JLPT N3 - Practice Test 1 (Vocabulary)
JLPT N3 - Vocabulary
Test your Japanese skills with this JLPT N3 mock exam, featuring JLPT-style questions covering vocabulary. When you're ready, click the Start Test button below to begin.
問題１ のことばの読み方として最もよいものを、１・２・３・４から一つ えらびなさい。
1
飛行機が空港に着いた。
Explanation: The word 空港 (くうこう) means “airport” and is formed from the kanji 空 (くう), meaning “sky” or “air,” and 港 (こう), meaning “port.” Both kanji use their on'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) in this compound word. The other options are incorrect because くうみなと mixes the on'yomi reading of 空 with the kun'yomi reading of 港, while くこう omits the long vowel in くう, and そらこう uses the kun'yomi reading of 空 instead of its on'yomi reading. Therefore, くうこう is the only standard reading of 空港.
2
この書類は郵便で送れますか。
Explanation: The word 郵便 (ゆうびん) means “mail” or “postal service” and is formed from the kanji 郵 (ゆう), related to mail or postal services, and 便 (びん), meaning “delivery” or “convenience” in this context. The first kanji has a long vowel sound (ゆう), while the second is pronounced びん. The other options are incorrect because ゆうへん and ゆうべん use the wrong readings for 便 in this compound, while ゆびん incorrectly omits the long vowel in ゆう. Therefore, ゆうびん is the only standard reading of 郵便.
3
自分の店を開くために、貯金を始めた。
Explanation: The word 貯金 (ちょきん) means “savings” or “saving money” and is formed from the kanji 貯 (ちょ), meaning “to save” or “to store,” and 金 (きん), meaning “money” or “gold.” Both kanji use their on'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) in this compound. The other options are incorrect because ちょぎん uses ぎん instead of きん, while ちょうきん and ちょうぎん incorrectly lengthen the first vowel from ちょ to ちょう. Therefore, ちょきん is the only standard reading of 貯金.
4
妹は絵を描くのが上手だ。
Explanation: The word 上手 (じょうず) means “skillful” or “good at something” and is commonly used to describe someone's ability to perform an activity well. In this sentence, it describes the younger sister's skill at drawing. Although 上手 can also be read as うわて (option 2), that reading has a different meaning, such as “someone more skilled” or “having the upper hand,” and does not fit the grammatical structure 上手だ used here. The other options are incorrect because かみて refers to the upper side or stage left in certain contexts, while じょうしゅ is not a standard reading of 上手. Therefore, じょうず is the only appropriate reading in this context.
5
寒くて眠れなかったので、毛布をもう一枚出した。
Explanation: The word 毛布 (もうふ) means “blanket” and is formed from the kanji 毛 (もう), meaning “hair” or “wool,” and 布 (ふ), meaning “cloth” or “fabric.” Both kanji use their on'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) in this compound. In the sentence, the speaker takes out another blanket because it was too cold to sleep. The other options are incorrect because けふ uses the wrong reading for 毛, もうぬの incorrectly uses the kun'yomi reading of 布 (ぬの), and もうぶ uses ぶ instead of ふ. Therefore, もうふ is the only standard reading of 毛布.
6
大学では、海にすむ生物の進化について研究している。
Explanation: The word 生物 (せいぶつ) means “living organism” or “living thing” and is formed from the kanji 生 (せい), meaning “life,” and 物 (ぶつ), meaning “thing.” In this sentence, it refers to marine organisms whose evolution is being studied at university. Although 生物 can also be read as なまもの (option 3), that reading means “raw food” or “perishable food,” which does not fit the scientific context of studying evolution. The other options are incorrect because しょうぶつ is not a standard reading of 生物, and せいもの incorrectly uses もの instead of ぶつ. Therefore, せいぶつ is the only appropriate reading in this context.
