N2 introduces approximately 2,250 new vocabulary items beyond N3 (~6,000 total cumulative). The defining characteristic of N2 vocabulary is its formal, written register — most new words come from newspapers, academic texts, formal correspondence, and broadcast speech. Casual conversational study alone will not cover this vocabulary; deliberate reading and SRS are essential.
1. Academic and Intellectual Vocabulary
The single most important category for N2. These words appear throughout all sections of the exam and are prerequisites for reading academic and news texts.
1.1 Core Intellectual Concepts
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 概念 |
がいねん |
gainen |
concept; notion; general idea |
Noun |
| 抽象 |
ちゅうしょう |
chuushou |
abstraction; abstract |
Noun/Na-adj |
| 論理 |
ろんり |
ronri |
logic; reasoning |
Noun |
| 仮説 |
かせつ |
kasetsu |
hypothesis; supposition |
Noun |
| 前提 |
ぜんてい |
zentei |
premise; prerequisite; precondition |
Noun |
| 推論 |
すいろん |
suiron |
inference; deduction; reasoning |
Noun |
| 分析 |
ぶんせき |
bunseki |
analysis |
Noun/Suru |
| 総合 |
そうごう |
sougou |
synthesis; comprehensive; overall |
Noun/Suru |
| 評価 |
ひょうか |
hyouka |
evaluation; assessment; appraisal |
Noun/Suru |
| 批判 |
ひはん |
hihan |
criticism; critique |
Noun/Suru |
| 定義 |
ていぎ |
teigi |
definition |
Noun/Suru |
| 根拠 |
こんきょ |
konkyo |
basis; grounds; rationale |
Noun |
| 証明 |
しょうめい |
shoumei |
proof; demonstration |
Noun/Suru |
| 理論 |
りろん |
riron |
theory |
Noun |
| 主張 |
しゅちょう |
shuchou |
assertion; claim; insistence |
Noun/Suru |
| 論文 |
ろんぶん |
ronbun |
thesis; dissertation; academic paper |
Noun |
| 観点 |
かんてん |
kanten |
viewpoint; standpoint; perspective |
Noun |
| 見解 |
けんかい |
kenkai |
view; opinion; understanding |
Noun |
| 解釈 |
かいしゃく |
kaishaku |
interpretation; explanation |
Noun/Suru |
| 考察 |
こうさつ |
kousatsu |
consideration; analysis; examination |
Noun/Suru |
| 検討 |
けんとう |
kentou |
examination; investigation; consideration |
Noun/Suru |
| 検証 |
けんしょう |
kenshou |
verification; inspection |
Noun/Suru |
| 論証 |
ろんしょう |
ronshou |
demonstration; argumentation |
Noun/Suru |
| 矛盾 |
むじゅん |
mujun |
contradiction; inconsistency |
Noun/Suru |
| 合理 |
ごうり |
gouri |
rationality; reason; logic |
Noun |
| 合理的 |
ごうりてき |
gouri-teki |
rational; reasonable; logical |
Na-adj |
| 客観 |
きゃっかん |
kyakkan |
objectivity; objective |
Noun |
| 客観的 |
きゃっかんてき |
kyakkan-teki |
objective; unbiased |
Na-adj |
| 主観 |
しゅかん |
shukan |
subjectivity; subjective |
Noun |
| 主観的 |
しゅかんてき |
shukan-teki |
subjective; personal |
Na-adj |
| 抽象的 |
ちゅうしょうてき |
chuushou-teki |
abstract |
Na-adj |
| 具体的 |
ぐたいてき |
gutai-teki |
concrete; specific |
Na-adj |
| 普遍的 |
ふへんてき |
fuhen-teki |
universal; general |
Na-adj |
| 相対的 |
そうたいてき |
soutai-teki |
relative; comparative |
Na-adj |
| 絶対的 |
ぜったいてき |
zettai-teki |
absolute; unconditional |
Na-adj |
1.2 Academic Process Words
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 研究 |
けんきゅう |
kenkyuu |
research; study |
Noun/Suru |
| 調査 |
ちょうさ |
chousa |
investigation; survey; inquiry |
Noun/Suru |
| 観察 |
かんさつ |
kansatsu |
observation |
Noun/Suru |
| 実験 |
じっけん |
jikken |
experiment |
Noun/Suru |
| 測定 |
そくてい |
sokutei |
measurement; measurement |
Noun/Suru |
| 記録 |
きろく |
kiroku |
record; documentation |
Noun/Suru |
| 整理 |
せいり |
seiri |
organization; arrangement; sorting |
Noun/Suru |
| まとめる |
まとめる |
matomeru |
to summarize; to compile |
Verb (v1) |
| 比較 |
ひかく |
hikaku |
comparison |
Noun/Suru |
| 検討 |
けんとう |
kentou |
examination; review |
Noun/Suru |
| 考慮 |
こうりょ |
kouryo |
consideration; regard |
Noun/Suru |
| 判断 |
はんだん |
handan |
judgment; decision |
Noun/Suru |
| 推測 |
すいそく |
