Adjectives & Descriptions

概要

この章では「Adjectives & Descriptions」というテーマにまとまって出てくる基本語彙を学びます。単語をばらばらに覚えるのではなく、場面といっしょに定着させるための構成です。

このまとまりを身につけると、その話題について話すときの語彙が増え、読むときも聞くときも反応しやすくなります。

テーマ

この章のJLPT N3 Vocabulary (237)

1. 明らか あきらか Clear; obvious; evident. Used to describe something plainly apparent or beyond doubt.
2. 曖昧 あいまい Vague; ambiguous; unclear. Describes something lacking precision or definiteness.
3. 深刻 しんこく Serious; severe; grave. Describes a situation or problem of significant weight or urgency.
4. 重大 じゅうだい Serious; important; significant. Describes matters of great weight or consequence.
5. 軽微 けいび Slight; minor; insignificant. Describes something small in degree or impact.
6. 巨大 きょだい Huge; gigantic; enormous. Describes something of extraordinary size or scale.
7. 膨大 ぼうだい Huge; vast; enormous. Describes an overwhelming quantity or volume.
8. 莫大 ばくだい Vast; immense; enormous. Describes an extremely large amount, especially of money or costs.
9. 豊富 ほうふ Abundant; plentiful; rich. Describes having a large quantity or variety of something.
10. 貴重 きちょう Precious; valuable. Describes something rare or highly valued.
11. 重要 じゅうよう Important; essential; significant. Describes something of great value or consequence.
12. 不可欠 ふかけつ Indispensable; essential. Describes something that absolutely cannot be done without.
13. 有効 ゆうこう Valid; effective. Describes something that works well or is officially recognised.
14. 有利 ゆうり Advantageous; favourable. Describes a position or condition that gives a benefit or edge.
15. 公平 こうへい Fair; impartial; just. Describes treating everyone equally without bias.
16. 不公平 ふこうへい Unfair; unjust; partial. Describes treatment or situations that lack equality.
17. 適切 てきせつ Appropriate; suitable; fitting. Describes something that is exactly right for the situation.
18. 不適切 ふてきせつ Inappropriate; unsuitable; improper. Describes something that does not fit the situation.
19. 妥当 だとう Valid; proper; reasonable. Describes something that is logically sound or appropriate.
20. 合理的 ごうりてき Rational; reasonable; logical. Describes something based on sound reasoning or efficiency.
21. 非合理的 ひごうりてき Illogical; irrational; unreasonable. Describes something that defies sound reasoning.
22. 客観的 きゃっかんてき Objective. Describes a viewpoint or judgment based on facts rather than personal feelings.
23. 主観的 しゅかんてき Subjective. Describes a viewpoint or judgment influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
24. 一方的 いっぽうてき One-sided; unilateral. Describes actions or situations where only one party acts or benefits.
25. 相互的 そうごてき Mutual; reciprocal. Describes a relationship or action that goes both ways.
26. 永久 えいきゅう Eternity; permanence; perpetuity. Describes something lasting forever without end.
27. 一時的 いちじてき Temporary; transitory; short-lived. Describes something that lasts only for a limited time.
28. 暫定的 ざんていてき Provisional; temporary; tentative; interim. Describes arrangements made until a final decision.
29. むしろ むしろ Rather; better; instead; if anything. Used to express a preference or correction.
30. かえって かえって On the contrary; rather; instead; all the more. Indicates an unexpected opposite result.
31. たちまち たちまち In an instant; immediately; right away; at once. Describes extremely rapid change.
32. いきなり いきなり Abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning. Describes an unexpected action.
33. しばしば しばしば Often; frequently; again and again; repeatedly. Indicates recurring actions.
34. めったに めったに Rarely; seldom. Almost always used with negative verbs to mean 'hardly ever.'
35. ろくに ろくに (Not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough. Always used with negation to express insufficiency.
36. やはり やはり As expected; sure enough; just as one thought. Confirms something previously suspected.
37. いかに いかに How; in what way. Used to emphasise degree or manner in formal contexts.
38. まるで まるで As if; as though; just like. Used for vivid comparisons and similes.
39. あたかも あたかも As if; as it were; as though. A literary adverb for vivid comparisons.
40. いわば いわば So to speak; as it were; in a manner of speaking. Introduces a figurative expression.
