---
title: "School Vocabulary — Japanese N1"
description: "Essential Japanese vocabulary for classroom, subjects, schedules, homework, teachers. N1 level reference with readings, romaji, and examples."
tags: ["japanese", "vocabulary", "n1", "school"]
cascade:
  type: docs
date: 2026-05-30T00:00:00+07:00
---

## School Vocabulary — JLPT N1

At the N1 level, school-related vocabulary shifts from basic classroom objects to the nuances of academic discourse, institutional administration, and pedagogical theory. This set is essential for those reading academic papers, discussing educational policy, or navigating the formal environment of a Japanese university or research institution.

## Core Vocabulary

| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English | Part of Speech |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 教授 | きょうじゅ | kyōju | Professor | Noun |
| 講義 | こうぎ | kōgi | Lecture | Noun |
| 履修 | りしゅう | rishū | Completion of a course | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 必修 | ひっしゅう | hisshū | Required subject | Noun |
| 単位 | たんい | tan'i | Academic credit | Noun |
| 論文 | ろんぶん | ronbun | Thesis / Dissertation | Noun |
| 学位 | がくい | gakui | Academic degree | Noun |
| 奨学金 | しょうがくきん | shōgakukin | Scholarship | Noun |
| 偏差値 | へんさち | hensachi | Deviation score (ranking) | Noun |
| 登校 | とうこう | tōkō | Attending school | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 休講 | きゅうこう | kyūkō | Cancellation of a lecture | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 補習 | ほしゅう | hoshū | Supplementary lesson | Noun |
| 予習 | よしゅう | yoshū | Preparation (for class) | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 復習 | ふくしゅう | fukushū | Review (of class) | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 専攻 | せんこう | senkō | Major (field of study) | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 概論 | がいろん | gairon | Introduction / Outline | Noun |
| 演習 | えんしゅう | enshū | Seminar / Practice | Noun |
| 聴講 | ちょうこう | chōkō | Auditing (a class) | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 抄録 | しょうろく | shōroku | Abstract / Summary | Noun |
| 引用 | いんよう | inyō | Citation / Quotation | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 考察 | こうさつ | kōsatsu | Consideration / Inquiry | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 概説 | がいせつ | gaisetsu | General remarks | Noun |
| 記述 | きじゅつ | kijutsu | Description / Writing | Noun |
| 採点 | さいてん | saiten | Grading / Marking | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 厳格 | げんかく | genkaku | Strict / Severe | Na-adjective |
| 怠慢 | たいまん | taiman | Negligence / Slacking | Na-adjective |
| 独創的 | どくそうてき | dokusōteki | Creative / Original | Na-adjective |
| 習得 | しゅうとく | shūtoku | Acquisition (of skill) | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 研鑽 | けんさん | kensan | Study / Devotion | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 志望 | しぼう | shibō | Wish / Ambition | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 推薦 | すいせん | suisen | Recommendation | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 課外 | かがい | kagai | Extracurricular | Noun |
| 寄宿舎 | きしゅくしゃ | kishukusha | Dormitory | Noun |
| 事務局 | じむきょく | jimukyoku | Administration office | Noun |
| 学則 | がくそく | gakusoku | School regulations | Noun |
| 懲戒 | ちょうかい | chōkai | Disciplinary action | Noun |
| 卒業証書 | そつぎょうしょうしょ | sotsugyō shōsho | Diploma | Noun |
| 博士課程 | はくしかてい | hakushi katei | Doctoral program | Noun |
| 修士課程 | しゅうしかてい | shūshi katei | Master's program | Noun |
| 学部生 | がくぶせい | gakubusei | Undergraduate student | Noun |
| 聴講生 | ちょうこうせい | chōkōsei | Auditor (student) | Noun |
| 留年 | りゅうねん | ryūnen | Repeating a year | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 休学 | きゅうがく | kyūgaku | Temporary leave of absence | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 退学 | たいがく | taigaku | Withdrawal from school | Noun/Suru-verb |
| 偏差 | へんさ | hensa | Deviation / Variation | Noun |

## Key Phrases

1. **単位を落とす** | たんいをおとす (tan'i o otosu) | To fail a course / lose credits
2. **論文を執筆する** | ろんぶんをしっぴつする (ronbun o shippitsu suru) | To write a thesis
3. **講義を聴講する** | こうぎをちょうこうする (kōgi o chōkō suru) | To audit a lecture
4. **学問に励む** | がくもんにはげむ (gakumon ni hagemu) | To devote oneself to study
5. **履修登録をする** | りしゅうとうろくをする (rishū tōroku o suru) | To register for courses
6. **奨学金を給付される** | しょうがくきんをきゅうふされる (shōgakukin o kyūfu sareru) | To be granted a scholarship
7. **専攻を深める** | せんこうをふかめる (senkō o fukameru) | To deepen one's major
8. **指導教官に相談する** | しどうきょうかんにそうだんする (shidō kyōkan ni sōdan suru) | To consult with one's academic advisor
9. **学則を遵守する** | がくそくをじゅんしゅする (gakusoku o junshu suru) | To comply with school regulations
10. **独創的な考察を加える** | どくそうてきなこうさつをくわえる (dokusōteki na kōsatsu o kuwaeru) | To add original analysis

## Practice Dialogue

**A:** 卒業論文の進捗はどうですか？
(そつぎょうろんぶんのしんちょくはどうですか？ / Sotsugyō ronbun no shinchoku wa dō desu ka?)
How is the progress on your graduation thesis?

**B:** まだ引用文献の整理が終わったところで、考察が不十分です。
(まだいんようぶんけんのせいりがおわったところで、こうさつがふじゅうぶんです。 / Mada inyō bunken no seiri ga owatta tokoro de, kōsatsu ga fujūbun desu.)
I've only just finished organizing the citations; my analysis is still insufficient.

**A:** 指導教官にはもう相談しましたか？
(しどうきょうかんにはもうそうだんしましたか？ / Shidō kyōkan ni wa mō sōdan shimashita ka?)
Have you consulted with your academic advisor yet?

**B:** ええ、先週の演習の後に少しだけ。
(ええ、せんしゅうのえんしゅうのあとにすこしだけ。 / Ee, senshū no enshū no ato ni sukoshi dake.)
Yes, just a little bit after last week's seminar.

**A:** 単位は足りていますか？
(たんいはたりていますか？ / Tan'i wa tarite imasu ka?)
Do you have enough credits?

**B:** はい、必修科目はすべて履修済みです。
(はい、ひっしゅうかもくはすべてりしゅうずみです。 / Hai, hisshū kamoku wa subete rishū-zumi desu.)
Yes, I have completed all the required subjects.

## Self-Study Tips

1. **Contextual Reading:** Read Japanese university syllabi or academic department websites (e.g., University of Tokyo or Kyoto University websites) to see these terms used in their natural, formal administrative context.
2. **Thematic Grouping:** Group these words into "Administrative" (履修, 単位, 事務局) vs. "Academic" (論文, 考察, 引用). This helps in understanding the register of the language.
3. **Active Usage:** Try summarizing a book or article you've read using at least five of the N1-level academic verbs (e.g., 考察する, 引用する, 記述する).
4. **Flashcard Association:** Use Anki to create cards that pair the Kanji with its formal definition in Japanese rather than just the English translation to build deeper cognitive links.