JLPT N1 Vocabulary List

You need around 3,087 words for the JLPT N1 — the advanced level: near-native reading and nuanced comprehension. The full list is below, ordered by how common each word is in everyday Japanese, and every word links into our dictionary for full meanings, readings, and example sentences.

A note on "official": the JLPT stopped publishing lists in 2010, so every N1 vocabulary list — ours included — is reconstructed from past exams and established prep materials. Treat it as the working set you should recognise to pass comfortably.

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JLPT N1 vocabulary with readings and meanings, ordered by how common each word is
Word	Reading	Meaning
荷	に	load; baggage; cargo
氏	うじ	family name; lineage; birth
出切る	できる	to be out of; to have no more at hand
会	え	gathering (esp. Buddhist, festive, etc.)
股	また	crotch; crutch; groin
丈	たけ	height; stature
館	やかた	mansion; small castle
派	は	clique; faction; school
新	しん	new; neo-
改革	かいかく	reform; reformation; innovation
織る	おる	to weave
社	やしろ	shrine (usually Shinto)
選挙	せんきょ	election
政権	せいけん	(political) administration; political power
国連	こくれん	UN; United Nations
黄金	おうごん	gold
入る	いる	to get in; to go in; to come in
東	あずま	east
会談	かいだん	conversation; conference (usu. between important people); discussion
政策	せいさく	political measures; policy
協議	きょうぎ	conference; consultation; discussion
開発	かいはつ	development; exploitation
認める	したためる	to write up
交渉	こうしょう	negotiations; discussions
初	はつ	first; new
合意	ごうい	agreement; consent; mutual understanding
機	はた	loom
会見	かいけん	interview; audience
外相	がいしょう	Foreign Minister
首脳	しゅのう	head; brains; leading spirit
支持	しじ	support; holding up; propping
資金	しきん	funds; capital
対応	たいおう	interaction; correspondence; coping with
戦	いくさ	war; battle; campaign
制	せい	system; organization; organisation
幹部	かんぶ	management; (executive) staff; leaders
事業	じぎょう	project; enterprise; business
指摘	してき	pointing out; identification
供	とも	companion; follower; attendant
核	かく	pit (of a fruit); stone
審議	しんぎ	deliberation
協会	きょうかい	association; society; organization
一部	いちぶ	one part; one portion; one section
法案	ほうあん	bill (law)
派遣	はけん	dispatch; despatch; deployment
系	けい	system; lineage; group
代	しろ	substitution
動き	うごき	movement; activity; trend
条約	じょうやく	treaty; pact
官	かん	government service; the bureaucracy
長官	ちょうかん	secretary (government); director; chief
発言	はつげん	utterance; speech; proposal
際	きわ	edge; brink; verge
末	うら	top end; tip
与党	よとう	ruling party; government party; party in power
高	たか	quantity; amount; volume
投資	とうし	investment
取引	とりひき	transactions; dealings; business
施設	しせつ	institution; establishment; facility
生	き	pure; undiluted; raw
開催	かいさい	holding a meeting; open an exhibition
捜査	そうさ	search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry
策	さく	plan; policy
軍事	ぐんじ	military affairs
連邦	れんぽう	commonwealth; federation of states; confederation
報道	ほうどう	information; report; journalism
費	ひ	cost; expense
見通し	みとおし	unobstructed view; perspective; visibility
規制	きせい	regulation; (traffic) policing; control
内閣	ないかく	cabinet; (government) ministry
措置	そち	measure; measures; step
導入	どうにゅう	introduction; bringing in; leading in
野党	やとう	opposition party; political opposition; opposition
宣言	せんげん	declaration; proclamation; announcement
雄	おす	male (animal)
予想	よそう	expectation; anticipation; prediction
勢力	せいりょく	influence; power; might
保護	ほご	care; protection; shelter
要請	ようせい	appeal; call for something; request
メーカー	メーカー	manufacturer; maker
書	しょ	document; book
十分	じっぷん	10 minutes
図る	はかる	to plot; to attempt; to plan
推進	すいしん	propulsion; driving force
調べ	しらべ	investigation; inspection; examination
設置	せっち	establishment; institution
