JLPT N1 Kanji List with Readings — 37 Cards
N1 is the highest JLPT level. It covers abstract, formal and literary Japanese, including the nuanced grammar and vocabulary found in editorials, essays and business writing. This kanji list is made for advanced learners aiming for near-native reading and listening.
Below are 37 JLPT N1 kanji study entries, including 曖（アイ）, 曖昧（あいまい）, 微（ビ）, 妙（ミョウ）. Kanji with their readings, meanings and the common words that use them.
How to use this list
- Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character.
- Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses.
- Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
JLPT N1 kanji — full list
| Kanji / word | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 曖（アイ） | hazy, dim — almost only in 曖昧 |
| 曖昧（あいまい） | ambiguous, vague |
| 微（ビ） | small, slight, faint — 微妙, 微笑む |
| 妙（ミョウ） | strange, exquisite — 微妙, 巧妙 |
| 緻密（ちみつ） | meticulous, fine-grained |
| 密（ミツ） | dense, secret — 秘密, 密接 |
| 顕著（けんちょ） | notable, remarkable |
| 著しい（いちじるしい） | remarkable, striking (i-adjective, cf. 顕著) |
| 著者（ちょしゃ） | author — 著 also means "to write" |
| 漠然（ばくぜん） | vague, hazy |
| 然（ゼン／ネン） | "-ly/-like" suffix — 当然, 自然, 突然 |
| 遂行（すいこう） | execution, carrying out (a duty/mission) |
| 未遂（みすい） | a failed attempt — 殺人未遂 = attempted murder |
| 執行（しっこう） | execution/enforcement (of a law or plan) |
| 固執（こしつ） | to stick to, insist on |
| 妥協（だきょう） | compromise |
| 協力（きょうりょく） | cooperation |
| 循環（じゅんかん） | cycle, circulation |
| 一環（いっかん） | (as) part of a whole |
| 逸脱（いつだつ） | deviation, straying off course |
| 脱出（だっしゅつ） | escape |
| 伴う（ともなう） | to accompany, entail |
| 随伴（ずいはん） | accompaniment |
| 付随（ふずい） | incidental, attendant (to something) |
| 弊社（へいしゃ） | our company (humble self-reference) |
| 疲弊（ひへい） | exhaustion, being worn out |
| 拝見（はいけん） | to see (humble) |
| 拝借（はいしゃく） | to borrow (humble) |
| 謹んで（つつしんで） | respectfully |
| 謹賀新年（きんがしんねん） | formal "Happy New Year" greeting |
| 賜る（たまわる） | to receive (honorific, from a superior) |
| 伺う（うかがう） | to ask/visit/hear (humble) |
| 恐縮（きょうしゅく） | to be obliged / terribly sorry (formal) |
| 慎重（しんちょう） | cautious, careful |
| 誠に（まことに） | truly, sincerely (formal) |
| 誠実（せいじつ） | sincere, honest |
| 克服（こくふく） | to overcome (a difficulty) |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N1 kanji quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 曖昧 means?
- Ambiguous, vague
- Precise
- Sudden
- Meticulous
Show answer
Answer: Ambiguous, vague
曖昧（あいまい）= ambiguous, vague.
2. 微妙 means?
- Obvious
- Subtle, delicate
- Loud
- Certain
Show answer
Answer: Subtle, delicate
微妙（びみょう）= subtle, delicate.
3. 緻密 means?
- Careless
- Rough
- Meticulous, fine-grained
- Slow
Show answer
Answer: Meticulous, fine-grained
緻密（ちみつ）= meticulous, fine-grained.
4. 顕著な差 means?
- No difference
- A tiny typo
- A hidden pattern
- A marked/notable difference
Show answer
Answer: A marked/notable difference
顕著（けんちょ）= notable, marked.
5. 漠然とした不安 means?
- A vague, hazy unease
- A specific worry
- No worry at all
- Extreme confidence
Show answer
Answer: A vague, hazy unease
漠然（ばくぜん）= vague, hazy.
6. 任務を遂行する means?
- To abandon a mission
- To carry out a mission
- To imagine a mission
- To criticize a mission
Show answer
Answer: To carry out a mission
遂行（すいこう）= to carry out/execute (a duty or mission).
Study JLPT N1 kanji in the free app
A Star Japanese turns this list into lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes and listening practice with real Japanese voices — plus timed JLPT N1 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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More JLPT N1 study lists
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N1 kanji list?
There is no single official kanji list for the JLPT, so this is a study list built from the A Star Japanese JLPT N1 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N1 kanji?
Learn each kanji together with the words it appears in, not as an isolated character. Note both the on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese) readings, and which one a compound uses. Practise writing the strokes in the correct order — it helps you recognise and remember the shape.
How can I practise JLPT N1 kanji for free?
Download A Star Japanese for free on iPhone or Android. It has lessons, flashcards with spaced repetition, quizzes, listening practice with real Japanese voices and timed JLPT mock exams — with no ads.