suisoku |
conjecture; guess; supposition |
Noun/Suru |
| 予測 |
よそく |
yosoku |
prediction; forecast |
Noun/Suru |
| 結論 |
けつろん |
ketsuron |
conclusion |
Noun |
| 仮定 |
かてい |
katei |
assumption; supposition |
Noun/Suru |
| 前置き |
まえおき |
maeoki |
preamble; preface; introduction |
Noun |
| 引用 |
いんよう |
inyou |
quotation; citation |
Noun/Suru |
| 参照 |
さんしょう |
sanshou |
reference; consultation |
Noun/Suru |
| 概要 |
がいよう |
gaiyou |
outline; summary; overview |
Noun |
| 要約 |
ようやく |
youyaku |
summary; abstract |
Noun/Suru |
| 抽出 |
ちゅうしゅつ |
chuushutsu |
extraction; sampling |
Noun/Suru |
| 分類 |
ぶんるい |
bunrui |
classification; categorization |
Noun/Suru |
| 体系 |
たいけい |
taikei |
system; organization; framework |
Noun |
| 枠組み |
わくぐみ |
wakugumi |
framework; structure |
Noun |
2. Political and Legal Vocabulary
2.1 Government and Politics
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 議会 |
ぎかい |
gikai |
parliament; congress; assembly |
Noun |
| 国会 |
こっかい |
kokkai |
Diet; National Assembly (Japan) |
Noun |
| 内閣 |
ないかく |
naikaku |
cabinet (government) |
Noun |
| 首相 |
しゅしょう |
shushou |
prime minister |
Noun |
| 大臣 |
だいじん |
daijin |
minister; cabinet member |
Noun |
| 政策 |
せいさく |
seisaku |
policy; measure |
Noun |
| 制度 |
せいど |
seido |
system; institution; regime |
Noun |
| 法律 |
ほうりつ |
houritsu |
law; statute |
Noun |
| 条約 |
じょうやく |
jouyaku |
treaty; pact; convention |
Noun |
| 憲法 |
けんぽう |
kenpou |
constitution |
Noun |
| 条例 |
じょうれい |
jourei |
ordinance; bylaw |
Noun |
| 規制 |
きせい |
kisei |
regulation; restriction; control |
Noun/Suru |
| 規則 |
きそく |
kisoku |
rule; regulation |
Noun |
| 基準 |
きじゅん |
kijun |
standard; criterion; basis |
Noun |
| 原則 |
げんそく |
gensoku |
principle; rule; general rule |
Noun |
| 方針 |
ほうしん |
houshin |
policy; direction; guideline |
Noun |
| 投票 |
とうひょう |
touhyou |
vote; ballot |
Noun/Suru |
| 選挙 |
せんきょ |
senkyo |
election |
Noun/Suru |
| 民主主義 |
みんしゅしゅぎ |
minshu-shugi |
democracy |
Noun |
| 独裁 |
どくさい |
dokusai |
dictatorship; despotism |
Noun |
| 与党 |
よとう |
yotou |
ruling party; party in power |
Noun |
| 野党 |
やとう |
yatou |
opposition party |
Noun |
| 議員 |
ぎいん |
giin |
member of parliament/congress |
Noun |
| 行政 |
ぎょうせい |
gyousei |
administration; government |
Noun |
| 立法 |
りっぽう |
rippou |
legislation; lawmaking |
Noun |
| 司法 |
しほう |
shihou |
justice; judiciary |
Noun |
| 外交 |
がいこう |
gaikou |
diplomacy; foreign relations |
Noun |
2.2 Rights, Law, and Justice
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 権利 |
けんり |
kenri |
right; privilege |
Noun |
| 義務 |
ぎむ |
gimu |
duty; obligation |
Noun |
| 責任 |
せきにん |
sekinin |
responsibility; liability |
Noun |
| 裁判 |
さいばん |
saiban |
trial; judgment; court |
Noun/Suru |
| 判決 |
はんけつ |
hanketsu |
judgment; verdict; decision |
Noun |
| 訴訟 |
そしょう |
soshou |
lawsuit; litigation |
Noun |
| 犯罪 |
はんざい |
hanzai |
crime; offense |
Noun |
| 被告 |
ひこく |
hikoku |
defendant; accused |
Noun |
| 原告 |
げんこく |
genkoku |
plaintiff; complainant |
Noun |
| 弁護士 |
べんごし |
bengoshi |
lawyer; attorney |
Noun |
| 証拠 |
しょうこ |
shouko |
evidence; proof |
Noun |
| 刑罰 |
けいばつ |
keibatsu |
punishment; penalty |
Noun |
| 逮捕 |
たいほ |
taiho |
arrest |
Noun/Suru |
| 釈放 |
しゃくほう |
shakuhou |
release; liberation |
Noun/Suru |
| 禁止 |
きんし |
kinshi |
prohibition; ban |
Noun/Suru |
| 許可 |
きょか |
kyoka |
permission; approval |
Noun/Suru |
| 承認 |
しょうにん |
shounin |
approval; recognition; acknowledgment |
Noun/Suru |
| 拒否 |
きょひ |
kyohi |
refusal; rejection |
Noun/Suru |
| 廃止 |
はいし |
haishi |
abolition; repeal |
Noun/Suru |
| 改正 |
かいせい |
kaisei |
revision; amendment |
Noun/Suru |
3. Economic and Business Vocabulary
3.1 Economics