7
私が留守の間に、荷物が届いた。
Explanation: The word 留守 (るす) means “absence” or “being away from home” and is commonly used to describe a situation in which someone is not at home. In this sentence, 留守の間に indicates that a package arrived while the speaker was away. Although 留 can be read as りゅう and 守 as しゅ in other words, these readings are not used in this compound. The other options, りゅうす, るしゅ, and りゅうしゅ, are not standard readings of 留守. Therefore, るす is the only correct reading.
8
道路を横断するときは、左右をよく見てください。
Explanation: The word 横断 (おうだん) means “crossing” or “going across” and is formed from the kanji 横 (おう), meaning “horizontal” or “sideways,” and 断 (だん), meaning “to cut” or “to interrupt.” Both kanji use their on'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) in this compound. In the sentence, 横断する refers to crossing a road, and the speaker advises checking both directions before doing so. The other options are incorrect because おうたん uses たん instead of だん, よこだん incorrectly uses the kun'yomi reading of 横 (よこ), and こうだん uses the wrong reading for 横. Therefore, おうだん is the only standard reading of 横断.
9
この学校では、生徒はみな平等に扱われる。
Explanation: The word 平等 (びょうどう) means “equality” or “equal treatment” and is formed from the kanji 平 (びょう), meaning “equal” or “level,” and 等 (どう), meaning “equal” or “same rank.” Both kanji use their on'yomi (Chinese-derived readings) in this compound. In the sentence, 平等に describes how all students are treated equally at school. The other options are incorrect because へいどう uses a different reading of 平 (へい), びょうとう uses とう instead of どう, and へいとう combines both incorrect readings for this word. Therefore, びょうどう is the only standard reading of 平等.
問題２ のことばを漢字で書くとき、最もよいものを、１・２・３・４から一つ えらびなさい。
10
欠席する場合は、朝九時までにれんらくしてください。
Explanation: The word 連絡 (れんらく) means “contact” or “communication” and is commonly used when informing someone about something. In this sentence, it refers to notifying the school before 9 a.m. if a student will be absent. The kanji 連 (れん) means “to connect” or “to link,” while 絡 (らく) means “to intertwine” or “to connect.” The other options are incorrect because 練 (れん) means “to practice” or “to refine,” and 落 (らく) means “to fall” or “to drop.” Although these kanji have similar readings, they do not form the correct word for “contact” or “communication.” Therefore, 連絡 is the only appropriate kanji combination in this context.
11
作業を始める前に、周りのあんぜんを確かめてください。
Explanation: The word 安全 (あんぜん) means “safety” and is formed from the kanji 安 (あん), meaning “peaceful” or “secure,” and 全 (ぜん), meaning “whole” or “complete.” In this sentence, 安全を確かめる means “to check safety,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the surroundings are safe before starting work. The other options are incorrect because 金 (きん) means “gold” or “money” and 案 (あん) means “plan” or “proposal.” Although 案 shares the same reading as 安 in this word, it has a different meaning, and neither 安金, 案金, nor 案全 is a standard word meaning “safety.” Therefore, 安全 is the only correct kanji combination in this context.
12
カーテンを買う前に、窓の幅をはかった。
Explanation: The verb 測る (はかる) means “to measure” and is commonly used when measuring physical dimensions such as width, height, or depth. In this sentence, 測った is its past-tense form and refers to measuring the width of a window before buying curtains. The other options are incorrect because 側 (がわ・そば) refers to a “side” or “vicinity” and is not used as the verb はかる, while 則った (のっとった) means “followed” or “conformed to” a rule or standard. Although 触った (さわった) is a valid verb meaning “touched,” it does not mean “measured” and does not match the reading はかった. Therefore, 測った is the only appropriate choice in this context.
13
このバスは、降りるときにうんちんを払います。
Explanation: The word 運賃 (うんちん) means “fare” and refers to the money paid for transportation, such as a bus, train, or taxi. It is formed from the kanji 運 (うん), meaning “to transport” or “to carry,” and 賃 (ちん), meaning “fare” or “fee.” In this sentence, 運賃を払う means “to pay the fare,” indicating that passengers pay when getting off the bus. The other options are incorrect because 貧 (ひん) means “poor” or “poverty,” 貸 (たい) means “to lend,” and 貨 (か) means “goods” or “freight.” None of these kanji can replace 賃 to form the standard word for a transportation fare. Therefore, 運賃 is the only correct kanji combination in this context.
