Vocabulary (JLPT N2)
1500 words · 75 sets · CC BY-SA 4.0 · EN
The words after N3 — none of these is on the N5, N4 or N3 list, and the build refuses any that is, so the four levels together are each word once. Seventy-five sets of twenty, and the vocabulary has left daily life: the abstract nouns an argument is built from (前提, 根拠, 相関), economics and law, industry and administration, three sheets of compound verbs (取り組む, 押し寄せる, やり抜く), the four-character idioms an editorial reaches for, the formal connectors of written Japanese and the courtesy phrases of a business email. Each set is two printed pages — study, then recall in both directions — and page 1 is page 2's answer key.
Use it alongside N2 kanji (Level I) and N2 grammar (Level J). At this level the kanji are mostly known and the work is the compounds they make. The whole 1,500 on one page if you want to search it.
Full list, all 1500 words → Sets print at two pages each; the list is one long page.
Print a set that belongs together
Y1 Abstract concepts I · 20 概念・概要・要素・要因・原則・規模・構造・… Concept, element, factor, structure, system, field, phenomenon — the nouns an explanation is built from. Y2 Abstract concepts II · 20 前提・制約・対策・手法・方針・戦略・体制・… Premise, restriction, measure, method, policy, strategy, framework — how a plan is described. Y3 Economy and finance I · 20 資本・財政・収益・利潤・需要・供給・市場・… Capital, revenue, profit, demand, supply, the market, interest rates, exchange rates. Y4 Economy and finance II · 20 資産・負債・出費・経費・損失・利益率・課税・… Assets, debt, cost, profit and loss, tax, insurance, pensions, savings and the accounts. Y5 Business and management · 20 本社・支社・部署・役員・株主・合併・拡大・… Head office and branch, department and section, merger, expansion, client, contract, project. Y6 Politics and administration · 20 衆議院・内閣・参議院・議席・法案・可決・否決・… The Diet, the cabinet, a bill, a vote, the constitution, local government, the budget. Y7 Law and justice · 20 法律家・条例・条項・司法・義務者・立法・告訴・… Statute and ordinance, plaintiff and defendant, evidence, trial, appeal, sentence, rights. Y8 Society and welfare · 20 世帯数・出生率・高齢化・少子化・世代・階層・格差・… Population and birth rate, an ageing society, welfare, poverty, discrimination, volunteers. Y9 Education and research · 20 教育制度・履修・受講・研修・講座・教材・課程・… Curriculum and credit, thesis and citation, hypothesis, analysis, verification, the academic year. Y10 Science and technology · 20 物質・元素・分子・細胞・遺伝・重力・圧力・… Element and molecule, energy and gravity, the experiment, the data, the device, the invention. Y11 Industry and manufacturing · 20 加工・組立・工程・作業・原料・品目・稼働率・… The factory floor: process and line, raw material, stock, inspection, defect, shipment. Y12 Resources and agriculture · 20 農業・漁業・林業・栽培・収穫・耕す・牧場・… Farming and fishing, harvest, livestock, timber, minerals, oil and the supply of them. Y13 Environment and energy · 20 排水・排出・廃棄物・処理場・再生・保護区・自然環境・… Pollution and emissions, waste and recycling, conservation, renewables, climate. Y14 Media and publishing · 20 通信社・特派員・速報・社説・号外・欄・記事内容・… Coverage and the scoop, the editorial, the column, circulation, broadcasting, advertising. Y15 Information and data · 20 情報源・資料室・名簿・台帳・索引・項目・欄外・… Records and files, sorting and searching, security, the