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 経済 |
けいざい |
keizai |
economy; economics |
Noun |
| 財政 |
ざいせい |
zaisei |
finance; fiscal policy; budget |
Noun |
| 市場 |
しじょう |
shijou |
market |
Noun |
| 競争 |
きょうそう |
kyousou |
competition; contest |
Noun/Suru |
| 税金 |
ぜいきん |
zeikin |
tax |
Noun |
| 課税 |
かぜい |
kazei |
taxation; impost |
Noun/Suru |
| 投資 |
とうし |
toushi |
investment |
Noun/Suru |
| 利益 |
りえき |
rieki |
profit; benefit; gain |
Noun |
| 損失 |
そんしつ |
sonshitsu |
loss; damage |
Noun |
| 資本 |
しほん |
shihon |
capital; funds |
Noun |
| 資産 |
しさん |
shisan |
assets; property |
Noun |
| 負債 |
ふさい |
fusai |
debt; liabilities |
Noun |
| 消費 |
しょうひ |
shouhi |
consumption; spending |
Noun/Suru |
| 生産 |
せいさん |
seisan |
production; manufacture |
Noun/Suru |
| 輸出 |
ゆしゅつ |
yushutsu |
export |
Noun/Suru |
| 輸入 |
ゆにゅう |
yunyuu |
import |
Noun/Suru |
| 貿易 |
ぼうえき |
boueki |
trade; commerce |
Noun/Suru |
| 物価 |
ぶっか |
bukka |
prices; commodity prices |
Noun |
| インフレ |
インフレ |
infure |
inflation |
Noun |
| デフレ |
デフレ |
defure |
deflation |
Noun |
| 景気 |
けいき |
keiki |
business conditions; economic climate |
Noun |
| 不況 |
ふきょう |
fukyou |
recession; depression; slump |
Noun |
| 好況 |
こうきょう |
koukyou |
boom; prosperity |
Noun |
| 格差 |
かくさ |
kakusa |
disparity; gap; inequality |
Noun |
| 雇用 |
こよう |
koyou |
employment; hiring |
Noun/Suru |
3.2 Business and Corporate
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 企業 |
きぎょう |
kigyou |
company; enterprise; corporation |
Noun |
| 経営 |
けいえい |
keiei |
management; administration |
Noun/Suru |
| 株式 |
かぶしき |
kabushiki |
stock; shares |
Noun |
| 契約 |
けいやく |
keiyaku |
contract; agreement |
Noun/Suru |
| 交渉 |
こうしょう |
koushou |
negotiation |
Noun/Suru |
| 取引 |
とりひき |
torihiki |
transaction; deal; business |
Noun/Suru |
| 売上 |
うりあげ |
uriage |
sales; turnover |
Noun |
| 予算 |
よさん |
yosan |
budget; estimate |
Noun |
| 決算 |
けっさん |
kessan |
settlement of accounts; closing |
Noun/Suru |
| 請求 |
せいきゅう |
seikyuu |
demand; claim; billing |
Noun/Suru |
| 報告 |
ほうこく |
houkoku |
report; notification |
Noun/Suru |
| 提案 |
ていあん |
teian |
proposal; suggestion |
Noun/Suru |
| 承認 |
しょうにん |
shounin |
approval; authorization |
Noun/Suru |
| 却下 |
きゃっか |
kyakka |
rejection; dismissal |
Noun/Suru |
| 担当 |
たんとう |
tantou |
being in charge; person in charge |
Noun/Suru |
| 部署 |
ぶしょ |
busho |
department; section; division |
Noun |
| 上司 |
じょうし |
joushi |
superior; boss |
Noun |
| 部下 |
ぶか |
buka |
subordinate; underling |
Noun |
| 同僚 |
どうりょう |
douryou |
colleague; coworker |
Noun |
| 出張 |
しゅっちょう |
shucchou |
business trip |
Noun/Suru |
4. Science and Technology Vocabulary
4.1 Science Fundamentals
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 技術 |
ぎじゅつ |
gijutsu |
technology; technique; skill |
Noun |
| 開発 |
かいはつ |
kaihatsu |
development; exploitation |
Noun/Suru |
| 革新 |
かくしん |
kakushin |
innovation; reform; revolution |
Noun/Suru |
| 実用 |
じつよう |
jitsuyou |
practical use; utility |
Noun |
| 実用的 |
じつようてき |
jitsuyou-teki |
practical; useful; functional |
Na-adj |
| 効率 |
こうりつ |
kouritsu |
efficiency; effectiveness |
Noun |
| 効率的 |
こうりつてき |
kouritsu-teki |
efficient; effective |
Na-adj |
| 精度 |
せいど |
seido |
accuracy; precision |
Noun |
| 測定 |
そくてい |
sokutei |
measurement; survey |
Noun/Suru |
| 分解 |
ぶんかい |
bunkai |
decomposition; breakdown; analysis |
Noun/Suru |
| 合成 |
ごうせい |
gousei |
synthesis; composition; combining |
Noun/Suru |
| 反応 |
はんのう |
hannou |
reaction; response |
Noun/Suru |
| 化学 |
かがく |
kagaku |
chemistry; chemical |
Noun |
| 物理 |
ぶつり |
butsuri |
physics; physical |
Noun |
| 生物 |
せいぶつ |
seibutsu |
living thing; organism; biology |
Noun |
| 物質 |
ぶっしつ |
busshitsu |
