し JLPT N1 Vocabulary

Kana し

1. 締め出す しめだす To shut out; to lock out; to exclude. To bar someone from entering or participating by closing off access.
2. しゃしゃり出る しゃしゃりでる To intrude; to butt in; to push oneself forward uninvited. To step into a situation where one is not needed or wanted.
3. しゃぶる しゃぶる To suck; to lick; to suck on. To place something in the mouth and draw on it with the lips or tongue.
4. 逡巡する しゅんじゅんする To hesitate; to vacillate; to waver. To be unable to make up one's mind due to uncertainty, fear, or conflicting feelings.
5. 嘱する しょくする To entrust; to commission; to request. To formally charge or commission someone with a task or responsibility.
6. 斟酌する しんしゃくする To take into consideration; to make allowance for; to temper. To carefully weigh circumstances before acting or judging.
7. 釈然 しゃくぜん Fully convinced; satisfied; a feeling of clarity and resolution. Most commonly used in the negative (釈然としない) to express lingering doubt o...
8. 洒落 しゃれ Pun; wordplay; witticism. Also used to mean fashionable or stylish (お洒落). In communication contexts, refers specifically to verbal wit an...
9. 進言 しんげん Advice offered to a superior; recommendation; counsel directed upward in a hierarchy.
10. 恣意的 しいてき Arbitrary; subjective; based on personal whim rather than reasoned principle. Describes a choice or categorisation lacking objective basis.
11. 閾値 しきいち Threshold; threshold value. The minimum level a stimulus or variable must reach to trigger a specific response or effect.
12. 脂質 ししつ Lipid; fat. A class of organic molecules including fats, oils, and waxes that are insoluble in water.
13. 質量 しつりょう Mass; the amount of matter in an object (physics). Distinguished from weight, which varies with gravitational force.
14. 収斂 しゅうれん Convergence; the process of coming together toward a single point or value. Also: contraction of tissue; astringency.
15. 触媒 しょくばい Catalyst; a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
16. 触覚 しょっかく The sense of touch; tactile sense. Also: antenna or feeler of an insect or crustacean.
17. 真空 しんくう Vacuum; a space devoid of matter. A state in which gas pressure is significantly lower than atmospheric pressure.
18. 浸食 しんしょく Erosion; the gradual wearing away of rock, soil, or materials by wind, water, or chemical action. Also: corrosion; encroachment.
19. 浸透圧 しんとうあつ Osmotic pressure; the pressure required to prevent the flow of solvent across a semipermeable membrane separating solutions of different ...
20. 浸透膜 しんとうまく Semipermeable membrane; osmotic membrane. A thin barrier that allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others.
21. 振動 しんどう Vibration; oscillation; tremor. A rapid back-and-forth movement around a central point.
22. 時雨 しぐれ Drizzle; passing shower; light rain falling intermittently in late autumn or early winter. Evokes a melancholy seasonal atmosphere.
23. 湿地 しっち Wetland; marsh; bog; swamp. A land area saturated with water, supporting distinct flora and fauna.
24. 鍾乳洞 しょうにゅうどう Limestone cave; stalactite cave. A natural cave formed by the dissolution of carbonate rock, featuring stalactites and stalagmites.
25. 震源 しんげん Epicentre; earthquake origin point. The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates. Also used figuratively for the source of a...
26. 新緑 しんりょく Fresh green; new foliage; the vivid green colour of newly sprouted leaves in spring. A quintessential symbol of early summer in Japan.
27. 四半期 しはんき A fiscal or calendar quarter; one of the four three-month periods into which a business year is divided.
28. 下半期 しもはんき The second half of a year; in business contexts, typically October to March in the Japanese fiscal year (April–March).
29. 須臾 しゅゆ An instant; a moment; an extremely brief span of time. A highly literary and classical term for the fleeting nature of time.
30. 昭和 しょうわ The Shōwa era; the imperial reign period of Emperor Hirohito, spanning 1926 to 1989. One of the longest and most historically eventful er...
31. 新暦 しんれき The new calendar; the Gregorian (solar) calendar adopted in Japan in 1873, used in contrast to the traditional lunisolar 旧暦.
32. 執拗 しつよう Persistent; tenacious; obstinate; relentless. Describes a quality of doggedly continuing an action or attitude despite resistance or disc...
33. 忍びない しのびない Unbearable; intolerable; hard to endure. Used to express that one cannot bring oneself to do or witness something, out of compassion or s...
