JLPT N3 Vocabulary List

You need around 1,621 words for the JLPT N3 — the intermediate level — the bridge between the beginner levels and the advanced exams. 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 N3 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 N3 vocabulary with readings and meanings, ordered by how common each word is
Word	Reading	Meaning
と	と	if; when
琴	こと	koto (13-stringed Japanese zither)
日本	にほん	Japan
場	ば	place; spot; space
者	もの	person (rarely used w.o. a qualifier)
的	てき	-like; typical
市	いち	market; fair
約	やく	approximately; about
首相	しゅしょう	Prime Minister; Chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); Premier
大統領	だいとうりょう	president; chief executive
政府	せいふ	government; administration
県	けん	prefecture (of Japan)
野	の	plain; field
因る	よる	to be due to; to be caused by
元	もと	origin; source
党	とう	party (political)
代表	だいひょう	representative; representation; delegation
調査	ちょうさ	investigation; examination; inquiry
企業	きぎょう	enterprise; undertaking; corporation
求める	もとめる	to want; to wish for
都	みやこ	capital; metropolis
事件	じけん	event; affair; incident
軍	ぐん	army; force; troops
法	ほう	law; act; principle
議員	ぎいん	member of the Diet, congress or parliament
今回	こんかい	now; this time; lately
発表	はっぴょう	announcement; publication
示す	しめす	to denote; to show; to point out
国民	こくみん	nation; nationality; people
更に	さらに	furthermore; again; after all
協力	きょうりょく	cooperation; collaboration
述べる	のべる	to state; to express; to mention
参加	さんか	participation
明らか	あきらか	obvious; evident; clear
現在	げんざい	now; current; present
全国	ぜんこく	country-wide; nation-wide; whole country
一方	いっぽう	one (esp. of two); the other; one way
差	さ	difference; variation
大会	たいかい	convention; tournament; mass meeting
年間	ねんかん	year (period of)
活動	かつどう	action; activity
結果	けっか	result; consequence; outcome
中心	ちゅうしん	center; centre; middle
環境	かんきょう	environment; circumstance
国会	こっかい	National Diet; parliament; congress
市場	いちば	(town) market
案	あん	idea; plan; thought
記者	きしゃ	reporter
今後	こんご	from now on; hereafter
平和	へいわ	peace; harmony
情報	じょうほう	news; gossip; (military) intelligence
地域	ちいき	area; region
選手	せんしゅ	player (in game); team member
得る	うる	(after the -masu stem of a verb) to be able to ...; can ...
監督	かんとく	supervision; control; superintendence
語る	かたる	to talk; to tell; to recite
実施	じっし	enforcement; implementation; putting into practice (practise)
地	ち	earth; ground; land
制度	せいど	system; institution; organization
根	ね	root (of a plant)
位	くらい	throne; crown; (nobleman's) seat
決定	けってい	decision; determination
度	たび	time (three times, each time, etc.); times
建設	けんせつ	construction; establishment
中央	ちゅうおう	centre; central; center
影響	えいきょう	influence; effect
率	りつ	rate; ratio; proportion
団体	だんたい	organization; organisation; association
以来	いらい	since; henceforth
屡々	しばしば	often; again and again; frequently
旧	きゅう	ex-; former; old
検討	けんとう	consideration; examination; investigation
面	おもて	face
作品	さくひん	work (e.g. book, film, composition, etc.); opus; performance
期待	きたい	expectation; anticipation; hope
候補	こうほ	candidate; contender; prospect
最高	さいこう	highest; supreme; the most
進める	すすめる	to advance; to promote; to hasten
優勝	ゆうしょう	overall victory; championship
グループ	グループ	group (usu. of people)
批判	ひはん	criticism; judgement; judgment
当時	とうじ	at that time; in those days
対象	たいしょう	target; object (of worship, study, etc.); subject (of taxation, etc.)
景気	けいき	condition; state; business (condition)
教授	きょうじゅ	professor
予算	よさん	estimate; budget
指導	しどう	leadership; guidance; coaching
組織	そしき	organization; organisation
議長	ぎちょう	chairman; speaker (e.g. of assembly); president (e.g. of council, senate, etc.)
状況	じょうきょう	state of affairs (around you); situation; circumstances
販売	はんばい	sales; selling; marketing
価格	かかく	price; value; cost
内容	ないよう	subject; contents; matter
賞	しょう	prize; award
チーム	チーム	team
強調	きょうちょう	emphasis; highlight; stress
維持	いじ	maintenance; preservation; improvement
主張	しゅちょう	claim; request; insistence
判断	はんだん	judgement; judgment; decision
考え	かんがえ	thinking; thought; ideas
対	たい	opposite; opposition
要求	ようきゅう	demand; firm request; requisition
責任	せきにん	duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff)
地方	ちほう	area; locality; district
型	かた	model; type (e.g. of machine, goods, etc.)