substance; matter; material |
Noun |
| 成分 |
せいぶん |
seibun |
ingredient; component; constituent |
Noun |
| 構造 |
こうぞう |
kouzou |
structure; organization; construction |
Noun |
| 機能 |
きのう |
kinou |
function; capability |
Noun/Suru |
| 性質 |
せいしつ |
seishitsu |
nature; property; character |
Noun |
| 特性 |
とくせい |
tokusei |
characteristic; special quality |
Noun |
| 原理 |
げんり |
genri |
principle; theory; fundamental |
Noun |
| 法則 |
ほうそく |
housoku |
law; rule; principle |
Noun |
| 現象 |
げんしょう |
genshou |
phenomenon; occurrence |
Noun |
| 影響 |
えいきょう |
eikyou |
influence; effect; impact |
Noun/Suru |
4.2 Technology and Digital
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 情報 |
じょうほう |
jouhou |
information; data |
Noun |
| 通信 |
つうしん |
tsuushin |
communication; transmission |
Noun/Suru |
| ネットワーク |
ネットワーク |
nettowāku |
network |
Noun |
| システム |
システム |
shisutemu |
system |
Noun |
| 機械 |
きかい |
kikai |
machine; machinery; mechanism |
Noun |
| 装置 |
そうち |
souchi |
device; apparatus; equipment |
Noun |
| 設備 |
せつび |
setsubi |
equipment; installation; facilities |
Noun |
| 操作 |
そうさ |
sousa |
operation; handling; manipulation |
Noun/Suru |
| 制御 |
せいぎょ |
seigyo |
control; regulation |
Noun/Suru |
| 自動化 |
じどうか |
jidouka |
automation |
Noun/Suru |
| 人工知能 |
じんこうちのう |
jinkou-chinou |
artificial intelligence; AI |
Noun |
| 処理 |
しょり |
shori |
processing; treatment; handling |
Noun/Suru |
| 記憶 |
きおく |
kioku |
memory; recollection; storage |
Noun/Suru |
| 検索 |
けんさく |
kensaku |
search; retrieval |
Noun/Suru |
| データ |
データ |
dēta |
data |
Noun |
| プログラム |
プログラム |
puroguramu |
program |
Noun |
| ソフトウェア |
ソフトウェア |
sofutouea |
software |
Noun |
5. Medical and Health Vocabulary
5.1 Medical Terms
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 症状 |
しょうじょう |
shoujou |
symptom |
Noun |
| 診断 |
しんだん |
shindan |
diagnosis |
Noun/Suru |
| 治療 |
ちりょう |
chiryou |
treatment; therapy; cure |
Noun/Suru |
| 予防 |
よぼう |
yobou |
prevention; precaution |
Noun/Suru |
| 免疫 |
めんえき |
men'eki |
immunity; immune system |
Noun |
| 遺伝 |
いでん |
iden |
heredity; genetics; inheritance |
Noun/Suru |
| 細胞 |
さいぼう |
saibou |
cell (biology) |
Noun |
| 栄養 |
えいよう |
eiyou |
nutrition; nourishment |
Noun |
| 感染 |
かんせん |
kansen |
infection; contagion |
Noun/Suru |
| 発症 |
はっしょう |
hasshou |
onset of disease; development of symptoms |
Noun/Suru |
| 回復 |
かいふく |
kaifuku |
recovery; recuperation |
Noun/Suru |
| 悪化 |
あっか |
akka |
worsening; deterioration |
Noun/Suru |
| 慢性 |
まんせい |
mansei |
chronic (disease/condition) |
Noun/Na-adj |
| 急性 |
きゅうせい |
kyuusei |
acute (disease/condition) |
Noun/Na-adj |
| 合併症 |
がっぺいしょう |
gappei-shou |
complication; concurrent disease |
Noun |
| 副作用 |
ふくさよう |
fuku-sayou |
side effect |
Noun |
| 投薬 |
とうやく |
touyaku |
medication; dispensing medicine |
Noun/Suru |
| 手術 |
しゅじゅつ |
shujutsu |
surgery; operation |
Noun/Suru |
| 入院 |
にゅういん |
nyuuin |
hospitalization |
Noun/Suru |
| 退院 |
たいいん |
taiin |
discharge from hospital |
Noun/Suru |
| 外来 |
がいらい |
gairai |
outpatient; coming from outside |
Noun |
| 内科 |
ないか |
naika |
internal medicine; internal department |
Noun |
| 外科 |
げか |
geka |
surgery; surgical department |
Noun |
| 看護 |
かんご |
kango |
nursing; care |
Noun/Suru |
5.2 Biology and Body Science
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 臓器 |
ぞうき |
zouki |
organ (body organ) |
Noun |
| 組織 |
そしき |
soshiki |
tissue; organization |
Noun |
| 神経 |
しんけい |
shinkei |
nerve; nerves |
Noun |
| 血液 |
けつえき |
ketsueki |
blood |
Noun |
| 脳 |
のう |
nou |
brain |
Noun |
| 心臓 |
しんぞう |
shinzou |
heart |
Noun |
| 肺 |
はい |
hai |
lungs |
Noun |
| 肝臓 |
かんぞう |
kanzou |
liver |
Noun |
| 腎臓 |
じんぞう |
jinzou |