件	くだん	the above-mentioned; the said; (man, incident, etc.) in question
見方	みかた	viewpoint; point of view
総合	そうごう	synthesis; coordination; putting together
システム	システム	system
美	び	beauty
課題	かだい	subject; theme; issue
業者	ぎょうしゃ	trader; merchant
行政	ぎょうせい	administration
公開	こうかい	open to the public; exhibit
危機	きき	crisis
民族	みんぞく	people; race; nation
問う	とう	to ask; to question; to inquire
削減	さくげん	cut; reduction; curtailment
緊急	きんきゅう	urgent; pressing; emergency
協定	きょうてい	arrangement; pact; agreement
伴う	ともなう	to accompany; to bring with; to be accompanied by
判決	はんけつ	judicial decision; judgement; judgment
融資	ゆうし	financing; loan
地元	じもと	home area; home town
機構	きこう	mechanism; organization; organisation
決議	けつぎ	resolution; vote; decision
仏	ふつ	France
拒否	きょひ	denial; veto; rejection
負担	ふたん	burden; charge; responsibility
総会	そうかい	general meeting
日夜	にちや	day and night; always
認識	にんしき	recognition; cognizance; cognisance
種	しゅ	kind; variety
従来	じゅうらい	up to now; so far; traditional
確保	かくほ	guarantee; maintain; ensure
大幅	おおはば	big; large; drastic
論議	ろんぎ	discussion; argument; debate
現地	げんち	actual place; local; on-site
取り組む	とりくむ	to tackle; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout
規模	きぼ	scale; scope; plan
背景	はいけい	background; scenery; backdrop
発生	はっせい	outbreak; spring forth; occurrence
設立	せつりつ	establishment; founding; incorporation (of a business)
情勢	じょうせい	state of things; state of affairs; condition
主催	しゅさい	sponsorship (i.e. conducting under one's auspices); promotion; organizing
反発	はんぱつ	to repel; to oppose; to revolt
購入	こうにゅう	purchase; buy
原則	げんそく	principle; general rule
防衛	ぼうえい	defense; defence; protection
自ずから	おのずから	naturally; as a matter of course
作	さく	a work; a harvest
領土	りょうど	dominion; territory; possession
部門	ぶもん	division (of a larger group); branch; field
採用	さいよう	use; adoption; acceptance
職員	しょくいん	staff member; personnel
提供	ていきょう	offer; tender; program sponsoring
財政	ざいせい	financial affairs; public finance
不況	ふきょう	recession; depression; slump
経る	へる	to pass; to elapse; to experience
文	ふみ	letter; writings
上回る	うわまわる	to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than
意向	いこう	intention; idea; inclination
構想	こうそう	plan; plot; idea
打	ダース	dozen
処分	しょぶん	disposal; dealing (with a problem); disposition
当選	とうせん	being elected
発足	ほっそく	starting; inauguration; launch
癌	がん	cancer
株式	かぶしき	stock (company)
蔵相	ぞうしょう	Minister of Finance
赤字	あかじ	deficit; (being in or going into) the red
運営	うんえい	management; administration; operation
訪れる	おとずれる	to visit; to call on
転換	てんかん	convert; divert
関税	かんぜい	tariff (import tax); duty; customs
獲得	かくとく	acquisition; possession
直ぐ	すぐ	immediately; at once; directly
果たす	はたす	to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out
ポイント	ポイント	point
方式	ほうしき	form; method; system
声明	せいめい	declaration; statement; proclamation
業務	ぎょうむ	business; affairs; duties
崩壊	ほうかい	collapse; crumbling; breaking down
票	ひょう	label; ballot; ticket
疑惑	ぎわく	doubt; misgivings; distrust
独自	どくじ	original; peculiar; characteristic
嘗て	かつて	once; before; formerly
当然	とうぜん	natural; as a matter of course
制裁	せいさい	restraint; sanctions; punishment
振り	ふり	swing; shake; wave
上昇	じょうしょう	rising; ascending; climbing
行為	こうい	act; deed; conduct
紛争	ふんそう	dispute; trouble; strife
保守	ほしゅ	maintenance; conservation
監視	かんし	observation; guarding; inspection
高まる	たかまる	to rise; to swell; to be promoted
唾	つば	saliva; spit; sputum
企画	きかく	planning; project; plan
街	がい	.. street; .. quarter; .. district
受け入れる	うけいれる	to accept; to receive; to agree
訴訟	そしょう	litigation; lawsuit
隊	たい	party; group; crew
福祉	ふくし	welfare; well-being; social welfare
取材	しゅざい	collecting data (e.g. for a newspaper article); covering an event
緩和	かんわ	relief; mitigation; alleviation
保険	ほけん	insurance; guarantee