network, the update, the leak. Y16 Medicine and treatment · 20 内科・外科・診療・症例・患者数・医療費・看護・… Internal and surgical, symptoms and cases, infection and immunity, nursing, rehabilitation. Y17 Mind and psychology · 20 心理・精神・記憶力・認識・知覚・直感・本能・… Perception and memory, instinct and impulse, the ego, desire, intuition, awareness. Y18 Character · 20 誠実・率直・慎重・大胆・温厚・忍耐・寛容・… Sincere, frank, prudent, bold, patient, tolerant, arrogant, humble, fussy, slapdash. Y19 Human relations · 20 交際・面識・縁・絆・上下関係・敬意・配慮・… Acquaintance and bond, hierarchy and courtesy, consideration, mediation, friction, compromise. Y20 Feelings · 20 感激・感慨・未練・後悔・落胆・憂鬱・焦燥・… Being moved and disheartened, regret, relief, agitation, envy, pity, resentment. Y21 Culture and tradition · 20 郷土・風土・慣習・民俗・祭礼・芸能・工芸・… Local custom and festival, the crafts — pottery, lacquer, weaving — and the traditional arts. Y22 Religion and philosophy · 20 宗派・信者・経典・説法・修行・悟り・戒律・… Sect and believer, scripture, discipline, enlightenment; philosophy, ethics, truth, existence. Y23 History and war · 20 年代・世紀・王朝・幕府・維新・革命・戦乱・… Century and dynasty, the shogunate, revolution, invasion, occupation, defeat, peace terms. Y24 International affairs · 20 国連・首脳・会談・交渉・使節・領事・国境・… The UN and the summit, negotiation and envoy, border and territory, sanctions and aid. Y25 Transport and infrastructure · 20 路線・鉄道・車両・貨物・積載・通行止め・有料道路・… The line and the route, the tunnel and the bridge, freight, congestion, timetable, fare. Y26 Architecture and construction · 20 建築・設計図・施工・現場・基礎工事・柱・梁・… Design and site, foundation and pillar, floor plan, renovation, demolition, the permit. Y27 Town and country · 20 都市・区域・地区・地域社会・市街地・用地・敷地・… The ward and the district, land use, zoning, migration to the cities, the empty village. Y28 Disaster and emergency · 20 震災・余震・津波警報・土砂・崩落・倒壊・全壊・… Aftershock and collapse, damage grades, restoration, temporary housing, stockpiles, safety checks. Y29 Crime and policing · 20 犯行・犯罪者・容疑・逮捕状・押収・捜査・刑事・… The offence and the suspect, investigation and arrest, fraud, theft, threats, surveillance. Y30 Work and employment · 20 雇用・求職・就業・失業率・離職・昇給・残業代・… Hiring and leaving, pay rise and overtime, transfer and secondment, the union, the terms. Y31 Money and payment · 20 送金・引き落とし・振替・明細・通帳・暗証番号・借入・… Transfers and direct debits, the statement and the passbook, interest, collateral, arrears. Y32 Trade and commerce · 20 商取引・卸売・小売・流通・仕入れ・在庫管理・販売店・… Wholesale and retail, distribution, buying in, stock control, the customer complaint, returns. Y33 Contracts and documents · 20 契約更新・更新料・解約・違約金・覚書・念書・署名・… Renewal and cancellation, the penalty clause, the memorandum, the signature and the seal. Y34 Time and sequence · 20 当初・初期・中期・末期・従前・目下・現時点・… At the outset, the early period, the present moment, frequency, periodic, immediate, deferred. Y35 Quantity and change · 20 増加率・減少・倍増・半減・急増・急減・累計・… Rates of increase, doubling and halving, totals and averages, the majority, upper and lower limits. Y36 Degree and comparison · 20 極端・極めて・著しい・顕著・微量・大幅・小幅・… Extreme, marked, considerable, relative, absolute, overwhelming, equal, excessive. Y37 Space and position · 20 上部・下部・中央部・周辺部・内部・外部・表裏・… Upper and lower part, interior