kidney |
Noun |
| 骨格 |
こっかく |
kokkaku |
skeleton; frame |
Noun |
| 筋肉 |
きんにく |
kinniku |
muscle |
Noun |
| ホルモン |
ホルモン |
horumon |
hormone |
Noun |
| タンパク質 |
タンパクしつ |
tanpaku-shitsu |
protein |
Noun |
| 脂肪 |
しぼう |
shibou |
fat; grease |
Noun |
| 炭水化物 |
たんすいかぶつ |
tansui-kabutsu |
carbohydrate |
Noun |
6. Social Sciences Vocabulary
6.1 Society and Social Issues
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 調査 |
ちょうさ |
chousa |
survey; investigation; inquiry |
Noun/Suru |
| 統計 |
とうけい |
toukei |
statistics; statistical data |
Noun |
| 傾向 |
けいこう |
keikou |
tendency; trend; inclination |
Noun |
| 格差 |
かくさ |
kakusa |
disparity; gap; inequality |
Noun |
| 貧困 |
ひんこん |
hinkon |
poverty; destitution |
Noun |
| 福祉 |
ふくし |
fukushi |
welfare; well-being |
Noun |
| 差別 |
さべつ |
sabetsu |
discrimination; distinction |
Noun/Suru |
| 平等 |
びょうどう |
byoudou |
equality; impartiality |
Noun/Na-adj |
| 不平等 |
ふびょうどう |
fubyoudou |
inequality; unfairness |
Noun/Na-adj |
| 人権 |
じんけん |
jinken |
human rights |
Noun |
| 少子化 |
しょうしか |
shoushika |
declining birthrate |
Noun/Suru |
| 高齢化 |
こうれいか |
koureika |
aging (of society) |
Noun/Suru |
| 過疎 |
かそ |
kaso |
depopulation; underpopulation |
Noun |
| 過密 |
かみつ |
kamitsu |
overcrowding; overpopulation |
Noun |
| 移民 |
いみん |
imin |
immigration; immigrant; emigrant |
Noun/Suru |
| 難民 |
なんみん |
nanmin |
refugee |
Noun |
| 孤立 |
こりつ |
koritsu |
isolation; solitude |
Noun/Suru |
| 連帯 |
れんたい |
rentai |
solidarity; joint; collective |
Noun/Suru |
| 協力 |
きょうりょく |
kyouryoku |
cooperation; collaboration |
Noun/Suru |
| 摩擦 |
まさつ |
masatsu |
friction; discord |
Noun |
| 対立 |
たいりつ |
tairitsu |
confrontation; antagonism; conflict |
Noun/Suru |
| 紛争 |
ふんそう |
funsou |
dispute; conflict; trouble |
Noun/Suru |
| 解決 |
かいけつ |
kaiketsu |
resolution; solution; settlement |
Noun/Suru |
6.2 Education
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 教育 |
きょういく |
kyouiku |
education |
Noun/Suru |
| 学力 |
がくりょく |
gakuryoku |
academic ability; scholastic achievement |
Noun |
| 学習 |
がくしゅう |
gakushuu |
learning; study |
Noun/Suru |
| 授業 |
じゅぎょう |
jugyou |
class; lesson; instruction |
Noun |
| カリキュラム |
カリキュラム |
karikyuramu |
curriculum |
Noun |
| 指導 |
しどう |
shidou |
guidance; leadership; instruction |
Noun/Suru |
| 進学 |
しんがく |
shingaku |
going on to higher education |
Noun/Suru |
| 就職 |
しゅうしょく |
shuushoku |
finding employment; getting a job |
Noun/Suru |
| 生涯 |
しょうがい |
shougai |
one's life; lifetime |
Noun |
| 生涯学習 |
しょうがいがくしゅう |
shougai-gakushuu |
lifelong learning |
Noun |
7. Environment and Geography
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 環境 |
かんきょう |
kankyou |
environment; surroundings |
Noun |
| 汚染 |
おせん |
osen |
pollution; contamination |
Noun/Suru |
| 排出 |
はいしゅつ |
haishutsu |
emission; discharge |
Noun/Suru |
| 廃棄物 |
はいきぶつ |
haiki-butsu |
waste; waste material |
Noun |
| リサイクル |
リサイクル |
risaikuru |
recycling |
Noun/Suru |
| 再生 |
さいせい |
saisei |
regeneration; recycling; reproduction |
Noun/Suru |
| 省エネ |
しょうエネ |
shou-ene |
energy conservation |
Noun |
| 温暖化 |
おんだんか |
ondanka |
global warming |
Noun/Suru |
| 気候変動 |
きこうへんどう |
kikou-hendou |
climate change |
Noun |
| 生態系 |
せいたいけい |
seitai-kei |
ecosystem |
Noun |
| 自然 |
しぜん |
shizen |
nature |
Noun |
| 地域 |
ちいき |
chiiki |
region; district; area |
Noun |
| 国際 |
こくさい |
kokusai |
international |
Noun/Adj |
| 地球 |
ちきゅう |
chikyuu |
earth; globe |
Noun |
| 資源 |
しげん |
shigen |
resources; resources |
Noun |
| 枯渇 |
こかつ |
kokatsu |
exhaustion; depletion |
Noun/Suru |
| 再生可能 |
さいせいかのう |
saisei-kanou |
renewable |
Adj |
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 文化 |
ぶんか |
bunka |
culture; civilization |