14
この画面で、使いたい言語をせんたくしてください。
Explanation: The word 選択 (せんたく) means “selection” or “choice” and is commonly used when choosing between different options. It is formed from the kanji 選 (せん), meaning “to choose” or “to select,” and 択 (たく), meaning “to choose.” In this sentence, 選択してください means “please select,” referring to choosing a language on a screen. The other options are incorrect because 洗 (せん) means “to wash,” while 沢 (たく) means “swamp” or “marsh.” Although 洗 and 沢 have the same on'yomi readings as 選 and 択, respectively, they have different meanings and do not form the correct word for “selection.” Therefore, 選択 is the only appropriate kanji combination in this context.
15
バスが来なくて、授業にちこくした。
Explanation: The word 遅刻 (ちこく) means “being late” or “arriving late” and is commonly used when someone is late for school, work, or an appointment. It is formed from the kanji 遅 (ち), meaning “late” or “slow,” and 刻 (こく), meaning “time” or “moment.” In this sentence, 遅刻した indicates that the speaker was late for class because the bus did not arrive. The other options are incorrect because 違 (い) means “to differ” or “to be wrong,” while 効 (こう) means “effect” or “effectiveness.” Neither 遅効, 違刻, nor 違効 is the standard word for arriving late. Therefore, 遅刻 is the only correct kanji combination in this context.
問題３（ ）に入れるのに最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つ選びなさい。
16
まだ話し合っている（ ）なので、結果は明日お知らせします。
Explanation: The word 途中 (とちゅう) means “in the middle of” or “partway through” an activity or process. In this sentence, 話し合っている途中 indicates that the discussion is still in progress, which explains why the results will be announced tomorrow. The expression ～ている途中 is commonly used to describe an action that has started but is not yet finished. The other options are incorrect because 半分 (はんぶん) means “half,” 中心 (ちゅうしん) means “center,” and 中間 (ちゅうかん) means “middle” or “intermediate point.” Although 中間 can refer to a midpoint, it is not naturally used with 話し合っている to describe an ongoing discussion. Therefore, 途中 is the only appropriate choice in this context.
17
この道は車が一台（ ）通れるくらいの幅しかない。
Explanation: The adverb やっと means “barely,” “just managed to,” or “finally,” depending on the context. In this sentence, it emphasizes that the road is so narrow that only one car can barely pass through. The expression やっと通れるくらい indicates that something is just possible, but with very little room or margin. The other options are incorrect because めったに means “rarely” and is usually used with negative expressions, わずかに means “slightly” or “by a small amount” and does not naturally express the difficulty of a car fitting through such a narrow space, and しきりに means “repeatedly” or “frequently.” Therefore, やっと is the only appropriate choice for expressing the limited width of the road in this context.
18
この料理は（ ）がかかるので、忙しい日には作らない。
Explanation: The word 手間 (てま) means “time and effort” or “trouble involved in doing something.” The expression 手間がかかる is commonly used to describe a task that requires considerable time or effort. In this sentence, it explains why the speaker avoids preparing this dish on busy days. The other options are incorrect because 手際 (てぎわ) means “skill” or “efficiency” in performing a task, 手段 (しゅだん) means “method” or “means,” and 手順 (てじゅん) means “procedure” or “sequence of steps.” Although these words relate to how tasks are performed, they do not naturally combine with がかかる to express the time and effort required. Therefore, 手間 is the only appropriate choice in this context.
