JLPT N3 Vocabulary Master List

Essential Japanese N3 vocabulary covering time, daily routine, transportation, cooking, health, academic life, work, onomatopoeia, and idiomatic expressions.

現在 (げんざい)

The present; current time or period.

日中 (にっちゅう)

During the day; daytime.

上旬／初旬 (じょうじゅん／しょじゅん)

The first ten days of a month.

年中無休 (ねんじゅうむきゅう)

Open all year round without holidays; working or operating 365 days a year without a break.

甥 (おい) / 姪 (めい)

Nephew (sibling's son) / Niece (sibling's daughter).

自炊する (じすいする)

To cook for oneself; preparing one's own food.

そうざい (惣菜)

Prepared side dishes; ready-made food sold in stores.

刻む (きざむ)

To chop or mince finely (e.g., chopping an onion).

蒸す (むす)

To steam (e.g., steaming vegetables).

味が濃い (あじがこい) ⇔ 味が薄い (あじがうすい)

Strong/rich in flavor (high salt or seasoning) ⇔ Light/weak/mild in flavor.

居酒屋 (いざかや)

Izakaya; a traditional Japanese pub or drinking establishment serving small dishes.

禁煙席 (きんえんせき) ⇔ 喫煙席 (きつえんせき)

Non-smoking seat ⇔ Smoking seat.

ゴミを分別する (ごみをぶんべつする)

To separate or sort garbage into appropriate categories.

粗大ゴミ (そだいゴミ)

Bulky or oversized garbage/waste.

各駅停車 (かくえきていしゃ)

Local train; a train that stops at every station along the line.

優先席 (ゆうせんせき)

Priority seat (designated for the elderly, pregnant individuals, and persons with disabilities).

経由 (けいゆ)

By way of; transit via (e.g., traveling to Bali via Bangkok).

両替する (りょうがえする)

To exchange money or currency.

売り切れ (うりきれ)

Sold out; completely exhausted stock.

定価の半額 (ていかのはんがく)

Half of the regular or list price ($50\%$ off original price).

激増する (げきぞうする) ⇔ 激減する (げきげんする)

To increase dramatically or sharply ⇔ To decrease dramatically or sharply.

寿命 (じゅみょう)

Lifespan; life expectancy.

治安がいい (ちあんがいい)

Good public order, peace, and security in a city or region.

少子化 (しょうしか) / 高齢化 (こうれいか)

Declining birthrate (drop in the number of children) / Aging population.

吐き気がする (はきけがする)

To feel nauseous; to feel sick to one's stomach.

締め切り (しめきり)

Deadline; closing date or cutoff time for submission.

単位を取る (たんいをとる) ⇔ 単位を落とす (たんいをおとす)

To earn an academic credit ⇔ To fail to earn or lose an academic credit.

添付する (てんぷする)

To attach (e.g., attaching a photo to an email: 写真を添付する).

飽きっぽい (あきっぽい)

Easily bored; fickle; quick to lose interest in things.

慎重な行動 (しんちょうなこうどう)

Careful, cautious, or prudent action.

ぺらぺら

Fluent (e.g., speaking fluent English: 英語がぺらぺら).

ぎりぎり

Just barely in time; at the very limit or edge of a deadline/schedule.

見落とす (みおとす)

To overlook; to miss or fail to notice an error.

頭に来る (あたまにくる)

To get angry, mad, or infuriated.

手を貸す (てをかす)

To lend a hand; to help someone out.

顔が広い (かおがひろい)

Well-connected; having a wide circle of contacts and acquaintances.

目が回る (めがまわる)

To feel dizzy; to be intensely or dizzyingly busy.

〜料 / 〜代 / 〜費 / 〜賃

Money suffixes: admission/usage charge (〜料: 入場料), goods/bill cost (〜代: 電気代), general expense/cost (〜費: 交通費), and fare/rent (〜賃: 家賃, 運賃).