Noun |
| 伝統 |
でんとう |
dentou |
tradition; convention |
Noun |
| 継承 |
けいしょう |
keishou |
succession; inheritance; passing on |
Noun/Suru |
| 普及 |
ふきゅう |
fukyuu |
spread; popularization; diffusion |
Noun/Suru |
| 表現 |
ひょうげん |
hyougen |
expression; representation |
Noun/Suru |
| 描写 |
びょうしゃ |
byousha |
depiction; description; portrayal |
Noun/Suru |
| 象徴 |
しょうちょう |
shouchou |
symbol; emblem; representation |
Noun/Suru |
| 比喩 |
ひゆ |
hiyu |
metaphor; figure of speech |
Noun |
| 寓話 |
ぐうわ |
guuwa |
fable; allegory; parable |
Noun |
| 著作権 |
ちょさくけん |
chosaku-ken |
copyright |
Noun |
| 報道 |
ほうどう |
houdou |
reporting; news coverage |
Noun/Suru |
| メディア |
メディア |
media |
media |
Noun |
| 世論 |
せろん/よろん |
seron/yoron |
public opinion |
Noun |
| 批評 |
ひひょう |
hihyou |
criticism; review; critique |
Noun/Suru |
| 審査 |
しんさ |
shinsa |
judging; screening; review |
Noun/Suru |
| 展覧会 |
てんらんかい |
tenrankai |
exhibition; art show |
Noun |
These words appear primarily in formal writing and are critical for N2 reading sections.
9.1 Connective and Discourse Words
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 一方 |
いっぽう |
ippou |
on the other hand; meanwhile |
Conj/Noun |
| 一方で |
いっぽうで |
ippou de |
while; on the other hand |
Conj |
| 他方 |
たほう |
tahou |
on the other hand; the other side |
Conj/Noun |
| したがって |
したがって |
shitagatte |
therefore; consequently; hence |
Conj |
| それゆえ |
それゆえ |
soreyue |
therefore; for that reason |
Conj |
| ゆえに |
ゆえに |
yueni |
therefore; accordingly; hence |
Conj |
| すなわち |
すなわち |
sunawachi |
namely; that is; in other words |
Conj |
| つまり |
つまり |
tsumari |
in short; in other words |
Conj |
| いわば |
いわば |
iwaba |
so to speak; as it were |
Adv |
| むしろ |
むしろ |
mushiro |
rather; instead; preferably |
Adv |
| かえって |
かえって |
kaette |
on the contrary; all the more |
Adv |
| もっとも |
もっとも |
mottomo |
however; but; though |
Conj |
| ただし |
ただし |
tadashi |
however; provided that; but |
Conj |
| なお |
なお |
nao |
furthermore; in addition; still; yet |
Conj/Adv |
| さらに |
さらに |
sara ni |
furthermore; additionally; even more |
Conj/Adv |
| また |
また |
mata |
also; again; besides |
Conj |
| ならびに |
ならびに |
narabi ni |
and; as well as (formal) |
Conj |
| および |
および |
oyobi |
and; as well as (formal) |
Conj |
| あるいは |
あるいは |
arui wa |
or; either; maybe |
Conj |
| もしくは |
もしくは |
moshikuwa |
or; otherwise (formal) |
Conj |
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| あくまで(も) |
あくまで(も) |
akumade(mo) |
to the end; stubbornly; strictly speaking |
Adv |
| 決して |
けっして |
kesshite |
never; by no means; not at all |
Adv |
| 必ずしも |
かならずしも |
kanarazu shimo |
not necessarily; not always |
Adv |
| 概して |
おおむね |
oomune |
generally; on the whole; in general |
Adv |
| 概ね |
おおむね |
oomune |
generally; mostly; largely |
Adv |
| 総じて |
そうじて |
soujite |
on the whole; in general; generally |
Adv |
| 一般に |
いっぱんに |
ippan ni |
generally; in general |
Adv |
| 主に |
おもに |
omo ni |
mainly; chiefly; primarily |
Adv |
| 特に |
とくに |
toku ni |
especially; particularly; in particular |
Adv |
| 著しく |
いちじるしく |
ichijirushiku |
remarkably; noticeably; significantly |
Adv |
| 急速に |
きゅうそくに |
kyuusoku ni |
rapidly; swiftly |
Adv |
| 徐々に |
じょじょに |
jojo ni |
gradually; slowly; little by little |
Adv |
| 次第に |
しだいに |
shidai ni |
gradually; in order; by degrees |
Adv |
| 相互に |
そうごに |
sougo ni |
mutually; reciprocally |
Adv |
| 互いに |
たがいに |
tagai ni |
mutually; each other; one another |
Adv |
| 一致して |
いっちして |
icchi shite |
unanimously; in agreement |
Adv |
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
POS |
| 観点 |
かんてん |
kanten |
viewpoint; perspective; standpoint |
Noun |
| 立場 |
たちば |
tachiba |