実現	じつげん	implementation (e.g. of a system); materialization; materialisation
全体	ぜんたい	whole; entirety; whatever (is the matter)
評価	ひょうか	valuation; estimation; assessment
拡大	かくだい	magnification; enlargement; expansion
一般	いっぱん	general; liberal; universal
経営	けいえい	management; administration
居間	いま	living room (western style)
共同	きょうどう	doing together (as equals); sharing; common (land, etc.)
向ける	むける	to turn towards; to point
センター	センター	centre; center
全て	すべて	all; the whole; entirely
感	かん	feeling; sensation; emotion
報告	ほうこく	report; information
連続	れんぞく	serial; consecutive; continuity
解決	かいけつ	settlement; solution; resolution
議会	ぎかい	Diet; congress; parliament
逮捕	たいほ	arrest; apprehension; capture
与える	あたえる	to give (esp. to someone of lower status); to bestow; to grant
確認	かくにん	affirmation; confirmation; validation
新た	あらた	new; fresh; novel
状態	じょうたい	current status; condition; situation
記録	きろく	record; minutes; document
程度	ていど	degree; amount; grade
既に	すでに	already; too late
憲法	けんぽう	constitution
局	きょく	channel (i.e. TV or radio); station; department
提案	ていあん	proposal; proposition; suggestion
国家	こっか	state; country; nation
只	ただ	ordinary; common; usual
姿	すがた	figure; form; shape
海外	かいがい	foreign; abroad; overseas
人間	にんげん	human being; man; person
州	しゅう	state; province; county (UK)
都市	とし	town; city; municipal
個人	こじん	individual; private person; personal
提出	ていしゅつ	to present; to submit (e.g. a report or a thesis); to hand in
株	かぶ	stock; share
感じる	かんじる	to feel; to sense; to experience
立場	たちば	standpoint; position; situation
管理	かんり	control; management (e.g. of a business)
だが	だが	but; however; (and) yet
訪問	ほうもん	call; visit
援助	えんじょ	assistance; aid; support
基本	きほん	foundation; basis; standard
加える	くわえる	to append; to sum up; to add (up)
就く	つく	to ascend (the throne); to accede
各々	それぞれ	each; every; either
重要	じゅうよう	important; momentous; essential
女子	じょし	woman; girl
額	がく	picture (framed)
名	な	name; reputation
孰	いずれ	where; which; who
量	りょう	quantity; amount; volume
人気	にんき	popularity; popular feeling; business conditions
平均	へいきん	average; mean
過去	かこ	the past; bygone days; the previous
自然	しぜん	nature; spontaneity
事実	じじつ	fact; truth; reality
相手	あいて	companion; partner; company
小	しょう	smallness; small item
投票	とうひょう	voting; poll
金融	きんゆう	financing; credit transacting; loaning of money
努力	どりょく	great effort; exertion; endeavour
越える	こえる	to cross over; to cross; to pass through
外交	がいこう	diplomacy
回復	かいふく	restoration; rehabilitation; recovery
トップ	トップ	top
患者	かんじゃ	(a) patient
訴える	うったえる	to raise; to bring to (someone's attention)
通信	つうしん	correspondence; communication; transmission
時期	じき	time; season; period
担当	たんとう	(in) charge (of an area of responsibility, but not necessarily supervision of staff)
作業	さぎょう	work; operation; manufacturing
知事	ちじ	prefectural governor
最終	さいしゅう	last; final; closing
出身	しゅっしん	person's origin (town, city, country, etc.)
違反	いはん	violation (of law); transgression; infringement
注目	ちゅうもく	notice; attention; observation
合わせる	あわせる	to match (rhythm, speed, etc.)
