N3 is the bridge between beginner and intermediate. You’ll encounter ~3,750 words total — abstract nouns, emotion words, transitive/intransitive verb pairs, and complex grammar structures. Click any Japanese word to hear it.

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Verbs

JapaneseReadingMeaning
受けるukeruto receive / take (an exam)
断るkotowaruto refuse / decline
比べるkuraberuto compare
探すsagasuto search for
見つけるmitsukeruto find
選ぶerabuto choose / select
消えるkieruto disappear
増えるfueruto increase
減るheruto decrease
壊れるkowareruto break (intransitive)
壊すkowasuto break (transitive)
直すnaosuto fix / correct
直るnaoruto be fixed / recover
倒れるtaoreruto fall over / collapse
驚くodorokuto be surprised
喜ぶyorokobuto be pleased / rejoice
悩むnayamuto be troubled / agonise
諦めるakirameruto give up
頑張るganbaruto do one's best / hang in there
慣れるnareruto get used to
変えるkaeruto change (transitive)
起こるokoruto happen / occur
決まるkimaruto be decided

I-adjectives

JapaneseReadingMeaning
細いhosoithin / narrow
太いfutoithick / fat
深いfukaideep
浅いasaishallow
固いkataihard / firm
柔らかいyawarakaisoft
珍しいmezurashiirare / unusual
恥ずかしいhazukashiiembarrassing / shy
嬉しいureshiihappy / pleased
悲しいkanashiisad
怖いkowaiscary / frightening
眠いnemuisleepy

Na-adjectives

JapaneseReadingMeaning
様々なsamazama navarious / diverse
正確なseikaku naaccurate / precise
適切なtekisetsu naappropriate / suitable
確かなtashika nacertain / sure
豊かなyutaka narich / abundant
無駄なmuda nawasteful / pointless
自由なjiyuu nafree / unrestricted
必要なhitsuyou nanecessary
可能なkanou napossible
不思議なfushigi namysterious / strange

Nouns

JapaneseReadingMeaning
性格seikakupersonality / character
様子yousuappearance / situation
事故jikoaccident
事件jikenincident / case
原因genincause / reason
関係kankeirelationship / connection
努力doryokueffort
注意chuuiattention / caution
準備junbipreparation
記録kirokurecord
計画keikakuplan / project
自信jishinconfidence
安心anshinrelief / peace of mind
人口jinkoupopulation
自然shizennature
科学kagakuscience
文学bungakuliterature
習慣shuukanhabit / custom
文章bunshoutext / passage
目的mokutekipurpose / goal

Adverbs

JapaneseReadingMeaning
やっとyattofinally / at last
すっかりsukkaricompletely / entirely
なかなかnakanakaquite / not easily (with negative)
だんだんdandangradually
もっとmottomore
きっとkittosurely / certainly
まるでmarudeas if / just like
ちゃんとchantoproperly / correctly
どんどんdondonrapidly / steadily
もしかしてmoshikashiteperhaps / possibly

Key N3 Grammar Patterns

Pattern Meaning Example
〜ば〜ほど the more ~ the more ~ 練習すればするほど上手になる。The more you practice, the better.
〜たら if / when ~ (then) 着いたら電話して。Call me when you arrive.
〜ても even if / even though 雨が降っても行きます。I’ll go even if it rains.
〜のに even though ~ (frustration) 頑張ったのに負けた。I worked hard but lost.
〜らしい apparently / seems like 彼は来ないらしい。Apparently he’s not coming.
〜はずだ should be / expected to be 彼女はもう着いているはずだ。She should be here already.
〜ことにする decide to do ~ 毎日運動することにした。I decided to exercise daily.
〜ようにする try to do ~ / make effort to 早く寝るようにしている。I try to go to bed early.
〜てくる to start doing / to come back after doing 日本語が上手になってきた。My Japanese is getting better.
〜ていく to continue doing / to go and do これからもっと勉強していく。I’ll keep studying from now on.
〜ばかり just / only / nothing but 彼はゲームばかりしている。He does nothing but play games.
〜だけでなく not only ~ but also 日本語だけでなく文化も学んだ。I learned not only Japanese but culture too.