34. 渋い しぶい Astringent (of taste); subdued and refined (of appearance or style); reluctant; cool in an understated way.
35. しぶとい しぶとい Tenacious; persistent; stubborn; tough. Describes someone who refuses to give up or be defeated, often despite enormous odds.
36. しみったれた しみったれた Stingy; miserly; mean; tightfisted. Describes someone excessively reluctant to spend money or share resources, in a way that seems petty ...
37. 峻烈 しゅんれつ Severe; harsh; rigorous; stern. Describes a quality of sharp, uncompromising intensity — in criticism, punishment, or demands.
38. 尚早 しょうそう Premature; hasty; too early. Describes an action or decision taken before the appropriate time or conditions are in place.
39. 白々しい しらじらしい Barefaced; shameless; transparent. Describes an excuse, lie, or attitude that is so obviously insincere it is almost insulting to the lis...
40. 辛辣 しんらつ Biting; scathing; harsh; acerbic. Describes criticism or words that are sharp, cutting, and difficult to dismiss.
41. 市況 しきょう Market conditions; the state of a market at a given time, including price trends and supply-demand dynamics.
42. 仕切り値 しきりね Wholesale price; the price at which goods are settled between a wholesaler and a retailer; settlement price in commodity trading.
43. 仕手 して Speculator who attempts to manipulate a market through aggressive buying or selling; market operator; (also) the lead actor in Noh theatre.
44. 品薄 しなうす Shortage; scarcity; a condition in which goods are in short supply relative to demand.
45. 施術 しじゅつ Treatment; procedure; the act of performing a medical, therapeutic, or cosmetic procedure on a patient.
46. 終末期 しゅうまつき Terminal phase; end-of-life period; the final stage of a life-limiting illness when recovery is no longer expected.
47. 心身 しんしん Mind and body; the physical and mental aspects of a person considered as a unified whole.
48. 診療 しんりょう Medical treatment; clinical practice; the act of examining and treating patients in a clinical setting.
49. 品定め しなさだめ Evaluation; sizing up; judging quality. The act of carefully assessing the worth or character of goods or people.
50. 社債 しゃさい Corporate bond; debenture. Debt securities issued by a company to raise capital from investors.
51. 斜陽 しゃよう Declining; setting sun; waning. Used to describe industries, organisations, or eras in decline.
52. 出荷 しゅっか Shipping; shipment; dispatch. The act of sending goods out from a warehouse or production facility.
53. 出資 しゅっし Investment; contribution of capital; financing. Putting funds into a company or venture, typically in exchange for equity.
54. 竣工 しゅんこう Completion of construction; inauguration. The formal completion of a building or infrastructure project.
55. 償還 しょうかん Redemption; repayment; amortisation. The full repayment of principal on a bond or loan at maturity.
56. 商慣行 しょうかんこう Business practice; commercial custom; trade usage. Established norms and conventions followed in commercial dealings.
57. 償却 しょうきゃく Depreciation; amortisation; write-off. The accounting process of allocating the cost of an asset over its useful life.
58. 商談 しょうだん Business negotiation; commercial discussion; deal talk. Formal discussions between businesses aimed at concluding a transaction.
59. 正味 しょうみ Net; actual; real; genuine. The true amount or value after deductions, packaging, or other extras are removed.
60. 信用取引 しんようとりひき Margin trading; credit transaction. Trading securities using funds or shares borrowed from a brokerage.
61. 仕出し しだし Catered food; food prepared by an outside caterer and delivered. A traditional Japanese catering service.
62. 詩歌 しいか Poetry and song; verse. A collective term for literary compositions in poetic form, including both Japanese and Chinese verse traditions.
63. 栞 しおり Bookmark; a small marker placed in a book to hold one's page. Also: a guidebook or travel pamphlet.
64. 詩集 ししゅう Poetry collection; anthology of poems. A book containing a selection or complete body of poems, either by a single poet or multiple poets.
65. 自然主義 しぜんしゅぎ Naturalism. A literary and artistic movement that portrays human life and society with unvarnished realism, depicting instincts, social c...
66. 師弟 してい Teacher and student; master and disciple. The relationship between one who transmits knowledge or a craft and one who receives it.
67. 色彩 しきさい Colour; hue; tint; colouring. Refers to colour in both literal (visual) and figurative (character, tone, flavour) senses.
68. 至極 しごく Very; extremely; utmost. An intensifying adverb expressing the highest possible degree of a quality.