住宅	じゅうたく	residence; housing; residential building
行動	こうどう	action; conduct; behaviour
プロ	プロ	professional
組	くみ	set (of items)
医療	いりょう	medical care; medical treatment
攻撃	こうげき	attack; strike; offensive
記事	きじ	article; news story; report
理解	りかい	understanding; comprehension; appreciation
住民	じゅうみん	citizens; inhabitants; residents
開始	かいし	start; commencement; beginning
同時	どうじ	simultaneous(ly); concurrent; same time
条件	じょうけん	condition; conditions; term
目的	もくてき	purpose; goal; aim
地球	ちきゅう	the earth; the globe
死亡	しぼう	death; mortality
使用	しよう	use; application; employment
存在	そんざい	existence; being
分野	ぶんや	field; sphere; realm
商品	しょうひん	commodity; article of commerce; goods
処理	しょり	processing; dealing with; treatment
変化	へんか	change; variation; alteration
安定	あんてい	stability; equilibrium
筋	すじ	muscle; tendon; sinew
部分	ぶぶん	portion; section; part
可能	かのう	possible; practicable; feasible
含む	ふくむ	to contain; to comprise; to have
意識	いしき	consciousness
期間	きかん	period; term; interval
方法	ほうほう	method; process; manner
品	しな	article; item; thing
土地	とち	plot of land; lot; soil
描く	えがく	to draw; to paint; to sketch
守る	まもる	to protect; to guard; to defend
略	ほぼ	almost; roughly; approximately
独立	どくりつ	independence (e.g. Independence Day); self-support
応じる	おうじる	to respond; to satisfy; to accept
記念	きねん	commemoration; memory
農業	のうぎょう	agriculture
占める	しめる	to comprise (some part of the whole); to account for; to make up (of)
希望	きぼう	hope; wish; aspiration
残す	のこす	to leave (behind, over); to bequeath; to save
成長	せいちょう	growth; grow to adulthood
表現	ひょうげん	expression; presentation
不足	ふそく	insufficiency; shortage; deficiency
年代	ねんだい	age; era; period
効果	こうか	effect; effectiveness; efficacy
契約	けいやく	contract; compact; agreement
舞台	ぶたい	stage (theatre, theater)
直接	ちょくせつ	direct; immediate; personal
ケース	ケース	case (e.g. receptacle, condition, event, legal action, letter style, etc.)
不	ふ	un-; non-; negative prefix
サービス	サービス	service; support system
地区	ちく	district; section; sector
現場	げんば	actual spot; scene; scene of the crime
禁止	きんし	prohibition; inhibition; ban
現実	げんじつ	reality
事態	じたい	situation; (present) state of affairs; circumstances
不安	ふあん	anxiety; uneasiness; insecurity
改善	かいぜん	betterment; improvement
委員	いいん	committee member
貢献	こうけん	contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
機能	きのう	function; facility; faculty
税	ぜい	tax
世紀	せいき	century; era
議論	ぎろん	argument; discussion; dispute
方向	ほうこう	direction; orientation; bearing
銀	ぎん	silver; silver coin; silver paint
発展	はってん	development; growth; advancement
基づく	もとづく	to be grounded on; to be based on; to be due to
事情	じじょう	circumstances; consideration; conditions
労働	ろうどう	manual labor; manual labour; toil
広がる	ひろがる	to spread (out); to extend; to stretch
会員	かいいん	member; the membership
メンバー	メンバー	member; participant; attendee
屯	トン	ton (now usu. a metric ton, i.e. 1,000kg)
発行	はっこう	issue (publications); publishing
様々	さまざま	varied; various
男子	だんし	youth; young man
積極的	せっきょくてき	assertive; positive; active
役割	やくわり	part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role
実際	じっさい	practicality; practical
課	か	lesson
成功	せいこう	success; hit
裁判	さいばん	trial; judgement; judgment
逆	ぎゃく	reverse; opposite
避ける	さける	to avoid (physical contact with)
事務	じむ	business; office work
除く	のぞく	to remove; to exclude; to except
自身	じしん	by oneself; personally
関心	かんしん	concern; interest
完全	かんぜん	perfection; completeness
便	びん	flight (e.g. airline flight); trip (e.g. train trip); service
一致	いっち	coincidence; agreement; union
失う	うしなう	to lose; to part with
営業	えいぎょう	business; trade; sales
生まれ	うまれ	birth; birthplace
増加	ぞうか	increase; increment; addition
構成	こうせい	organization; organisation; configuration
演説	えんぜつ	speech; address
分析	ぶんせき	analysis
否定	ひてい	negation; denial; repudiation
境	さかい	border; boundary
例	れい	custom; practice; habit
石油	せきゆ	oil; petroleum; kerosene
健康	けんこう	health; sound; wholesome
被害	ひがい	(suffering) damage; injury; harm
現代	げんだい	nowadays; modern era; modern times
我々	われわれ	we
承認	しょうにん	recognition; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
奥	おく	interior; inner part; inside
現状	げんじょう	present condition; existing state; status quo
医師	いし	doctor; physician
修正	しゅうせい	amendment; correction; revision
秒	びょう	second (60th min)
主義	しゅぎ	doctrine; rule; principle
明確	めいかく	clear; precise; definite
激しい	はげしい	violent; vehement; intense
製品	せいひん	manufactured goods; finished goods; product
発見	はっけん	discovery; detection; finding
減る	へる	to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
賛成	さんせい	approval; agreement; support
作家	さっか	author; writer; novelist
違い	ちがい	difference; discrepancy
交換	こうかん	exchange; interchange; switching
長期	ちょうき	long time period; long term
誕生	たんじょう	birth; creation; formation
実験	じっけん	experiment
消費	しょうひ	consumption; expenditure
これ等	これら	these
学	がく	learning; scholarship; erudition
慎重	しんちょう	careful; cautious; prudent
再び	ふたたび	again; once more; a second time
製造	せいぞう	manufacture; production
利益	りえき	profit; gains
首都	しゅと	capital city; metropolis
幅	はば	width; breadth
重視	じゅうし	importance; stress; serious consideration
会合	かいごう	meeting; assembly
検査	けんさ	inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; scan (e.g. MRI, PET, etc.)