and exterior, front and rear, depth, breadth, adjacent, throughout. Y38 Cause and consequence · 20 因果・相関・影響力・波及・連鎖・反動・副次・… Cause and effect, correlation, ripple effect, chain reaction, sign, trigger, outcome. Y39 Logic and argument · 20 論点・論拠・結論・反論・異議・矛盾・証明・… The premise and the conclusion, objection and rebuttal, proof, contradiction, the counter-example. Y40 Speech and expression · 20 発言・陳述・弁明・弁解・提言・忠告・助言・… Statement and rebuttal, advice and persuasion, hinting, exaggeration, metaphor, summary. Y41 Verbs of thinking · 20 心得る・察する・見なす・見込む・思い込む・思い当たる・把握する・… To regard as, to anticipate, to be convinced of, to overlook, to look back on, to bear in mind. Y42 Verbs of acting and effecting · 20 施す・講じる・図る・促す・導く・及ぼす・果たす・… To take (measures), to prompt, to lead, to bring about, to fulfil, to bear, to cover a cost. Y43 Verbs of relation and control · 20 阻む・妨げる・遮る・隔てる・保つ・定める・改定・… To hinder, to shut out, to keep, to lay down, to abolish, to withdraw, to entrust, to hand over. Y44 Verbs of looking and hearing · 20 眺める・覗く・見渡す・見抜く・察知・感知・嗅ぐ・… To gaze over, to peer in, to see through, to detect, to witness, to listen closely. Y45 Suru verbs I · 20 実施・施行・遂行・履行・達成度・遂げる・取り組む・… Implement, carry out, accomplish, engage in, devote oneself, integrate, separate, select. Y46 Suru verbs II · 20 適合・適応・順応・応対・応募・呼応・相応・… Adapt and respond, apply for, be equivalent to, be thorough, break through, enter a market. Y47 Suru verbs III · 20 延長・拡張・転換・変換・置換・交替・並行・… Extend and expand, convert and replace, run in parallel, depend, imitate, restore, inspect. Y48 Wear, damage and upkeep · 20 劣化・老朽・摩耗・損傷・破損・補修・清掃・… Deterioration and ageing, wear, damage, cleaning, disinfection, preservation, the state of a thing. Y49 Adjectives I (i) · 20 望ましい・好ましい・相応しい・目覚ましい・華々しい・甚だしい・見苦しい・… Desirable, remarkable, extreme, unsightly, reassuring, forlorn, dependable. Y50 Adjectives II (na) · 20 敏感・鈍感・濃厚・希薄・粗末・好調・不調・… Sensitive and insensitive, favourable, serious, pressing, useful, capable, skilful, precise. Y51 Adjectives III (na) · 20 精密・綿密・緻密・大まか・明白・明瞭・露骨・… Precise and meticulous, plain and obvious, blunt, gorgeous, vivid, calm, smooth, gradual. Y52 Adjectives IV (-teki) · 20 体系的・実質的・形式的・表面的・根本的・本格的・全面的・… Systematic, substantial, formal, superficial, fundamental, full-scale, one-sided, voluntary. Y53 Adverbs I · 20 予め・改めて・敢えて・強いて・一概に・概して・総じて・… In advance, once again, deliberately, on the whole, merely, all at once, steadily. Y54 Adverbs II · 20 かつて・未だ・依然・元来・本来・案の定・幸いにも・… Formerly, still, originally, as expected, unfortunately, if anything, barely, by no means. Y55 Adverbs III · 20 まさしく・正に・確実に・明確に・断固・全く・皆目・… Utterly, at all, somewhat, greatly, exceedingly, only just — the words that grade a statement. Y56 Formal connectors · 20 ゆえに・それゆえ・というのは・とはいえ・ものの・にもかかわらず・一方では・… Therefore, that is because, be that as it may, on the other hand, in addition, in other words. Y57 Business courtesy · 20 恐れ入ります・申し上げる・存じます・承知いたしました・お手数・ご足労・ご多忙・… The phrases an email opens and closes with — I am much obliged, please accept, kindly note. Y58 Idioms with the body · 20 顔が広い・目が高い・耳が痛い・口が堅い・腕が立つ・足を運ぶ・頭が下がる・… A wide face, a hard mouth, a low waist — the idioms that describe people and