19
今から急げば、九時の電車に（ ）間に合いそうだ。
Explanation: The adverb ぎりぎり means “just barely” or “at the last possible moment” and is commonly used when something can be achieved with almost no time or margin to spare. In this sentence, ぎりぎり間に合いそうだ suggests that the speaker might catch the nine o'clock train if they hurry, but only just in time. The other options are incorrect because ぴったり means “exactly” or “perfectly” and does not naturally express the narrow time margin implied here, そろそろ means “soon” or “about time,” and すっかり means “completely.” Although ぴったり can describe exact timing, ぎりぎり is the natural choice when emphasizing that someone is at risk of being late.
20
旅行に行けなくなったので、ホテルの予約を（ ）。
Explanation: The verb 取り消す (とりけす) means “to cancel” or “to revoke” and is commonly used with reservations, appointments, and decisions. In this sentence, 予約を取り消した indicates that the speaker canceled a hotel reservation because they could no longer go on the trip. The other options are incorrect because 引き返す (ひきかえす) means “to turn back” or “to return,” 引き出す (ひきだす) means “to withdraw” or “to pull out,” and 取り外す (とりはずす) means “to remove” or “to detach” something physically. Although these verbs all describe different kinds of actions, none of them can naturally express canceling a reservation. Therefore, 取り消した is the only appropriate choice in this context.
21
友人に誘われたのを（ ）に、週末は山に登るようになった。
Explanation: The word きっかけ means “trigger,” “starting point,” or “opportunity” that leads to a new action or change. The grammatical pattern ～をきっかけに is used to describe an event or experience that causes someone to start doing something or change their habits. In this sentence, being invited by a friend was the event that led the speaker to start climbing mountains on weekends. The other options are incorrect because 目的 (もくてき) means “purpose” or “goal,” 条件 (じょうけん) means “condition” or “requirement,” and ついで means “while doing something else” or “on the occasion of.” Although these words can express relationships between events, they do not fit the intended meaning and grammatical structure of ～をきっかけに. Therefore, きっかけ is the only appropriate choice in this context.
22
まだ使える家具を全部捨ててしまうなんて、（ ）。
Explanation: The expression もったいない means “what a waste” or “wasteful” and is used when something valuable or still useful is unnecessarily discarded or not fully utilized. In this sentence, the speaker expresses disapproval of throwing away furniture that can still be used. The pattern ～なんて emphasizes surprise, criticism, or disbelief about the situation. The other options are incorrect because しかたない means “it can't be helped,” くだらない means “worthless” or “silly,” and だらしない means “sloppy” or “irresponsible.” Although these expressions can convey negative judgments, they do not specifically express the idea of wasting useful items. Therefore, もったいない is the most appropriate choice in this context.
23
重いバッグを肩に（ ）、駅まで歩いた。
Explanation: The verb かける means “to hang” or “to place something over” and is commonly used when carrying a bag over one's shoulder. The expression バッグを肩にかける describes putting a bag's strap over the shoulder to carry it. In this sentence, かけて is the て-form, connecting the action of carrying the heavy bag to walking to the station. The other options are incorrect because かぶる means “to wear on the head,” しめる means “to tighten” or “to fasten,” and はめる means “to fit” or “to put something into place,” as with rings or gloves. These verbs do not naturally describe carrying a bag over one's shoulder. Therefore, かけて is the only appropriate choice in this context.
24
この酢は（ ）ので、少しずつ料理に加えてください。
Explanation: The adjective 酸っぱい (すっぱい) means “sour” and is commonly used to describe the acidic taste of foods and ingredients such as vinegar, lemons, and pickles. In this sentence, the speaker recommends adding the vinegar little by little because of its sour taste. The other options describe different flavors: 辛い (からい) means “spicy” or “hot,” 塩辛い (しおからい) means “salty,” and 苦い (にがい) means “bitter.” Although these adjectives are grammatically possible in the sentence, they do not match the characteristic taste of vinegar. Therefore, 酸っぱい is the only appropriate choice based on the context and the usual meaning of the words.