全く	まったく	really; truly; entirely
僅か	わずか	only; merely; (a) little
集中	しゅうちゅう	concentration; convergence; centralization
推薦	すいせん	recommendation; referral; endorsement
変更	へんこう	change; modification; alteration
傾向	けいこう	tendency; trend; inclination
正式	せいしき	due form; official; formality
出版	しゅっぱん	publication
相当	そうとう	befitting; becoming; worthy of
級	きゅう	class, grade, rank; school class, grade
流れ	ながれ	stream; current; flow
国境	こっきょう	national border; provincial border
不満	ふまん	dissatisfaction; displeasure; discontent
航空	こうくう	aviation; flying
全員	ぜんいん	all members (unanimity); all hands; the whole crew
然も	しかも	moreover; furthermore; nevertheless
講演	こうえん	lecture; address; speech
可也	かなり	considerably; fairly; quite
結ぶ	むすぶ	to tie; to bind; to link
大使	たいし	ambassador
組合	くみあい	association; union
球	きゅう	sphere
結局	けっきょく	after all; eventually; in the end
罪	つみ	crime; fault; indiscretion
土	つち	earth; soil; dirt
非常	ひじょう	emergency
観光	かんこう	sightseeing
抱える	かかえる	to hold or carry under or in the arms
本人	ほんにん	the person himself
招く	まねく	to invite; to ask
集団	しゅうだん	group; mass
加わる	くわわる	to be added to; to be appended
表情	ひょうじょう	facial expression
主要	しゅよう	chief; main; principal
無し	なし	without
エネルギー	エネルギー	energy
年齢	ねんれい	age; years
混乱	こんらん	disorder; chaos; confusion
限る	かぎる	to restrict; to limit; to confine
少年	しょうねん	boy; juvenile; young boy
主婦	しゅふ	housewife; mistress (of the house); homemaker
奪う	うばう	to snatch away; to dispossess; to steal
能力	のうりょく	ability; faculty
劇場	げきじょう	theatre; theater; playhouse
同様	どうよう	identical; equal to; same (kind)
確実	かくじつ	certainty; reliability; soundness
追う	おう	to chase; to run after; to pursue
無	む	nothing; naught; nought
許す	ゆるす	to permit; to allow; to approve
困難	こんなん	difficulty; distress
競技	きょうぎ	game; match; contest
何か	なにか	something
終える	おえる	to finish
母親	ははおや	mother
ドラマ	ドラマ	drama
宇宙	うちゅう	universe; cosmos; space
園	その	garden (esp. man-made); orchard; park
尚	なお	furthermore; still; yet
丸	まる	circle
身	み	body
中止	ちゅうし	suspension; stoppage; discontinuance
完成	かんせい	complete; completion
水準	すいじゅん	level; standard
ゲーム	ゲーム	game
種類	しゅるい	variety; kind; type
流れる	ながれる	to stream; to flow (liquid, time, etc.); to run (ink)
以前	いぜん	ago; since; before
支える	ささえる	to support; to prop; to sustain
料金	りょうきん	fee; charge; fare
道路	どうろ	road; highway
所が	ところが	even so; however; still
選択	せんたく	selection; choice; option
見解	けんかい	opinion; point of view
武器	ぶき	weapon; arms; ordnance
精神	せいしん	mind; soul; heart
離れる	はなれる	to be separated from; to leave; to go away
歓迎	かんげい	welcome; reception
支配	しはい	rule; control; direction
疑問	ぎもん	question; problem; doubt
話題	わだい	topic; subject
設備	せつび	equipment; device; facilities
特徴	とくちょう	feature; trait; characteristic
共通	きょうつう	commonness; community
需要	じゅよう	demand; request
深刻	しんこく	serious
供給	きょうきゅう	supply; provision
徹底	てってい	thoroughness; completeness; consistency
触れる	ふれる	to touch; to feel
日中	にっちゅう	daytime; during the day
望む	のぞむ	to desire
有効	ゆうこう	validity; legality; availability
話し合う	はなしあう	to discuss; to talk together
学ぶ	まなぶ	to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
実行	じっこう	practice; practise; performance
結論	けつろん	conclusion