減少	げんしょう	decrease; reduction; decline
世論	よろん	public opinion
世代	せだい	generation; the world; the age
通常	つうじょう	common; general; normal
進出	しんしゅつ	advance (into a new market or stage of progress); launching (a new career or venture); expanding (into a new market)
治療	ちりょう	medical treatment; cure
結成	けっせい	formation; combination
強まる	つよまる	to get strong; to gain strength
作り	つくり	making; producing; manufacturing
当たり	あたり	hit
連盟	れんめい	league; federation; union
ホール	ホール	hall
生ける	いける	to arrange (flowers); to plant
比例	ひれい	proportion
現行	げんこう	present; current; in operation
勝利	しょうり	victory; triumph; conquest
決勝	けっしょう	decision of a contest; finals (in sports)
国防	こくぼう	national defence; national defense
雇用	こよう	employment (long term); hire
不動産	ふどうさん	real estate
挑戦	ちょうせん	challenge; defiance
証言	しょうげん	evidence; testimony
曲	きょく	tune; piece of music
体験	たいけん	personal experience
原	げん	original; primitive; primary
欲	よく	greed; craving; desire
名誉	めいよ	honor; honour; credit
アップ	アップ	increasing
設ける	もうける	to create; to establish
審査	しんさ	judging; inspection; examination
不明	ふめい	unknown; obscure; indistinct
秘書	ひしょ	(private) secretary
人民	じんみん	people; public
設定	せってい	establishment; creation; posing (a problem)
データ	データ	data; datum
実態	じったい	true state; actual condition; reality
何て	なんて	how ..!; what ..!
促進	そくしん	promotion; acceleration; encouragement
文書	ぶんしょ	document; writing; letter
破壊	はかい	destruction; disruption
廃止	はいし	abolition; repeal
枠	わく	frame; slide; border
同盟	どうめい	alliance; union; league
自信	じしん	self-confidence; confidence (in oneself)
配慮	はいりょ	consideration; concern; forethought
出演	しゅつえん	performance; stage appearance
規定	きてい	regulation; provisions
柱	はしら	pillar; post
悪化	あっか	(suffer) deterioration; growing worse; aggravation
優先	ゆうせん	preference; priority; precedence
レース	レース	race
戦闘	せんとう	battle; fight; combat
極めて	きわめて	exceedingly; extremely; decisively
達成	たっせい	achievement
意欲	いよく	will; desire; ambition
嬢	じょう	unmarried woman
採択	さいたく	adoption; selection; choice
世	よ	world; society; age
生かす	いかす	to make (the best) use of; to leverage (skills, attributes, experience, etc.); to capitalise on (experience, etc)
感染	かんせん	infection; contagion
基金	ききん	fund; foundation
公演	こうえん	public performance
逆転	ぎゃくてん	(sudden) change; reversal; turn-around
演出	えんしゅつ	production (e.g. play); direction
有力	ゆうりょく	influential; prominent
資産	しさん	property; fortune; means
調印	ちょういん	signature; signing; sealing
統合	とうごう	integration; unification; synthesis
成果	せいか	fruits (of one's labors); results
作戦	さくせん	tactics; strategy
陣	じん	battle formation; camp; encampment
及び	および	and; as well as
掲げる	かかげる	to publish; to print; to carry (an article)
対話	たいわ	dialogue; discussion; conversation
超	ちょう	super-; ultra-; hyper-
強める	つよめる	to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
自己	じこ	self; oneself
証人	しょうにん	witness
警戒	けいかい	vigilance; precaution; watch
決断	けつだん	decision; determination
固める	かためる	to harden; to freeze; to strengthen
武装	ぶそう	arms; armament; armed
対抗	たいこう	opposition; antagonism
内部	ないぶ	interior; inside; internal
及ぶ	およぶ	to reach; to amount to; to befall
新人	しんじん	new face; newcomer
掲載	けいさい	publication (e.g. article in paper); appearance; insertion
所得	しょとく	income; earnings
登録	とうろく	registration; accession; register
非難	ひなん	criticism; blame; censure
運用	うんよう	making use of; application; practical use
一敗	いっぱい	one defeat
返還	へんかん	return; restoration
決意	けつい	decision; determination
黒字	くろじ	balance (figure) in the black
確立	かくりつ	establishment; settlement
前提	ぜんてい	preamble; premise; reason
勤務	きんむ	service; duty; work
アラブ	アラブ	Arab
追及	ついきゅう	investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing
定める	さだめる	to decide; to establish; to determine
指揮	しき	command; direction
強制	きょうせい	obligation; coercion; compulsion