effort. Y59 Katakana words I — business · 20 インフラ・シェア・ノウハウ・リスク・マネジメント・マーケット・ブランド・… Infrastructure, share, know-how, risk, brand, target, client, compliance, presentation. Y60 Katakana words II — technology · 20 セキュリティ・アップデート・ダウンロード・インストール・ネットワーク・データベース・プログラム・… Network and database, account and password, the app, the server, the backup, the update. Y61 Katakana words III — media and life · 20 トレンド・ランキング・コンセプト・スタッフ・シフト・マニュアル・ルート・… Trend and ranking, staff and shift, route and area, scenario, episode, fan, hit. Y62 Weather and climate · 20 気象・前線・低気圧・高気圧・気温差・猛暑・厳寒・… Fronts and pressure systems, a fierce summer, a mild winter, rainfall, snowfall, gusts. Y63 Animals and plants · 20 哺乳類・爬虫類・群れ・繁殖・産卵・孵化・幼虫・… Mammals and reptiles, herds and nests, breeding and hatching; trunk, branch, bud, blossom. Y64 Food and cooking · 20 栄養価・献立・旬・賞味期限・消費期限・保存料・添加物・… The menu and the season, best-before dates, additives, heating and freezing, fermentation, flavour. Y65 Clothing and materials · 20 繊維・生地・縫製・裁縫・仕立て・着心地・防寒・… Fibre and fabric, tailoring, how a thing wears, warmth, breathability, dyeing, the lining. Y66 Sport and performance · 20 観衆・声援・主将・戦術・守備・得点王・稽古・… The crowd and the cheering, tactics, defence and attack, training, stamina, reflexes. Y67 Compound verbs I — 〜出す, 〜込む · 20 言い出す・走り出す・降り出す・飛び込む・話し込む・落ち込む・割り込む・… The N2 verb pattern that makes new verbs from old: to start doing, to go deep into, to take in. Y68 Compound verbs II — 〜切る, 〜抜く, 〜合う · 20 使い切る・出し切る・読み切る・やり切る・打ち切る・やり抜く・生き抜く・… To do completely, to see through to the end, and the verbs of doing something together. Y69 Compound verbs III — 取り〜, 引き〜, 押し〜 · 20 取り戻す・取り入れる・取り除く・取り扱う・取り締まる・取り組み・引き受ける・… To take on and take in, to accept, to raise and lower, to press, to pile up, to handle. Y70 Four-character idioms · 20 試行錯誤・臨機応変・一石二鳥・以心伝心・自業自得・半信半疑・無我夢中・… The compact idioms an editorial reaches for: trial and error, adapting to circumstances, two birds with one stone. Y71 Nuance and hedging · 20 てっきり・どうやら・ひょっとすると・もしかすると・なんとなく・言うまでもなく・無論・… I was sure, apparently, possibly, needless to say, in any case, as far as possible, roughly. Y72 Worth, trouble and balance · 20 手間・手間暇・労力・苦心・やりがい・生きがい・張り合い・… The effort a thing takes and what it gives back — worthwhile, reward, convenience, the trade-off. Y73 Prefixes and suffixes · 20 総・準・～層・過・被・対・反・… Total and semi-, quasi- and pro-, per-, -wise, -ish, -oriented, -based, -run. Y74 Numbers and measurement · 20 桁・小数・分数・四捨五入・概算・換算・面積・… Digits and decimals, per cent and per mille, area and volume, weight, density, the estimate. Y75 Sound and manner words · 20 しぶしぶ・こつこつ・ぼうっと・うんざり・きっちり・ぎっしり・がっしり・… Reluctantly, doggedly, in a daze, in fits and starts, exactly, quietly, all of a sudden.
How the sets were chosen
As at every level here, this is a reconstruction — the JLPT publishes no list — taking the words that appear on most published N2 lists and grouping them by what they are for. N2 is where a list stops being about a learner's day and starts being about the world: a newspaper, a contract, a meeting. The sets are arranged so that the reading you will do with them — editorials, notices, business email — is what holds them together.