制限	せいげん	restriction; restraint; limitation
就職	しゅうしょく	finding employment; inauguration
信頼	しんらい	reliance; trust; faith
衛星	えいせい	satellite
芸術	げいじゅつ	(fine) art; the arts
意思	いし	intention; purpose
友人	ゆうじん	friend
ビデオ	ビデオ	video
豊か	ゆたか	abundant; wealthy; plentiful
最低	さいてい	least; lowest; worst
人生	じんせい	(human) life (i.e. conception to death)
費用	ひよう	cost; expense
教師	きょうし	teacher (classroom)
態度	たいど	attitude; manner; behaviour
権利	けんり	right; privilege
分ける	わける	to divide (into); to split (into); to part
起こる	おこる	to occur; to happen
夫人	ふじん	wife; Mrs; madam
収入	しゅうにゅう	income; receipts; revenue
胸	むね	breast; chest
広告	こうこく	advertisement
無料	むりょう	free; no charge
繰り返す	くりかえす	to repeat; to do something over again
宗教	しゅうきょう	religion
感じ	かんじ	feeling; sense; impression
順	じゅん	order; turn
緊張	きんちょう	tension; mental strain; nervousness
当たる	あたる	to be hit; to strike
老人	ろうじん	the aged; old person
演奏	えんそう	musical performance
数字	すうじ	numeral; figure; digit
伝統	でんとう	tradition; convention
障害	しょうがい	obstacle; impediment; hindrance
夫婦	ふうふ	married couple; spouses; husband and wife
突然	とつぜん	abrupt; sudden; unexpected
受け取る	うけとる	to receive; to get; to accept
装置	そうち	equipment; installation; apparatus
適用	てきよう	applying (e.g. a technology); adoption
手術	しゅじゅつ	(surgical) operation; procedure
愛	あい	love; affection
セット	セット	set
抵抗	ていこう	resistance; opposition
印	しるし	mark; sign
馬	うま	horse
流す	ながす	to drain; to pour; to spill
様子	ようす	state; state of affairs; situation
値	あたい	price; cost
握る	にぎる	to clasp; to grasp; to grip
請求	せいきゅう	claim; demand; charge
衝突	しょうとつ	collision; conflict
人物	じんぶつ	character; personality; person
父親	ちちおや	father
支店	してん	branch office; branch store
カード	カード	card
空	から	emptiness; vacuum; blank
異なる	ことなる	to differ; to vary; to disagree
保証	ほしょう	guarantee; security; assurance
予測	よそく	prediction; estimation
一層	いっそう	much more; still more; all the more
破る	やぶる	to tear; to violate; to defeat
材料	ざいりょう	ingredients; material
共に	ともに	together; jointly
魅力	みりょく	charm; fascination; glamour
模様	もよう	pattern; figure; design
取り上げる	とりあげる	to pick up; to take up
章	しょう	chapter; section
資源	しげん	resources
其れでも	それでも	but (still); and yet; nevertheless
差別	さべつ	discrimination; distinction; differentiation
其の儘	そのまま	without change; as it is (i.e. now)
職	しょく	employment
現金	げんきん	cash; ready money; mercenary
贈る	おくる	to send; to give to; to award to
正午	しょうご	noon; mid-day
大半	たいはん	majority; mostly; generally
波	なみ	wave
中学	ちゅうがく	middle school; junior high school
稍	やや	a little; partially; somewhat
不正	ふせい	injustice; unfairness; iniquity
願う	ねがう	to desire; to wish; to hope
汚染	おせん	pollution; contamination
銃	じゅう	gun; rifle; small arms

How to actually learn N3 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 N3 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 N3?

This list contains 1,621 words for JLPT N3. The JLPT has not published official vocabulary lists since 2010, so every N3 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 N3?

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 N3 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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