美術	びじゅつ	art; fine arts
妥協	だきょう	compromise; giving in
是正	ぜせい	correction; revision
僕	しもべ	servant; manservant; menial
デザイン	デザイン	design
恐れ	おそれ	fear; horror; anxiety
復活	ふっかつ	revival (e.g. musical); come-back
演じる	えんじる	to perform (a play); to play (a part); to act (a part)
官僚	かんりょう	bureaucrat; bureaucracy
圏	けん	sphere; circle; range
正常	せいじょう	normalcy; normality; normal
強	きょう	a little over; a little more than
権力	けんりょく	(political) power; authority; influence
武力	ぶりょく	armed might; military power; the sword
反応	はんのう	reaction; response
決算	けっさん	balance sheet; settlement of accounts; reporting (of accounts)
映像	えいぞう	reflection; image; picture (e.g. on a television)
オープン	オープン	open
マスコミ	マスコミ	mass communication; the media
革命	かくめい	revolution
資格	しかく	qualifications; requirements; capabilities
殺人	さつじん	murder
損失	そんしつ	loss (e.g. assets or profits)
抗議	こうぎ	protest; objection
天	てん	sky
再建	さいけん	rebuilding; reconstruction; rehabilitation
充実	じゅうじつ	fullness; completion; perfection
展示	てんじ	exhibition; display
確定	かくてい	decision; settlement
賠償	ばいしょう	reparations; indemnity; compensation
ブーム	ブーム	boom
ベスト	ベスト	best
要望	ようぼう	demand for; request
預金	よきん	deposit; bank account
補償	ほしょう	compensation; reparation
富	とみ	wealth; fortune
解除	かいじょ	cancellation; rescinding; release
自主	じしゅ	independence; autonomy
応募	おうぼ	subscription; application
協調	きょうちょう	cooperation; conciliation; harmony
従業員	じゅうぎょういん	employee; worker
受け止める	うけとめる	to catch; to stop the blow; to react to
進展	しんてん	progress; development
補助	ほじょ	assistance; support; aid
絡む	からむ	to entangle; to entwine
事前	じぜん	prior; beforehand; in advance
得点	とくてん	score; points made; marks obtained
介入	かいにゅう	intervention
提示	ていじ	presentation; exhibit; suggest
廃棄	はいき	annulment; disposal; abandonment
控える	ひかえる	to be temperate in; to restrain oneself from excessive ...
受け入れ	うけいれ	receiving; acceptance
同士	どうし	fellow; mutual; companion
マーク	マーク	mark
関与	かんよ	participation; taking part in; participating in
向上	こうじょう	elevation; rise; improvement
動向	どうこう	trend; tendency; movement
一気	いっき	chug!; drink! (said repeatedly as a party cheer)
権限	けんげん	power; authority; jurisdiction
流通	りゅうつう	circulation of money or goods; flow of water or air; distribution
合併	がっぺい	combination; union; amalgamation
齎す	もたらす	to bring; to take; to bring about
ベース	ベース	base
臨む	のぞむ	to look out on
分裂	ぶんれつ	split; division; break up
回収	かいしゅう	collection; recovery; withdrawal
報じる	ほうじる	to inform; to report
争い	あらそい	dispute; strife; quarrel
杯	さかずき	sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages
要因	よういん	main cause; primary factor
圧力	あつりょく	stress; pressure
リード	リード	lead (in a game, dance, etc.); being in the lead
見込み	みこみ	hope; promise; possibility
上位	じょうい	superior (rank not class); ranking
国交	こっこう	diplomatic relations
退職	たいしょく	retirement (from office)
本格	ほんかく	original method or procedure
財源	ざいげん	source of funds; resources; finances
ビジネス	ビジネス	business
ファン	ファン	fan
比率	ひりつ	ratio; proportion; percentage
説得	せっとく	persuasion
付き	つき	furnished with; including
先行	せんこう	preceding; going first; leading
突破	とっぱ	breaking through; breakthrough; penetration
象徴	しょうちょう	symbol
世帯	せたい	household; home; family
腐敗	ふはい	decay; depravity
兵器	へいき	arms; weapons; ordnance
スピード	スピード	speed
単独	たんどく	sole; independence; single
所属	しょぞく	attached to; belong to; member
類	るい	kind; sort; class
活発	かっぱつ	vigor; vigour; active
輪	りん	counter for wheels and flowers
正義	せいぎ	justice; right; righteousness
負う	おう	to bear; to carry on one's back
観	かん	look; appearance
実質	じっしつ	substance; essence
秩序	ちつじょ	order; regularity; system
兵士	へいし	soldier
志	こころざし	will; intention; motive
版	はん	edition; version
対決	たいけつ	confrontation; showdown
少数	しょうすう	minority; few
業績	ぎょうせき	achievement; performance; results
