JLPT N1 Vocabulary List — 38 Words & Phrases
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 vocabulary list is made for advanced learners aiming for near-native reading and listening.
Below are 38 JLPT N1 vocabulary study entries, including 但し（ただし）, 尚（なお）, 且つ（かつ）, 或いは（あるいは）. Words and phrases with their meanings, grouped around the situations this level focuses on.
How to use this list
- Study a few entries at a time and say each one aloud, then cover the meaning and test yourself.
- Learn words inside short sentences rather than alone — context makes them easier to recall.
- Review old entries on a schedule (spaced repetition) so they move into long-term memory.
JLPT N1 vocabulary — full list
| Word / phrase | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 但し（ただし） | however / provided that |
| 尚（なお） | furthermore / additionally (adds a note) |
| 且つ（かつ） | and also / moreover |
| 或いは（あるいは） | or / perhaps |
| 概して（がいして） | generally speaking / on the whole |
| 総じて（そうじて） | on the whole (summarising an evaluation) |
| 甚だ（はなはだ） | extremely (formal, often critical) |
| 一概に（いちがいに） | unconditionally / categorically (usu. + negative) |
| 敢えて（あえて） | daringly / dare to |
| 専ら（もっぱら） | exclusively / solely |
| 依然として（いぜんとして） | still / as before (unchanged) |
| もっとも | although / it is true that; also "reasonable" |
| 却って（かえって） | on the contrary / if anything (unexpected reversal) |
| むしろ | rather / if anything (plain comparison) |
| 言わば（いわば） | so to speak / as it were |
| いわゆる | so-called / what is called |
| 一期一会（いちごいちえ） | treasure every encounter as unrepeatable |
| 温故知新（おんこちしん） | learn the new by reviewing the old |
| 大器晩成（たいきばんせい） | great talents mature late |
| 有言実行（ゆうげんじっこう） | say it, then follow through and do it |
| 試行錯誤（しこうさくご） | trial and error |
| 臨機応変（りんきおうへん） | adapt flexibly to changing circumstances |
| 一石二鳥（いっせきにちょう） | kill two birds with one stone |
| 起死回生（きしかいせい） | a dramatic comeback from near-defeat |
| 十人十色（じゅうにんといろ） | to each their own (ten people, ten tastes) |
| 自業自得（じごうじとく） | you reap what you sow |
| 我田引水（がでんいんすい） | self-serving reasoning ("drawing water to one's own field") |
| 一喜一憂（いっきいちゆう） | swinging between joy and worry with every change |
| 検討（けんとう） | consideration — weighing whether to do something |
| 検証（けんしょう） | verification — testing whether something is true |
| 把握（はあく） | to grasp — firm command of concrete details/situation |
| 理解（りかい） | understanding — meaning, ideas, or feelings |
| 顕著（けんちょ） | notable, marked (na-adjective) |
| 著しい（いちじるしい） | remarkable, striking (i-adjective; same kanji as 顕著) |
| 懸念（けねん） | concern/apprehension (formal, written, about a risk) |
| 見解（けんかい） | a formal view/position (official or expert) |
| 意図（いと） | intention — the underlying motive behind an act |
| 目的（もくてき） | purpose/goal — the concrete objective aimed for |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N1 vocabulary quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 入場は無料です。但し、写真撮影は禁止です。 但し introduces?
- An exception/proviso
- A summary
- A greeting
- A question
Show answer
Answer: An exception/proviso
但し = however / provided that.
2. Which pair both mean "on the whole"?
- 但し／尚 (tadashi / nao)
- 概して／総じて (gaishite / soujite)
- 敢えて／専ら (aete / moppara)
- 却って／むしろ (kaette / mushiro)
Show answer
Answer: 概して／総じて (gaishite / soujite)
概して and 総じて both mean "on the whole/generally speaking."
3. 問題は依然として解決していない。 依然として means?
- Suddenly
- Never again
- Still / as before (unchanged)
- Completely
Show answer
Answer: Still / as before (unchanged)
依然として = still / as before — the problem remains unresolved, unchanged.
4. いわゆる「ブラック企業」 means?
- A famous company
- A black-colored building
- A foreign company
- What is called / so-called
Show answer
Answer: What is called / so-called
いわゆる = so-called / what is called, placed before a noun.
5. 一期一会の精神で客を大切にする。 一期一会 means?
- Treasure each encounter as once-in-a-lifetime
- Every customer is the same
- Customers come back every day
- Business is slow
Show answer
Answer: Treasure each encounter as once-in-a-lifetime
一期一会 = treasure every encounter as unrepeatable.
6. 試行錯誤を繰り返しながら改良した。 試行錯誤 means?
- A single flawless attempt
- Trial and error
- Copying a rival
- Giving up early
Show answer
Answer: Trial and error
試行錯誤 = trial and error.
Study JLPT N1 vocabulary 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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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N1 vocabulary list?
There is no single official vocabulary 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 vocabulary?
Study a few entries at a time and say each one aloud, then cover the meaning and test yourself. Learn words inside short sentences rather than alone — context makes them easier to recall. Review old entries on a schedule (spaced repetition) so they move into long-term memory.
How can I practise JLPT N1 vocabulary 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.