25
発表時間が短いので、細かい説明は（ ）、結論だけ話してください。
Explanation: The verb 省く (はぶく) means “to omit,” “to leave out,” or “to skip” something unnecessary. In this sentence, 省いて is its て-form and indicates that detailed explanations should be omitted because the presentation time is limited, allowing the speaker to focus only on the conclusion. The other options are incorrect because 増やして (ふやして) means “to increase,” which contradicts the time restriction, 繰り返して (くりかえして) means “to repeat,” which would take additional time, and 縮めて (ちぢめて) means “to shorten” or “to reduce.” Although 縮めて could make sense if the speaker wanted to shorten the explanations, it does not express the intended instruction to leave them out entirely and discuss only the conclusion. Therefore, 省いて is the only appropriate choice in this context.
26
片足で立って靴下をはこうとしたら、（ ）を崩して転びそうになった。
Explanation: The word バランス means “balance” and is commonly used to describe physical stability or the ability to maintain a steady position. The expression バランスを崩す means “to lose one's balance.” In this sentence, the speaker almost fell while trying to put on socks while standing on one foot. The other options are incorrect because ペース means “pace” or “speed of progress,” リズム means “rhythm,” and テンポ means “tempo” or “speed.” Although these words can describe aspects of movement, they do not naturally express losing physical stability in this situation. Therefore, バランス is the only appropriate choice in this context.
問題４＿＿＿＿に意味が最も近いものを、1・2・3・4から一つ選びなさい。
27
駅前の喫茶店で、先生にたまたま会った。
Explanation: The adverb たまたま means “by chance” or “coincidentally” and describes something that happens unexpectedly, without being planned. In this sentence, the speaker happened to meet their teacher at a coffee shop near the station. The word 偶然 (ぐうぜん) has the same meaning and can naturally replace たまたま without changing the intended meaning. The other options are incorrect because 約束どおりに means “as promised” or “as arranged,” suggesting a planned meeting, いつものように means “as usual,” suggesting a regular occurrence, and 久しぶりに means “for the first time in a long time,” emphasizing the time since the previous meeting rather than coincidence. Therefore, 偶然 is the only option that preserves the original meaning.
28
姉は地味な服を選んだ。
Explanation: The adjective 地味 (じみ) means “plain,” “subdued,” or “not flashy” and is commonly used to describe clothing, colors, or designs that do not attract much attention. In this sentence, it describes the older sister's choice of simple, understated clothing. The expression 色や模様が目立たない means “the colors and patterns do not stand out,” which accurately conveys the meaning of 地味. The other options are incorrect because 流行に合わない means “not fashionable” or “not in style,” 値段が安い means “inexpensive,” and 生地が薄い means “the fabric is thin.” Although plain clothing may also be inexpensive or unfashionable, these characteristics are not part of the meaning of 地味. Therefore, option 3 is the only choice that accurately preserves the original meaning.
29
転んでけがをしたが、たいしたことはなかった。
Explanation: The expression たいしたことはない means “not serious” or “not a big deal” and is commonly used to describe problems, injuries, or situations that are less severe than expected. In this sentence, it indicates that although the speaker fell and got injured, the injury was not very serious. The expression あまりひどくなかった means “was not very severe,” which accurately preserves the original meaning. The other options are incorrect because 全く痛くなかった means “did not hurt at all,” which is not necessarily implied, すっかり治っていた means “had completely healed,” which refers to recovery rather than severity, and 見た目では分からなかった means “was not noticeable from appearance,” which concerns visibility rather than seriousness. Therefore, option 2 is the only choice that accurately conveys the intended meaning.
30
部屋の電気が急に消えた。
Explanation: The adverb 急に (きゅうに) means “suddenly” or “all of a sudden” and describes something that happens unexpectedly or without warning. In this sentence, it indicates that the room's light suddenly went out. The word 突然 (とつぜん) has the same meaning and can naturally replace 急に without changing the intended meaning. The other options are incorrect because 何度も (なんども) means “many times” or “repeatedly,” ゆっくり means “slowly,” and 順番に (じゅんばんに) means “in order” or “one after another.” These expressions describe frequency, speed, or sequence rather than an unexpected occurrence. Therefore, 突然 is the only option that accurately preserves the original meaning.