69. 至極当然 しごくとうぜん Perfectly natural; only to be expected; entirely reasonable. Expresses that an outcome or reaction is completely and inevitably correct g...
70. 示唆 しさ Suggestion; hint; implication. Refers to communicating something indirectly or implicitly, prompting thought or action without stating it...
71. 示唆に富む しさにとむ Suggestive; thought-provoking; full of implications. Describes something that prompts deep reflection by carrying multiple layers of mean...
72. 至上 しじょう Supreme; highest; paramount. Denotes the absolute highest position or priority, beyond which nothing can be placed.
73. 自然体 しぜんたい Natural posture; being oneself; unaffected manner. Describes the state of acting naturally without pretence, force, or self-consciousness.
74. 失態 しったい Blunder; disgrace; misconduct. A serious lapse in conduct or performance that causes embarrassment or damage to one's reputation.
75. 質実剛健 しつじつごうけん Simple and sturdy; plain yet strong; unpretentious strength. A four-character idiom describing a character that values sincerity and robu...
76. 指摘 してき Pointing out; indication; identification. The act of drawing attention to a specific problem, error, or point of significance.
77. 写実 しゃじつ Realism; realistic depiction; faithful representation of subjects as they actually appear.
78. 写本 しゃほん Manuscript; hand-copied book; a text reproduced by scribes before the age of printing.
79. 習作 しゅうさく Study; practice piece; a work created as an exercise or rehearsal for a more mature work.
80. 修辞 しゅうじ Rhetoric; rhetorical expression; the art of using language skillfully and persuasively.
81. 修辞法 しゅうじほう Rhetorical devices; figures of speech; specific techniques of stylistic expression in language.
82. 出世作 しゅっせさく Breakthrough work; debut work that made one famous; the piece that established an artist's reputation.
83. 象徴主義 しょうちょうしゅぎ Symbolism; the literary and artistic movement that privileges suggestion and symbol over direct depiction.
84. 抄録 しょうろく Abstract; excerpt; summary; a condensed representation of a longer text.
85. 書簡 しょかん Letter; epistle; correspondence; a written communication sent from one person to another.
86. 書誌 しょし Bibliography; a systematic list of books, articles, and sources related to a subject or author.
87. 諸説 しょせつ Various theories; different opinions; a range of competing interpretations or hypotheses.
88. 書道 しょどう Calligraphy; the way of writing; the traditional East Asian art of expressive brush writing.
89. 調べ しらべ Tune; melody; the sound of music; also, investigation or inquiry.
90. 箴言 しんげん Proverb; maxim; adage; a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or moral principle.
91. 新語 しんご New word; neologism; a newly coined term that has entered the language.
92. 至難 しなん Extremely difficult; formidable. Describes a task or challenge that is nearly impossible to accomplish.
93. 始末 しまつ Management; disposal; circumstances; result. Refers to dealing with a situation or accounting for how something came about and ended.
94. 使命感 しめいかん Sense of mission; sense of duty. A strong internal feeling that one has an important purpose or obligation to fulfil.
95. 四面楚歌 しめんそか Being surrounded by enemies on all sides; total isolation. A state in which one faces opposition or hostility from every direction with n...
96. 社会的 しゃかいてき Social; societal. Relating to society or the relationships and structures within it.
97. 捨象 しゃしょう Abstraction; the act of omitting non-essential elements to focus on what is essential. A philosophical and logical process of generalisat...
98. 遮二無二 しゃにむに Desperately; recklessly; blindly; hell-bent. Acting with complete disregard for obstacles or consequences, driven purely by urgency or si...
99. 収束 しゅうそく Convergence; settling down; resolution. The process by which something turbulent or dispersed comes to a stable, unified state.
100. 集約 しゅうやく Consolidation; concentration; summary. The gathering of dispersed things, ideas, or resources into a concentrated or unified whole.
101. 主眼 しゅがん Main point; chief aim; focus. The primary objective or central concern of an endeavour, argument, or work.
102. 宿命 しゅくめい Fate; destiny; predestination. An inevitable outcome or condition that one is believed to be born into or cannot escape.
103. 趣向 しゅこう Plan; idea; fancy; design. A creative concept, arrangement, or clever touch that gives something a distinctive character or appeal.
104. 主軸 しゅじく Main axis; principal pillar; core. The central element around which other parts are organised or on which everything depends.
105. 趣味嗜好 しゅみしこう Tastes and preferences; personal inclinations. The combination of one's hobbies and deeper personal preferences that define individual ch...
