

王おうou

king, monarch

元もとmoto

origin, original, former

again, once more, a second time

ところがtokoroga

however, while, even if

息いきiki

breath

同様どうようdouyou

identical, same (kind), like

知識ちしきchishiki

knowledge, information

今回こんかいkonkai

now, this time, lately

不思議ふしぎfushigi

mystery, curiosity

望むのぞむnozomu

to desire, to wish for, to view

解決かいけつkaiketsu

settlement, solution, resolution

発見はっけんhakken

discovery, detection, finding

希望きぼうkibou

hope, wish, aspiration

to let pass, to let through

知れるしれるshireru

to become known, to come to light

地球ちきゅうchikyuu

the earth

お互いおたがいotagai

mutual, reciprocal, each other

環境かんきょうkankyou

environment, circumstance

subject, contents, detail

際さいsai

on the occasion of, circumstances

機械きかいkikai

machine, machinery

奴やつyatsu

(vulg.) fellow, guy, chap

旅たびtabi

travel, trip, journey

茶ちゃcha

tea

感情かんじょうkanjou

emotion(s), feeling(s), sentiment

立場たちばtachiba

standpoint, position, situation

to cross over, to pass over

全ぜんzen

all, whole, entire

被害者ひがいしゃhigaisha

victim, injured party

気付くきづくkizuku

to notice, to become aware of

a decision, settling on something

地域ちいきchiiki

area, region

個人こじんkojin

individual, private person

触れるふれるfureru

to touch, to feel, to violate

種たねtane

seed, material, cause

調査ちょうさchousa

survey, investigation

文ぶんbun

sentence

性格せいかくseikaku

character, personality

選手せんしゅsenshu

player, athlete

関するかんするkansuru

to concern, to be related

仲間なかまnakama

companion, colleague

次第しだいshidai

depending on, as soon as

to come out, to fall out

要するにようするにyousuruni

in a word, after all, in short …

とにかくtonikaku

anyway, in any case

国民こくみんkokumin

national, people, citizen

to extract, to omit, to unplug

一方いっぽうippou

on the other hand, meanwhile

感謝かんしゃkansha

thanks, gratitude

乗せるのせるnoseru

to place on, to give a ride to

当時とうじtouji

at that time, in those days

分けるわけるwakeru

to divide, to separate

direction, course, way

異なることなるkotonaru

to differ, to vary

食うくうkuu

(male) (vulg.) to eat

調子ちょうしchoushi

condition, tone

減るへるheru

to decrease, to diminish

我慢がまんgaman

patience, endurance, perseverance

それともsoretomo

or, or else

戦うたたかうtatakau

to fight, to compete, to battle

やっぱりyappari

after all, anyway

不ふfu

un(~), non(~), negative prefix

地方ちほうchihou

area, locality, region

既にすでにsudeni

already (same as もう)

辛いつらいtsurai

painful, tough, hard (emotionally)

お願いしますおねがいしますonegaishimasu

Please (lit., I request)

無駄むだmuda

useless, wasteful

提案ていあんteian

proposal, proposition, suggestion

ますますmasumasu

more and more, increasingly

戻すもどすmodosu

to restore, to put back, to return

～敗はいhai

counter for loss, defeat

なぜならnazenara

because

表現ひょうげんhyougen

expression, presentation

to tie, to bind, to link

要求ようきゅうyoukyuu

demand, requirement

取れるとれるtoreru

to come off, to be taken off

主張しゅちょうshuchou

claim, insistence, assertion

不安ふあんfuan

anxious, uneasy

常つねtsune

usual state of things

作業さぎょうsagyou

work, operation, manufacturing

罪つみtsumi

crime, fault, indiscretion

contract, compact, agreement

宇宙うちゅうuchuu

universe, cosmos, space

時期じきjiki

time, season, period

商品しょうひんshouhin

commodity, merchandise

信用しんようshin'you

confidence, dependence

to take up, to pick up

引っ張るひっぱるhipparu

to pull, to stretch, to drag

断ることわるkotowaru

to refuse, to decline, to dismiss

除くのぞくnozoku

to remove, to exclude, to except

城しろshiro

castle

流すながすnagasu

to let flow, to drain

信頼しんらいshinrai

reliance, trust, confidence

携帯けいたいkeitai

mobile phone (short form)

to get lost, to hesitate

if that's the case, if so

使用しようshiyou

use, employment

閉じるとじるtojiru

to close (a book, eyes or umbrella)

評価ひょうかhyouka

assessment, evaluation

伸ばすのばすnobasu

to stretch, to extend

夫婦ふうふfuufu

married couple, husband and wife

実行じっこうjikkou

execution, carrying out

眺めるながめるnagameru

to view, to gaze at

恐れるおそれるosoreru

to fear, to be afraid of

to shine, to glitter, to sparkle

表情ひょうじょうhyoujou

facial expression

切れるきれるkireru

to cut well, to be sharp

飛び出すとびだすtobidasu

to jump out, to rush out

新たあらたarata

new, fresh

回復かいふくkaifuku

recovery, restoration

海外かいがいkaigai

foreign, abroad, overseas

teaching, instruction, professor

手段しゅだんshudan

means, way, measure

主義しゅぎshugi

doctrine, cause, principle

否定ひていhitei

negation, denial

発表はっぴょうhappyou

announcement, presentation

恐ろしいおそろしいosoroshii

terrifying, frightening

議論ぎろんgiron

argument, discussion, dispute

局きょくkyoku

bureau, station (TV, radio)

duty, obligation, responsibility

それとsoreto

and also, on top of that

to hold in one's arms, to carry (problems)