欠く	かく	to lack; to break; to crack
制定	せいてい	enactment; establishment; creation
抑制	よくせい	control; restraint; suppression
塾	じゅく	coaching school; cramming school; juku
勝る	まさる	to excel; to surpass; to exceed
一連	いちれん	series; chain; sequence
後退	こうたい	retreat
踏まえる	ふまえる	to be based on; to have origin in
共和	きょうわ	republican; cooperative
器	うつわ	bowl; vessel; container
勧告	かんこく	advice; counsel; remonstrance
加入	かにゅう	becoming a member; joining; entry
移行	いこう	switching over to; migration; transition
誠	まこと	truth; reality
メディア	メディア	media
構え	かまえ	posture (e.g. in martial arts); pose; style
占領	せんりょう	occupation; capture; possession
救済	きゅうさい	relief; aid; rescue
尽きる	つきる	to be used up; to be run out; to be exhausted
距離	きょり	distance; range
樹立	じゅりつ	establish; create
アンケート	アンケート	questionnaire; survey
如何に	いかに	how; in what way
個別	こべつ	particular case; discrete; individual
原油	げんゆ	crude oil
限定	げんてい	limit; restriction
所有	しょゆう	one's possessions; ownership
未	ひつじ	eighth sign of Chinese zodiac (The Ram, 1pm-3pm, south-southwest, June)
救援	きゅうえん	relief; rescue; reinforcement
格差	かくさ	qualitative difference; disparity
振り返る	ふりかえる	to turn head; to look over one's shoulder; to turn around
配分	はいぶん	distribution; allotment
返済	へんさい	repayment; reimbursement; refund
扱い	あつかい	treatment; service
選考	せんこう	selection; screening
分離	ぶんり	separation; partition; detachment
ショック	ショック	shock
相場	そうば	market price
災害	さいがい	calamity; disaster; misfortune
拘わる	こだわる	to fuss over; to be particular about
タイム	タイム	time
捜索	そうさく	search (esp. for someone or something missing); investigation
辞職	じしょく	resignation
脳	のう	brain
軸	じく	axis; stem; shaft
産む	うむ	to give birth; to deliver; to produce
雅致	がち	artistry; good taste; elegance
ルール	ルール	rule
有	ゆう	existence
形成	けいせい	formation; molding; taking form
同意	どうい	agreement; consent; same opinion
接触	せっしょく	touch; contact
経費	けいひ	expenses; cost; outlay
上演	じょうえん	performance (e.g. music, theatre, opera); staging
再生	さいせい	playback; regeneration; resuscitation
主導	しゅどう	main leadership
多様	たよう	diverse; varied
深める	ふかめる	to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
公認	こうにん	official recognition; authorization; authorisation
収支	しゅうし	income and expenditure
タイトル	タイトル	title
追い込む	おいこむ	to herd; to corner; to drive
好調	こうちょう	favourable; favorable; promising
打撃	だげき	blow; shock; strike
燃料	ねんりょう	fuel
運輸	うんゆ	transportation
閉鎖	へいさ	closing; closure; shutdown
仕組み	しくみ	structure; construction; arrangement
譲歩	じょうほ	concession; conciliation; compromise
且つ	かつ	yet; moreover; and
専用	せんよう	exclusive use; personal use; dedicated
態勢	たいせい	attitude; posture; preparedness
賃金	ちんぎん	wages
討議	とうぎ	debate; discussion
一切	いっさい	all; everything; without exception
引き上げる	ひきあげる	to pull up; to drag up; to lift up
像	ぞう	statue; image; figure
読者	どくしゃ	reader
トラブル	トラブル	trouble
次いで	ついで	next; secondly; subsequently
申し込み	もうしこみ	application; entry; request
落ち込む	おちこむ	to feel down (sad)
助	じょ	help; rescue; assistant
趣旨	しゅし	meaning; point (e.g. of a statement); gist
倒産	とうさん	(corporate) bankruptcy; insolvency; commercial failure
避難	ひなん	taking refuge; finding shelter; evacuation
人材	じんざい	man of talent; capable person; talented person
了承	りょうしょう	acknowledgement; acknowledgment; understanding (e.g. "please be understanding of the mess during our renovation")
先に	さきに	before; earlier than; ahead
証拠	しょうこ	evidence; proof
対処	たいしょ	deal with; cope
経過	けいか	passage; expiration; progress
源	みなもと	source; origin
工作	こうさく	work; construction; handicraft
収益	しゅうえき	earnings; proceeds; returns
不可欠	ふかけつ	indispensable; essential
尽くす	つくす	to exhaust; to run out
ムード	ムード	mood
ダウン	ダウン	down (feathers)
検事	けんじ	public prosecutor
採決	さいけつ	vote; roll call
鉄鋼	てっこう	iron and steel
インフレ	インフレ	inflation
依然	いぜん	still; as yet; as it has been