106. 俊敏 しゅんびん Agile; quick; nimble; sharp. Describes exceptional swiftness of movement or thought, often combining physical quickness with mental acuity.
107. 昇華 しょうか Sublimation; refinement; elevation. The transformation of something raw or base into a higher, purer, or more refined state.
108. 衝撃 しょうげき Shock; impact; crash; collision. A sudden, powerful force — physical or emotional — that strikes with overwhelming effect.
109. 詳細 しょうさい Details; particulars; specifics. Thorough and precise information about something, as opposed to a summary or overview.
110. 焦燥 しょうそう Impatience; irritation; restlessness. A state of anxious agitation caused by frustration, delay, or inability to act as one wishes.
111. 象徴 しょうちょう Symbol; emblem; representation. Something that stands for, represents, or evokes a broader concept, value, or idea.
112. 消長 しょうちょう Rise and fall; ebb and flow; waxing and waning. The cyclical pattern of something growing and then declining over time.
113. 衝動 しょうどう Impulse; urge; sudden desire. A spontaneous, involuntary drive to act, often without rational forethought.
114. 正念場 しょうねんば Crucial moment; critical juncture; crunch time. The decisive point at which everything is on the line and full effort is demanded.
115. 障壁 しょうへき Barrier; obstacle; wall. A physical or metaphorical obstruction that impedes progress, communication, or understanding.
116. 施行 しこう Enforcement; implementation; enactment. The act of putting a law or policy into official effect.
117. 施政方針 しせいほうしん Policy speech; government policy direction. The formal statement of governing principles and priorities delivered at the opening of a leg...
118. 失脚 しっきゃく Losing one's position; downfall; fall from power. Describes the sudden or forced removal of a political figure from a position of influence.
119. 質疑 しつぎ Questioning; interpellation; inquiry. Formal questioning of officials or ministers in a legislative or official setting.
120. 諮問 しもん Consultation; inquiry; advisory. The act of a government body seeking expert advice from a consultative committee or advisory council.
121. 主権 しゅけん Sovereignty; supreme power; dominion. The supreme and independent authority of a state to govern itself and determine its own affairs.
122. 出馬 しゅつば Running for office; entering a race; candidacy. Formally declaring one's intention to stand as a candidate in an election.
123. 召集 しょうしゅう Convocation; summoning; calling together. The formal act of convening the National Diet or assembling a group under official authority.
124. 詔勅 しょうちょく Imperial edict; imperial rescript. A formal proclamation or command issued in the name of the emperor.
125. 諸侯 しょこう Feudal lords; princes; daimyo. Refers collectively to the regional lords who held power under a feudal system.
126. 信任 しんにん Confidence; trust; approval; mandate. The formal expression of confidence in a leader or government, particularly in a parliamentary vote.
127. 侵略 しんりゃく Invasion; aggression; encroachment. The hostile entry into and seizure of another state's territory, or any act of political or military ...
128. しきたり しきたり Custom; convention; established practice. Refers to traditional ways of doing things that are expected and observed by a community.
129. 七五三 しちごさん Shichi-go-san; a traditional Japanese celebration held for children aged 3, 5, and 7. Marks important milestones in a child's growth.
130. 市民運動 しみんうんどう Citizens' movement; civic activism. Refers to organised grassroots efforts by ordinary citizens to influence policy or social change.
131. 社会保障 しゃかいほしょう Social security; social welfare. The system of government programmes providing economic support for citizens in need.
132. 祝儀 しゅうぎ Celebration; congratulatory gift; monetary gift. Refers to a gift of money given at celebratory occasions such as weddings.
133. 就労 しゅうろう Employment; working; gaining employment. Refers to the act of entering or engaging in paid work.
134. 修行 しゅぎょう Training; ascetic practice; discipline. Refers to rigorous self-cultivation through hardship, often in a religious or martial context.
135. 主犯 しゅはん Principal offender; ringleader; mastermind. The person most responsible for planning or leading a crime.
136. 証言 しょうげん Testimony; evidence; witness statement. An account given under oath or in an official context to establish facts.
137. 精進 しょうじん Devotion; diligent effort; Buddhist vegetarian diet. Refers to single-minded dedication to practice, or the abstention from meat in relig...
138. 職権乱用 しょっけんらんよう Abuse of authority; misuse of power. The wrongful use of one's official position or powers for personal or improper ends.