31
この紙を手で押さえてください。
Explanation: The verb 押さえる (おさえる) means “to hold down,” “to press,” or “to keep something in place.” In this sentence, 手で押さえる means to use one's hand to hold the paper steady and prevent it from moving. The expression 動かないようにして means “make sure it doesn't move,” which accurately conveys the intended meaning. The other options are incorrect because 小さく折って means “fold it into a small size,” 見えないように隠して means “hide it so it cannot be seen,” and 平らに伸ばして means “flatten it out.” Although pressing paper down may sometimes help keep it flat, 押さえる primarily emphasizes holding it in place rather than changing its shape. Therefore, option 3 is the only choice that accurately preserves the original meaning.
問題５つぎのことばの使い方として最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つ選びなさい。
32
取り替える
Explanation: The verb 取り替える (とりかえる) means “to replace” or “to exchange something for another” and is commonly used when an old, broken, or unsuitable item is replaced with a different one. In option 4, it correctly describes replacing the batteries in a remote control that has stopped working. The other options are incorrect because exchanging opinions in a meeting requires 意見を交換する, exchanging greetings is expressed as あいさつを交わす, and changing trains at a station uses 電車を乗り換える. Although these situations involve some form of exchange or change, 取り替える specifically refers to replacing something with another item rather than exchanging words or switching transportation. Therefore, option 4 is the only natural and appropriate use of this verb.
33
延長
Explanation: The word 延長 (えんちょう) means “extension” or “prolongation” and is used when increasing the duration or length of something. In option 2, it correctly describes extending the borrowing period of a book because the person has not finished reading it. The other options are incorrect because postponing a sports event to the following week requires 延期する (えんきする), changing a meeting time from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. requires a verb such as 遅らせる (おくらせる), and stretching out one's arm to reach something is expressed as 腕を伸ばす (うでをのばす). Although these situations involve changes in time or physical extension, they do not use 延長 naturally in the given contexts. Therefore, option 2 is the only appropriate use of 延長.
34
満員
Explanation: The word 満員 (まんいん) means “full” or “crowded to capacity” and is used to describe places or vehicles that have reached their maximum capacity of people, such as buses, trains, theaters, or elevators. In option 1, it correctly describes a bus that was too crowded for the speaker to board. The other options are incorrect because a full stomach is expressed as お腹がいっぱい, a parking lot filled with cars is normally described as 満車 (まんしゃ), and a glass filled with water is described as いっぱい or 満杯 (まんぱい). The key point is that 満員 specifically refers to a capacity filled by people, not food, vehicles, or liquids. Therefore, option 1 is the only appropriate use of 満員.
35
追い越す
Explanation: The verb 追い越す (おいこす) means “to overtake” or “to pass someone who is ahead,” especially when moving in the same direction. In option 3, it correctly describes a runner overtaking another competitor during a marathon. The other options are incorrect because passing an entrance exam is expressed as 試験に合格する, going past an intended train station is normally expressed as 駅を乗り過ごす or 駅を通り過ぎる, and exceeding a planned budget is expressed as 予算を超える. Although these situations involve passing or exceeding something, 追い越す specifically emphasizes overtaking someone or something moving ahead. Therefore, option 3 is the only appropriate use of this verb in the given contexts.
36
ぐっすり
Explanation: The adverb ぐっすり means “soundly” or “deeply” and is specifically used to describe sleeping well and without interruption. In option 1, ぐっすり眠った naturally expresses that the person slept soundly until morning because they were tired. The other options are incorrect because reading a manual carefully would use じっくり or よく, putting important documents away securely would use しっかり, and closing a door quietly to avoid waking a baby would use そっと or 静かに. Although these expressions describe different ways of performing actions, ぐっすり is specifically associated with sleep and cannot naturally modify the verbs used in the other options. Therefore, option 1 is the only appropriate use of ぐっすり.
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