How to actually learn N1 vocabulary

Work top to bottom. The list is ordered by how common each word is, so early study hours convert into real comprehension as fast as possible.
Let the words carry the kanji. Vocabulary is the natural vehicle for the N1 kanji — a character met inside three words sticks; a character memorised from a list does not.
Review daily with spaced repetition. Vocabulary is a pure retention problem, and spaced repetition turns it into a short daily habit instead of an endless cramming cycle.
Know the timeline. For what these word counts mean in months and years, see how long it takes to learn Japanese.

Every word on this list is drillable

A list shows you the mountain; it does not climb it. In Nihongo Master, this vocabulary is taught along an ordered path from N5 through N1, with spaced-repetition drills that decide what you review each day, an AI teacher that explains mistakes in plain English, and a built-in dictionary for every word above.

The dictionary and kana charts are free, and the full course comes with a 14-day free trial you can cancel anytime before it ends.

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Frequently asked questions

How many words do you need for the JLPT N1?

This list contains 3,087 words for JLPT N1. The JLPT has not published official vocabulary lists since 2010, so every N1 list — ours included — is based on past exams and established prep materials. Treat it as the working set you should recognise to pass comfortably.

Should I learn vocabulary or kanji first for the N1?

Together. Words are how kanji stick: a character learned inside three real words is far more durable than one memorised from a list of meanings. Work through this vocabulary list and the kanji come with it.

How should I memorise JLPT N1 vocabulary?

Daily spaced repetition, in short sessions. Vocabulary is a pure retention problem, and frequency beats intensity. Every word on this list links into our dictionary, where you can add it to a study list and drill it.

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