139. 所得格差 しょとくかくさ Income disparity; income inequality. The gap in earnings between different segments of society.
140. 書類送検 しょるいそうけん Referral to prosecutors without arrest; submitting case documents to the public prosecutor's office without detaining the suspect.
141. 消耗 しょうもう Exhaustion; consumption; depletion through use or strain. Refers to the draining of energy, resources, or materials.
142. 食指 しょくし Appetite; interest; inclination; desire. Particularly used in the set phrase 食指が動く (to feel drawn to something).
143. 所見 しょけん Finding; observation; view; opinion. Used formally to express what one has observed or concluded.
144. 所産 しょさん Product; result; outcome; something produced by effort or circumstance.
145. 所在 しょざい Whereabouts; location; address. Where something or someone is situated or can be found.
146. 初志 しょし Original intention; initial resolve; the purpose one set out with at the beginning.
147. 所詮 しょせん After all; in the end; ultimately; when all is said and done. Often carries a resigned or cynical nuance.
148. 初歩 しょほ Basics; rudiments; first steps; the ABCs of something. The foundational stage of learning.
149. 真意 しんい Real intention; true meaning; genuine purpose behind what was said or done.
150. 真骨頂 しんこっちょう One's true worth; real ability; forte. The moment or quality that reveals a person's genuine capability.
151. 針小棒大 しんしょうぼうだい Making a mountain out of a molehill; gross exaggeration. Describes overstating the size or severity of something trivial.
152. 真相 しんそう Truth; real situation; the actual facts behind an event. What really happened as opposed to appearances.
153. 深層 しんそう Deep layer; depths; the subconscious or hidden stratum of something.
154. 進捗 しんちょく Progress; advance; headway. The degree to which a task or project is moving forward.
155. 浸透 しんとう Permeation; penetration; spread. The gradual diffusion of something into a substance or group.
156. 思慕 しぼ Yearning; longing; adoration. A deep emotional attachment or wistful longing for a person, often with tenderness or reverence.
157. 羞恥 しゅうち Shame; embarrassment; bashfulness. A feeling of humiliation or self-consciousness caused by exposure, failure, or vulnerability before ot...
158. 衝撃を受ける しょうげきをうける To be shocked; to receive a blow; to be struck with powerful impact. Describes a sudden and profound emotional or physical jolt.
159. 心機一転 しんきいってん Turning over a new leaf; a complete change of mindset; fresh start with renewed determination after a decisive shift in attitude.
160. 心酔 しんすい Infatuation; deep admiration; being completely captivated by someone or something to the point of uncritical devotion.
161. 心底 しんそこ From the bottom of one's heart; truly; sincerely; deeply. Expresses a completely genuine and heartfelt emotion or conviction.
162. 仕掛ける しかける To set up; to initiate; to start; to lay a trap or challenge; to devise a scheme.
163. しがみつく しがみつく To cling to; to hold on tightly; to hang on desperately to a person or thing.
164. 鎮める しずめる To calm; to pacify; to suppress; to quell unrest, pain, or strong emotion.
165. 仕損じる しそんじる To fail; to bungle; to make a mistake in performing a task; to botch.
166. 従える したがえる To have under one's command; to be accompanied by; to bring along as a retinue or followers.
167. 仕立てる したてる To tailor; to make or finish clothing; to prepare; to train someone for a role.
168. 叱咤する しったする To scold loudly; to reprimand with force; to urge or exhort strongly.
169. 仕遂げる しとげる To accomplish; to complete; to see through to the end; to carry out successfully despite hardship.
170. 忍ばせる しのばせる To conceal; to hide; to slip something somewhere secretly; to embed discreetly.
171. 渋る しぶる To hesitate; to be reluctant; to be unwilling; to grudgingly hold back.
172. 絞り込む しぼりこむ To narrow down; to refine a selection; to focus in on a specific set of options.
173. 絞り出す しぼりだす To squeeze out; to wring out; to eke out something with great effort.
174. 絞る しぼる To wring; to squeeze; to twist to extract liquid; to narrow down; to focus.
175. 仕舞う しまう To put away; to store; to conclude; to finish; also used as an auxiliary to express completion, often with regret.
176. 染み付く しみつく To become ingrained; to be deeply stained or embedded; to be deeply rooted in character or habit.
177. 仕向ける しむける To direct; to urge toward; to induce; to manoeuvre someone into doing something.
178. 締め括る しめくくる To conclude; to wrap up; to bring to a definitive close; to bind together and finalise.