187 Japanese words of level B2
Below is a complete, categorized list of Japanese vocabulary at the B2 level. Learn common verbs, nouns, and adjectives with transcription, articles, and English translations.
What is B2? Upper-Intermediate
B2 means confident, independent use. You interact with native speakers fairly fluently and understand the main ideas of complex texts.
What you can do at B2
- ✓Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers
- ✓Understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics
- ✓Produce clear, detailed text and explain a viewpoint on an issue
- ✓Follow complex lines of argument in spoken language and lectures
- ✓Understand news programs, current affairs, and most films in standard dialect
Adjectives
/ʤɯːdaina/
serious / grave / significant
/ɸɯkɯzatsɯna/
complex / complicated
/gɯtaːtekina/
concrete / specific
/tɕɯːʃoːtekina/
abstract
/tekisetsɯna/
appropriate / suitable
/meːkakɯna/
clear / explicit
/ʃiɴkokɯna/
serious / severe
/bakɯdaina/
enormous / vast
/tajoːna/
diverse / various
/jɯːkoːna/
effective / valid
/koɴpoɴtekina/
fundamental / basic
/kjakkaɴtekina/
objective / unbiased
/ʃɯkaɴtekina/
subjective
/goːɾitekina/
rational / reasonable
/koːɾitsɯtekina/
efficient
Nouns
/ryokō/
travel / journey
/gei.ju.tsu/
art / culture
/do.re.su/
dress
/torihiki/
deal / business
/kokka/
state / nation
/yorokobi/
joy / pleasure
/kono ni cçi wa/
hello
/a ri gato u/
thanks
/ʤiʤitsɯ/
fact / truth
/seːdo/
system / institution
/kanoːseː/
possibility / likelihood
/keːkoː/
tendency / trend
/kiʤɯɴ/
standard / criteria
/koːzoː/
structure
/soɴzai/
existence / being
/koːka/
effect / effectiveness
/taːʃoː/
target / object / subject
/haɴi/
range / scope
/kokɯsai/
international
/seɴkjo/
election
/giɾoɴ/
discussion / debate
/soʃiki/
organization
/ʤiɴkoː/
population
/sabetsɯ/
discrimination
/haɴzai/
crime
/saibaɴ/
trial / judgment
/josaɴ/
budget
/zeːkiɴ/
tax
/keːjakɯ/
contract / agreement
/ɾieki/
profit / benefit
/toːʃi/
investment
/kjoːsoː/
competition
/koːʃoː/
negotiation
/kaɴɾi/
management / control
/hoːkokɯ/
report
/seɴɾjakɯ/
strategy
/ʃigeɴ/
resources
/ʤɯjoː/
demand
/kjoːkjɯː/
supply
/seːsaɴ/
production
/ʃoːhi/
consumption
/jɯʃɯtsɯ/
export
/jɯɲɯː/
import
/keɴkjɯː/
research / study
/ʤikkeɴ/
experiment
/bɯɴseki/
analysis
/hakkeɴ/
discovery
/ɾiɾoɴ/
theory
/geɴʃoː/
phenomenon
/bɯʃʃitsɯ/
substance / matter
/saiboː/
cell (biology)
/ideɴ/
heredity / genetics
/oseɴ/
pollution / contamination
/kaɴʤoː/
emotion / feeling
/ɸɯaɴ/
anxiety / unease
/kitai/
expectation / hope
/ʤiʃiɴ/
self-confidence
/maɴzokɯ/
satisfaction
/koːkai/
regret
/doːʤoː/
sympathy / compassion
/kiɴtɕoː/
tension / nervousness
/koːkiʃiɴ/
curiosity
/ʃitto/
jealousy / envy
/geːnoː/
performing arts / entertainment
/tetsɯgakɯ/
philosophy
/tɕoʃa/
author / writer
/ʃɯppaɴ/
publication / publishing
/koːeɴ/
lecture / speech
/gakɯi/
academic degree
/ʃoːgakɯkiɴ/
scholarship / grant
/ʃiɴdaɴ/
diagnosis
/kaɴseɴ/
infection / contagion
/joboː/
prevention
/hoːdoː/
news report / coverage
/seɴdeɴ/
propaganda / promotion
/ʃɯppaɴbɯtsɯ/
publication
/heɴʃɯː/
editing / compilation
/hoːʃiɴ/
policy / plan
/kadai/
task / issue / challenge
/daɴkai/
stage / phase / step
/joːso/
element / factor
/haːkeː/
background / context
/ʃiseː/
posture / attitude
/ʃidoː/
guidance / leadership
/ɸɯkɯʃi/
welfare / well-being
/imiɴ/
immigration / immigrant
/naɴmiɴ/
refugee
/ɾjoːdo/
territory
/ʤoːjakɯ/
treaty / pact
/ɸɯɴsoː/
conflict / dispute
/gaikoː/
diplomacy