広がるひろがるhirogaru

to spread, to extend

面倒めんどうmendou

troublesome, bothersome

circumstances, situation, reasons

不足ふそくfusoku

insufficiency, shortage

苦労くろうkurou

hardship, toil

魅力みりょくmiryoku

charm, fascination, appeal

書類しょるいshorui

documents, official papers

direct, immediate, firsthand

before long, soon, at length

協力きょうりょくkyouryoku

cooperation, helping out

育つそだつsodatsu

to be brought up, to grow (up)

企業きぎょうkigyou

industry, business, undertaking

目標もくひょうmokuhyou

mark, objective, target

普段ふだんfudan

usually, ordinarily

案あんan

plan, scheme, proposal

支配しはいshihai

rule, control, direction

正直しょうじきshoujiki

honesty, integrity, frankness

leadership, guidance, coaching

構うかまうkamau

to care about

記録きろくkiroku

record, minutes, document

actual spot, scene, field

犯人はんにんhannin

offender, criminal

きちんとkichinto

precisely, accurately

言語げんごgengo

language, speech

笑顔えがおegao

smile (on one's face)

経営けいえいkeiei

running a business, management

生命せいめいseimei

life, existence

組織そしきsoshiki

organization, structure, tissue

用いるもちいるmochiiru

to use, to make use of

優れるすぐれるsugureru

to surpass, to outstrip, to excel

実現じつげんjitsugen

realization, coming true

疑問ぎもんgimon

question, problem, doubt

差すさすsasu

to hold up (an umbrella), to raise

末すえsue

the end of, powder

積極的せっきょくてきsekkyokuteki

positive, active, proactive

袋ふくろfukuro

bag, sack

財産ざいさんzaisan

property, personal wealth

完成かんせいkansei

complete, completion, perfection

as it is, without change

注文ちゅうもんchuumon

order, request

申し訳ないもうしわけないmoushiwakenai

inexcusable, I am sorry

問うとうtou

to ask, to question

傾向けいこうkeikou

tendency, trend, inclination

国家こっかkokka

state, country, nation

逆ぎゃくgyaku

reverse, opposite

疑ううたがうutagau

to doubt, to distrust

瞬間しゅんかんshunkan

moment, second

悩むなやむnayamu

to agonize, to be troubled

計算けいさんkeisan

calculation, reckoning

感覚かんかくkankaku

sense, sensation

握るにぎるnigiru

to grasp, to seize, to mold sushi

皿さらsara

plate, dish (plain form)

選択せんたくsentaku

selection, choice

提出ていしゅつteishutsu

presentation, submission, filing

肌はだhada

skin

進めるすすめるsusumeru

to advance, to promote, to hasten

諦めるあきらめるakirameru

to give up, to abandon

勧めるすすめるsusumeru

to recommend, to urge

桜さくらsakura

cherry blossom, cherry tree

予想よそうyosou

expectation, prediction

damage suffered, harm

管理かんりkanri

control, administration

frequently, repeatedly, eagerly

救うすくうsukuu

to rescue from, to help out of

まさかmasaka

by no means

任せるまかせるmakaseru

to entrust to another, to leave to

攻撃こうげきkougeki

attack, strike, offensive

生物せいぶつseibutsu

living thing, organism

話し合うはなしあうhanashiau

to discuss, to talk together

いわゆるiwayuru

the so-called, so-to-speak

詩しshi

poem, poetry

備えるそなえるsonaeru

to prepare, to furnish, to store

確かめるたしかめるtashikameru

to ascertain, to make sure

処理しょりshori

processing, treatment, disposition

出来事できごとdekigoto

incident happening, event

physician, medical practitioner

差さsa

difference, variation

至るいたるitaru

to come, to arrive

支えるささえるsasaeru

support, hold, sustain

世の中よのなかyononaka

society, the world

興奮こうふんkoufun

excitement, stimulation

集中しゅうちゅうshuuchuu

concentration, focusing the mind

賞しょうshou

prize, award

Other JLPT levels

JLPT N5 JLPT N4 JLPT N2 JLPT N1

JLPT N3 questions

Why is N3 considered the hardest jump?

The vocabulary roughly doubles compared to everything below it, around 2,200 new words, and the grammar shifts from stating facts to expressing nuance. Many learners plateau here simply because the volume is so much larger.

How many words and kanji does N3 need?

Roughly 2,200 new words for about 3,700 cumulative, and around 650 kanji. It is a serious step up from N4.

Is N3 enough to work in Japan?

For many service and casual roles, yes, and a lot of employers treat it as a baseline. More demanding professional work usually expects N2 or above.