standpoint; position; circumstances |
Noun |
| 役割 |
やくわり |
yakuwari |
role; part; function |
Noun |
| 側面 |
そくめん |
sokumen |
side; aspect; facet |
Noun |
| 様相 |
ようそう |
yousou |
aspect; phase; appearance |
Noun |
| 実態 |
じったい |
jittai |
actual condition; real situation |
Noun |
| 背景 |
はいけい |
haikei |
background; backdrop; context |
Noun |
| 経緯 |
けいい/いきさつ |
keii/ikisatsu |
circumstances; background; details |
Noun |
| 過程 |
かてい |
katei |
process; course; progress |
Noun |
| 段階 |
だんかい |
dankai |
stage; phase; step |
Noun |
| 局面 |
きょくめん |
kyokumen |
situation; phase; aspect |
Noun |
| 動向 |
どうこう |
doukou |
trend; movement; tendency |
Noun |
| 展望 |
てんぼう |
tenbou |
prospect; outlook; view |
Noun |
| 課題 |
かだい |
kadai |
task; challenge; assignment; issue |
Noun |
| 問題点 |
もんだいてん |
mondai-ten |
problem point; issue |
Noun |
| 要因 |
よういん |
youin |
factor; cause; element |
Noun |
| 原因 |
げんいん |
gen'in |
cause; origin; source |
Noun |
| 結果 |
けっか |
kekka |
result; outcome; consequence |
Noun |
| 影響 |
えいきょう |
eikyou |
influence; effect; impact |
Noun/Suru |
10. Key Verbs at N2 Level
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
Type |
| 反映する |
はんえいする |
han'ei suru |
to reflect; to mirror |
Suru |
| 促す |
うながす |
unagasu |
to urge; to promote; to encourage |
v5 |
| 妨げる |
さまたげる |
samatageru |
to obstruct; to hinder |
v1 |
| 伴う |
ともなう |
tomonau |
to accompany; to involve |
v5 |
| 踏まえる |
ふまえる |
fumaeru |
to take into account; to base on |
v1 |
| 維持する |
いじする |
iji suru |
to maintain; to keep up |
Suru |
| 実施する |
じっしする |
jisshi suru |
to implement; to carry out |
Suru |
| 超える |
こえる |
koeru |
to exceed; to go beyond; to cross |
v1 |
| 達する |
たっする |
tassuru |
to reach; to attain; to achieve |
Suru |
| 及ぶ |
およぶ |
oyobu |
to reach; to extend; to affect |
v5 |
| 生じる |
しょうじる |
shoujiru |
to arise; to occur; to result in |
v1 |
| 生ずる |
しょうずる |
shouzuru |
to arise; to occur (literary form) |
Suru |
| 左右する |
さゆうする |
sayuu suru |
to influence; to affect; to control |
Suru |
| 担う |
になう |
ninau |
to bear; to shoulder; to carry |
v5 |
| 果たす |
はたす |
hatasu |
to carry out; to fulfill; to accomplish |
v5 |
| 示す |
しめす |
shimesu |
to show; to indicate; to demonstrate |
v5 |
| 表す |
あらわす |
arawasu |
to express; to represent; to show |
v5 |
| 捉える |
とらえる |
toraeru |
to catch; to grasp; to understand |
v1 |
| 把握する |
はあくする |
haaku suru |
to grasp; to understand; to comprehend |
Suru |
| 整える |
ととのえる |
totonoeru |
to arrange; to put in order; to prepare |
v1 |
| 補う |
おぎなう |
oginau |
to supplement; to compensate for |
v5 |
| 阻む |
はばむ |
habamu |
to block; to hinder; to obstruct |
v5 |
| 避ける |
さける |
sakeru |
to avoid; to dodge; to shun |
v1 |
| 招く |
まねく |
maneku |
to invite; to beckon; to cause |
v5 |
| 恵まれる |
めぐまれる |
megumareru |
to be blessed with; to be gifted |
v1 |
| 恐れる |
おそれる |
osoreru |
to fear; to be afraid of |
v1 |
| 優れる |
すぐれる |
sugureru |
to surpass; to excel; to be superior |
v1 |
| 劣る |
おとる |
otoru |
to be inferior; to be less good |
v5 |
| 乗り越える |
のりこえる |
nori-koeru |
to overcome; to surmount; to get over |
v1 |
| 追求する |
ついきゅうする |
tsuikyuu suru |
to pursue; to seek after |
Suru |
| 把握する |
はあくする |
haaku suru |
to grasp; to comprehend |
Suru |
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
Type |
| 変化する |
へんかする |
henka suru |
to change; to vary |
Suru |
| 変動する |
へんどうする |
hendou suru |
to fluctuate; to vary; to change |
Suru |
| 転換する |
てんかんする |
tenkan suru |
to convert; to switch; to change course |
Suru |
| 移行する |
いこうする |
ikou suru |
to transition; to migrate; to shift |
Suru |
| 向上する |
こうじょうする |
koujou suru |
to improve; to advance; to rise |
Suru |
| 低下する |
ていかする |
teika suru |
