JLPT N2 Vocabulary List — 72 Words & Phrases
N2 covers the Japanese used in newspapers, workplaces and a wide range of everyday settings. It is the level many companies and universities in Japan ask for. This vocabulary list is made for upper-intermediate learners aiming to study or work in Japanese.
Below are 72 JLPT N2 vocabulary study entries, including 上司（じょうし）, 部下（ぶか）, 同僚（どうりょう）, 担当（たんとう）. 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 N2 vocabulary — full list
| Word / phrase | Meaning, reading and notes |
|---|---|
| 上司（じょうし） | one's boss / superior |
| 部下（ぶか） | subordinate / staff under you |
| 同僚（どうりょう） | colleague (same level) |
| 担当（たんとう） | being in charge of |
| 契約（けいやく） | contract |
| 交渉（こうしょう） | negotiation |
| 出張（しゅっちょう） | business trip |
| 残業（ざんぎょう） | overtime work |
| 面接（めんせつ） | interview |
| 締め切り（しめきり） | deadline |
| 政治（せいじ） | politics |
| 選挙（せんきょ） | election |
| 経済（けいざい） | economy |
| 景気（けいき） | economic conditions / business climate |
| 税金（ぜいきん） | tax |
| 高齢化（こうれいか） | aging (of society) |
| 環境（かんきょう） | environment |
| 汚染（おせん） | pollution |
| 影響（えいきょう） | influence / effect |
| 対策（たいさく） | countermeasure |
| 感動（かんどう） | being deeply moved |
| 感謝（かんしゃ） | gratitude |
| 満足（まんぞく） | satisfaction |
| 緊張（きんちょう） | tension / nervousness |
| 不安（ふあん） | anxiety / unease |
| 後悔（こうかい） | regret |
| 我慢（がまん） | endurance / self-restraint |
| 遠慮（えんりょ） | reserve / holding back politely |
| 印象（いんしょう） | impression |
| 自信（じしん） | self-confidence |
| 案外（あんがい） | unexpectedly / more than expected |
| さすが | as expected (impressed) |
| せっかく | taking the trouble to (valued effort) |
| わざわざ | going out of one's way |
| とりあえず | for now / first of all |
| 次第に（しだいに） | gradually / by degrees |
| 突然（とつぜん） | suddenly |
| 偶然（ぐうぜん） | by chance / coincidence |
| 一方（いっぽう） | on the other hand |
| 結局（けっきょく） | in the end / after all |
| 書き言葉 / 話し言葉 | written vs spoken register — でも→しかし, だから→したがって |
| なお vs ただし | なお = additionally (extra info) / ただし = however, the catch |
| 非常に | ひじょうに — the written form of すごく/とても |
| 増加する / 減少する | ぞうかする / げんしょうする — written forms of 増える/減る |
| 一方 / それに対して | on the other hand / in contrast — signals a pivot in an argument |
| 〜につきまして | the business-email register of について |
| 〜に取り組む | to tackle a problem: 環境問題に取り組む |
| 注意報/警報/特別警報 | advisory → warning → emergency warning (ascending severity) |
| 被害 vs 損害 | ひがい (damage suffered, 被害者=victim) vs そんがい (financial loss) |
| 〜に備える | to prepare against: 地震に備えて水を備蓄する |
| 避難する / 避難所 | ひなんする (evacuate) / ひなんじょ (evacuation shelter) |
| 〜が求められている | is being called for — standard N2 passive framing for what society should do |
| 人工知能 (AI) | じんこうちのう — artificial intelligence. Pairs with 発展/進化/活用. |
| 電波が悪い | でんぱがわるい — "the signal is bad," a common complaint in Japan |
| 炎上する | えんじょうする — a post triggers mass online backlash ("gets flamed") |
| スマホ依存 | すまほいぞん — smartphone addiction/dependence. Recurring N2 society theme. |
| 個人情報の漏洩 | こじんじょうほうのろうえい — personal information leak. A standard tech-essay concern. |
| 診察 vs 診断 | しんさつ (examining a patient) vs しんだん (the resulting diagnosis) |
| 内科 vs 外科 | ないか (internal medicine, illness) vs げか (surgery department, injuries/operations) |