/eɴʤo/
aid / assistance
/saigai/
disaster / calamity
/ɸɯkkoː/
reconstruction / revival
/ʤiɴkoːtɕinoː/
artificial intelligence
/tsɯːʃiɴ/
communication / telecommunications
/taɴmatsɯ/
terminal / device
/aɴgoː/
code / cipher / encryption
/keɴpoː/
constitution
/kiseː/
regulation / restriction
/kjoka/
permission / approval
/ihaɴ/
violation / infringement
/kasetsɯ/
hypothesis
/gaineɴ/
concept / notion
/toːkeː/
statistics
/waɾiai/
ratio / proportion
/seːka/
result / achievement
/koːkeɴ/
contribution
/taisaku/
countermeasure / policy
/koɴkjo/
basis / grounds / evidence
/keɴkai/
opinion / view / perspective
/kaɴteɴ/
viewpoint / standpoint
/ʃɯdaɴ/
means / measure
/sotɕi/
measure / step
/kaɴʃɯː/
custom / convention
/heɴkeɴ/
prejudice / bias
/mɯʤɯɴ/
contradiction
/kibaɴ/
foundation / base
/kakɯsa/
gap / disparity
/ʃoːʃika/
declining birthrate
/koːɾeːka/
aging (population)
/kojoː/
employment
/ʃitsɯgjoː/
unemployment
/tɕiɴgiɴ/
wages / salary
/tɕosakɯkeɴ/
copyright
/seɾoɴ/
public opinion
/ʤoːseː/
state of affairs / situation
/kjoːɾjokɯ/
cooperation / collaboration
/koːɾjɯː/
exchange / interaction
/kaikakɯ/
reform / reformation
/hozoɴ/
preservation / conservation
Other Words
Verbs
/nobeɾɯ/
to state / to describe
/tekijoːsɯɾɯ/
to apply (rules/law)
/ɸɯkɯmɯ/
to include / to contain
/teːkjoːsɯɾɯ/
to provide / to offer
/tasseːsɯɾɯ/
to achieve / to accomplish
/iʤisɯɾɯ/
to maintain / to sustain
/hikakɯsɯɾɯ/
to compare
/hatteɴsɯɾɯ/
to develop / to evolve
/taioːsɯɾɯ/
to respond / to deal with
/haɴdaɴsɯɾɯ/
to judge / to decide
/ʃɯtɕoːsɯɾɯ/
to assert / to claim
/giɾoɴsɯɾɯ/
to discuss / to debate
/ʤitsɯgeɴsɯɾɯ/
to realize / to implement
/kokɯɸɯkɯsɯɾɯ/
to overcome / to conquer
/haɴeːsɯɾɯ/
to reflect / to mirror
/haːkɯsɯɾɯ/
to grasp / to comprehend
/sokɯʃiɴsɯɾɯ/
to promote / to accelerate
/ʃitekisɯɾɯ/
to point out / to indicate
/hjoːkasɯɾɯ/
to evaluate / to assess
/kaiketsɯsɯɾɯ/
to solve / to resolve
/ʃoːmeːsɯɾɯ/
to prove / to demonstrate
/joːkjɯːsɯɾɯ/
to demand / to require
/bɯɴɾɯisɯɾɯ/
to classify / to categorize
/kakɯtokɯsɯɾɯ/
to acquire / to obtain
/ʃɯsaisɯɾɯ/
to organize / to host
/sakɯgeɴsɯɾɯ/
to reduce / to cut
/doːɲɯːsɯɾɯ/
to introduce / to implement
/kakɯdaisɯɾɯ/
to expand / to enlarge
/ʃɯkɯʃoːsɯɾɯ/
to reduce / to shrink
/hoʃoːsɯɾɯ/
to guarantee / to assure
/sɯiʃiɴsɯɾɯ/
to promote / to drive forward
/keɴtoːsɯɾɯ/
to examine / to consider
/hiteːsɯɾɯ/
to deny / to negate
/hihaɴsɯɾɯ/
to criticize
/mɯʤɯɴsɯɾɯ/
to contradict
/meɴʤosɯɾɯ/
to exempt / to waive
/tɕikɯsekisɯɾɯ/
to accumulate / to amass
/ɸɯkjɯːsɯɾɯ/
to spread / to popularize
/ʃoɾisɯɾɯ/
to process / to handle
How to learn B2 vocabulary
- 1.Focus on nuance: synonyms, register and connotation.
- 2.Consume native content (news, podcasts, shows) without simplification.
- 3.Actively use new vocabulary in writing and speaking, not just recognition.
- 4.Engage in longer discussions and force yourself to explain abstract ideas in detail.
Frequently asked questions
How many words at B2?+
Around 4,000 words give you the range needed for confident B2 communication.
Is B2 enough for university?+
Yes — B2 is the common entry requirement for study and skilled work in many countries.
How long from B1 to B2?+
Typically several hundred hours of study plus regular real-language exposure.
What is the key difference between B1 and B2?+
B1 is about expressing personal views on familiar topics; B2 is about discussing complex issues and understanding abstract discussions.