to decline; to fall; to deteriorate |
Suru |
| 増加する |
ぞうかする |
zouka suru |
to increase; to grow; to multiply |
Suru |
| 減少する |
げんしょうする |
genshou suru |
to decrease; to diminish; to decline |
Suru |
| 拡大する |
かくだいする |
kakudai suru |
to expand; to enlarge; to magnify |
Suru |
| 縮小する |
しゅくしょうする |
shukushou suru |
to reduce; to downsize; to scale back |
Suru |
11. N2 Adjectives and Descriptors
11.1 I-adjectives
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
| 著しい |
いちじるしい |
ichijirushii |
remarkable; conspicuous; marked |
| 激しい |
はげしい |
hageshii |
fierce; violent; intense; strong |
| 厳しい |
きびしい |
kibishii |
strict; severe; harsh; stern |
| 乏しい |
とぼしい |
toboshii |
scarce; meager; lacking |
| 乱暴な |
らんぼうな |
ranbou na |
rough; violent; rude |
| 巧みな |
たくみな |
takumi na |
skillful; clever; ingenious |
| 苦しい |
くるしい |
kurushii |
painful; hard; difficult; agonizing |
| 悔しい |
くやしい |
kuyashii |
regrettable; vexing; frustrating |
| 惜しい |
おしい |
oshii |
regrettable; wasteful; too good |
| 細かい |
こまかい |
komakai |
fine; minute; detailed; precise |
| 鋭い |
するどい |
surudoi |
sharp; acute; keen; shrewd |
| 鈍い |
にぶい |
nibui |
dull; blunt; slow; dim |
| 怪しい |
あやしい |
ayashii |
suspicious; dubious; strange |
| 惨い |
むごい |
mugoi |
cruel; brutal; merciless |
| Japanese |
Reading |
Romaji |
English |
| 深刻 |
しんこく |
shinkoku |
serious; grave; severe |
| 重大 |
じゅうだい |
juudai |
serious; important; grave |
| 重要 |
じゅうよう |
juuyou |
important; significant |
| 不可欠 |
ふかけつ |
fukaketsu |
indispensable; essential |
| 有効 |
ゆうこう |
yuukou |
valid; effective; useful |
| 適切 |
てきせつ |
tekisetsu |
appropriate; suitable; proper |
| 不適切 |
ふてきせつ |
futekisetsu |
inappropriate; improper; unsuitable |
| 適正 |
てきせい |
tekisei |
proper; just; reasonable |
| 公正 |
こうせい |
kousei |
fair; just; impartial |
| 公平 |
こうへい |
kouhei |
fair; impartial; equal |
| 正確 |
せいかく |
seikaku |
accurate; exact; correct |
| 不正確 |
ふせいかく |
fuseikaku |
inaccurate; imprecise |
| 明確 |
めいかく |
meikaku |
clear; definite; distinct |
| 曖昧 |
あいまい |
aimai |
vague; ambiguous; unclear |
| 複雑 |
ふくざつ |
fukuzatsu |
complex; complicated |
| 単純 |
たんじゅん |
tanjun |
simple; plain; uncomplicated |
| 多様 |
たよう |
tayou |
diverse; varied; various |
| 均一 |
きんいつ |
kin'itsu |
uniform; equal; homogeneous |
| 独自 |
どくじ |
dokuji |
original; unique; one's own |
| 柔軟 |
じゅうなん |
juunan |
flexible; supple; adaptable |
| 固定 |
こてい |
kotei |
fixed; established; stationary |
12. Study Notes for N2 Vocabulary
Priority tiers
Tier 1 — Exam critical (memorize first):
Abstract nouns in sections 1, 6, and 9 — these appear in every exam section. Formal conjunctions (section 9.1) are tested in grammar and enable reading comprehension.
Tier 2 — High value (second priority):
Political/legal (section 2), economic (section 3), formal verbs (section 10). These appear in reading passages and determine score on passage comprehension.
Tier 3 — Domain-specific (study by domain):
Medical (5), science (4), environment (7). Study the domain you encounter in reading passages; don't memorize all at once.
Most commonly confused N2 word pairs
| Pair |
Confusion point |
| 概念 vs. 概要 |
gainen (concept/notion) vs. gaiyou (outline/overview) |
| 傾向 vs. 動向 |
keikou (tendency/trend) vs. doukou (movement/trend) |
| 検討 vs. 検証 |
kentou (consideration) vs. kenshou (verification) |
| 根拠 vs. 証拠 |
konkyo (grounds/basis) vs. shouko (evidence/proof) |
| 規制 vs. 規則 |
kisei (regulation/restriction) vs. kisoku (rules) |
| 格差 vs. 差別 |
kakusa (disparity/gap) vs. sabetsu (discrimination) |
| 制度 vs. 体制 |
seido (system/institution) vs. taisei (system/regime) |
| 立場 vs. 観点 |
tachiba (standpoint/position) vs. kanten (viewpoint) |