N1 is the highest JLPT level — near-native reading and listening ability. You’ll need 10,000+ words, with a heavy focus on literary vocabulary, formal speech, abstract academic writing, and classical Japanese structures. Click any Japanese word to hear it.
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Advanced Verbs#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 怠る | okotaru | to neglect / be negligent |
| 顧みる | kaerimiru | to reflect on / look back |
| 阻む | habamu | to obstruct / prevent |
| 担う | ninau | to take on / bear (responsibility) |
| 覆す | kutsugaesu | to overturn / overthrow |
| 培う | tsuchikau | to cultivate / foster |
| 模索する | mosaku suru | to grope for / search out |
| 克服する | kokufuku suru | to overcome |
| 是正する | zesei suru | to correct / rectify |
| 懸念する | kenen suru | to be concerned about |
| 吟味する | ginmi suru | to scrutinise / examine closely |
| 危惧する | kigu suru | to fear / be apprehensive |
| 企てる | kuwadateru | to plan / scheme |
| 抱く | idaku | to hold / harbour (feelings) |
| 損なう | sokonau | to damage / impair |
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 葛藤 | kattou | conflict / inner struggle |
| 懸念 | kenen | concern / apprehension |
| 逆説 | gyakusetsu | paradox |
| 弊害 | heigai | harmful effect / abuse |
| 根拠 | konkyo | basis / grounds |
| 見解 | kenkai | view / opinion |
| 動向 | doukou | trend / movement |
| 本質 | honshitsu | essence / true nature |
| 趣旨 | shushi | gist / purpose |
| 誤解 | gokai | misunderstanding |
| 齟齬 | sogo | discrepancy / mismatch |
| 忖度 | sontaku | reading someone's wishes / deference |
| 曖昧 | aimai | ambiguity / vagueness |
| 概要 | gaiyou | outline / summary |
| 慣例 | kanrei | precedent / convention |
| 転じ | tenji | turning point / shift |
Na-adjectives#
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 高尚な | koushou na | noble / refined / highbrow |
| 卑劣な | hiretsu na | despicable / mean |
| 曖昧な | aimai na | ambiguous / vague |
| 冷淡な | reitan na | cold / indifferent |
| 無謀な | mubou na | reckless / rash |
| 狡猾な | koukatsu na | cunning / sly |
| 崇高な | suukou na | sublime / lofty |
| 対等な | taitou na | equal / on equal footing |
四字熟語 — Four-Character Compounds#
These are set phrases made of four kanji. They appear often in N1 reading and carry deep cultural meaning.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|
| 一石二鳥 | isseki nichou | killing two birds with one stone |
| 七転八起 | shichi ten hakki | fall seven, rise eight — never give up |
| 試行錯誤 | shikou sakugo | trial and error |
| 以心伝心 | ishin denshin | unspoken understanding / telepathy |
| 自業自得 | jigou jitoku | reaping what you sow |
| 一期一会 | ichi go ichi e | once in a lifetime encounter |
| 臨機応変 | rinki ouhen | adapting flexibly to circumstances |
| 半信半疑 | hanshin hangi | half-believing / doubtful |
| 喜怒哀楽 | ki do ai raku | the full range of human emotions |
| 五里霧中 | gori muchuu | at a complete loss / in the dark |
| 一日千秋 | ichijitsu senshuu | waiting eagerly — every day feels like a thousand years |
| 意味深長 | imi shinchou | meaningful / pregnant with meaning |
Key N1 Grammar Patterns#
| Pattern |
Meaning |
Example |
| 〜に即して |
in accordance with / in line with |
規則に即して対応する。Respond in accordance with the rules. |
| 〜をもって |
with / by means of / as of |
これをもって終了とします。This concludes the proceedings. |
| 〜をめぐって |
surrounding / over (a dispute) |
この問題をめぐって議論した。We debated surrounding this issue. |
| 〜にほかならない |
nothing other than / it is precisely |
これは誤解にほかならない。This is nothing other than a misunderstanding. |
| 〜ないわけにはいかない |
cannot avoid / must |
謝らないわけにはいかない。I can’t avoid apologising. |
| 〜というものだ |
that’s what ~ is / naturally |
努力は報われるというものだ。That’s what effort is — it pays off. |
| 〜がゆえに |
precisely because / due to |
正直であるがゆえに損をした。I suffered a loss precisely because I was honest. |
| 〜に至るまで |
down to / even as far as |
細部に至るまで完璧だ。It’s perfect down to the finest detail. |
| 〜ともなく |
without any particular intent |
気づかぬともなく聞いていた。I was listening without really paying attention. |
| 〜ならいざしらず |
it would be different if ~ but |
子供ならいざしらず大人がそれはない。That’s understandable for a child, but not an adult. |
A Japanese word is shown — pick the correct English meaning.
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