| 生活習慣病 | せいかつしゅうかんびょう — lifestyle disease, caused by habits like 運動不足/睡眠不足 |
| 〜に効果がある | effective for/against ~: 適度な運動は健康の維持に効果がある |
| 〜を見直す | to reconsider/review — the standard closing move of N2 health/society passages |
| 地球温暖化 / 気候変動 | おんだんか = global warming (temperature). きこうへんどう = climate change (broader umbrella — floods, droughts, seasons) |
| 温室効果ガス / 排出 | おんしつこうかガス = greenhouse gas. 排出(はいしゅつ)する = to emit. 二酸化炭素(CO2)の排出を削減する |
| 再生可能エネルギー | さいせいかのうエネルギー — renewable energy (太陽光・風力発電). Opposite: 化石燃料 (fossil fuels) |
| 公害 | こうがい — industrial pollution harming residents' health. Historically loaded in Japan (Minamata etc.). NOT a general synonym for 汚染 |
| 持続可能な / 〜に取り組む | じぞくかのうな = sustainable (持続可能性 = sustainability). 〜に取り組む = to tackle/work on X — the "call to action" verb |
| 犯人 vs 容疑者 | はんにん = the culprit (did it). ようぎしゃ = suspect (not proven). News says 容疑者 until a conviction |
| 被害者 vs 加害者 | ひがいしゃ = victim. かがいしゃ = the offender / one who caused the harm. Appear together constantly |
| 裁判 / 判決 / 有罪・無罪 | さいばん = trial, はんけつ = verdict, ゆうざい/むざい = guilty/not guilty. 無罪の判決を言い渡す |
| 起訴する / 弁護士 / 検察 | きそする = to indict. べんごし = defence lawyer. けんさつ = the prosecution. 詐欺の罪で起訴された |
| 違反する / 取り締まる | いはんする = to break a rule/law (スピード違反). とりしまる = to crack down on / police |
Practice questions
Test yourself with 6 sample questions from the JLPT N2 vocabulary quiz in the app. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. 私が担当します means?
- I'll be in charge of it
- I'll be absent
- I'll pay for it
- I'll cancel it
Show answer
Answer: I'll be in charge of it
担当する = to be in charge of. 私が担当します = I'll handle it.
2. Which means "overtime work"?
- 出張
- 残業
- 交渉
- 昇進
Show answer
Answer: 残業
残業（ざんぎょう）= overtime. 出張 = business trip, 交渉 = negotiation, 昇進 = promotion.
3. 名刺を交換する means?
- Sign a contract
- Give a report
- Hold a meeting
- Exchange business cards
Show answer
Answer: Exchange business cards
名刺（めいし）= business card; 交換する = to exchange. A key Japanese business ritual.
4. 景気が悪い means?
- The weather is bad
- Health is poor
- Business is booming
- The economy is in a downturn
Show answer
Answer: The economy is in a downturn
景気（けいき）= economic conditions. 景気が悪い = a downturn/recession feeling.
5. 環境を守る means?
- Destroy the environment
- Protect the environment
- Study the environment
- Pollute the environment
Show answer
Answer: Protect the environment
環境（かんきょう）= environment; 守る = to protect. 環境を守る = protect the environment.
6. Which pair is "incident/case" vs "accident"?
- 事件 / 事故 (jiken / jiko)
- 報道 / 世論 (houdou / yoron)
- 影響 / 対策 (eikyou / taisaku)
- 政治 / 経済 (seiji / keizai)
Show answer
Answer: 事件 / 事故 (jiken / jiko)
事件（じけん）= incident/case (often deliberate); 事故（じこ）= accident. Commonly confused.
Study JLPT N2 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 N2 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this the official JLPT N2 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 N2 lessons. It focuses on what learners at this level are most likely to meet.
How should I study the JLPT N2 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 N2 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.