41. つまり つまり That is to say; in other words; I mean. Used to rephrase or summarise a point.
42. すなわち すなわち That is to say; namely; i.e. Used to define or specify what was just mentioned.
43. なお なお Still; yet; furthermore; in addition. Indicates continuation or adds supplementary information.
44. ただし ただし But; however; provided that. Introduces a condition or exception to a previous statement.
45. ちなみに ちなみに By the way; incidentally; in passing. Adds related but non-essential information.
46. 様々 さまざま Varied; various; diverse. Describes a wide range of different things.
47. さらに さらに Furthermore; moreover; even more. Adds emphasis or additional information.
48. 四角 しかく Square; rectangle; four-cornered shape. A basic geometric term.
49. じかに じかに Directly; immediately; in person; firsthand. Without any intermediary.
50. しきりに しきりに Frequently; repeatedly; eagerly; incessantly. Describes persistent repeated action.
51. 親しい したしい Intimate; close; friendly. Describes a deep, personal bond between people.
52. 誠に まことに Indeed; truly; sincerely. A formal intensifier expressing genuine feeling or emphasis.
53. 実は じつは Actually; in fact; to tell the truth. Used to introduce unexpected or previously withheld information.
54. 地味 じみ Plain; subdued; understated. Describes something modest and lacking flashiness.
55. 主要 しゅよう Chief; main; principal. Indicates the most important element among several.
56. 順調 じゅんちょう Smooth; favourable; going well. Describes progress without obstacles.
57. 正午 しょうご Noon; midday. The exact point of 12:00 PM.
58. 少々 しょうしょう A little; a small amount; a moment. The formal equivalent of 少し.
59. 上等 じょうとう First-class; superior; high-quality. Describes something of excellent grade.
60. 徐々に じょじょに Gradually; slowly; little by little. Describes a steady, incremental change.
61. 真剣 しんけん Serious; earnest; genuine. Describes wholehearted commitment or intensity.
62. 新鮮 しんせん Fresh; new and vivid. Describes food, air, or experiences that feel unspoiled and invigorating.
63. 慎重 しんちょう Careful; cautious; prudent. Describes a deliberate and risk-averse approach.
64. 少なくとも すくなくとも At least; at the minimum. Sets a lower bound on quantity, time, or degree.
65. 少しも すこしも Not at all; not one bit; not in the least. Emphatic negation used with negative verbs.
66. ずっと ずっと For a long time; all along; by far. Expresses continuity or a large degree of difference.
67. 素敵 すてき Lovely; wonderful; fantastic. A warm compliment for people, places, or things.
68. 既に すでに Already; previously. Indicates that something has been completed before the reference point.
69. 鋭い するどい Sharp; keen; acute. Describes physical sharpness or perceptive intelligence.
70. 精々 せいぜい At most; at best. Sets an upper limit, often with a slightly dismissive tone.
71. 絶対 ぜったい Absolutely; definitely; without fail. Expresses complete certainty or an unbreakable commitment.
72. 相変わらず あいかわらず As ever; as usual; same as always. Notes that a situation remains unchanged.
73. 生憎 あいにく Unfortunately; unluckily. Used when circumstances are unfavourable or disappointing.
74. 辺り あたり Vicinity; nearby area; neighbourhood. Refers to the general surroundings of a place.
75. 当たり前 あたりまえ Natural; obvious; taken for granted. Describes something considered normal or self-evident.
76. ほぼ ほぼ Almost; nearly; approximately. Indicates something close to completion or totality.
77. 新た あらた New; fresh; novel. Describes something recently begun or renewed.
78. 案外 あんがい Unexpectedly; contrary to expectations. Expresses surprise at an outcome differing from what was anticipated.
79. あんなに あんなに To that extent; so much; that much. Emphasises the degree of something observed or remembered.
80. いけない いけない Must not; should not; bad; wrong. Expresses prohibition or that something is unacceptable.
81. 意地悪 いじわる Mean; spiteful; unkind. Describes a person or behaviour that is deliberately nasty.
82. 偉大 いだい Great; mighty; magnificent. Describes exceptional accomplishment or impressive stature.
83. 一度に いちどに All at once; at one time. Describes doing something in a single action rather than in stages.
84. いつか いつか Sometime; someday; one day. Refers to an unspecified time in the future or past.
85. 一瞬 いっしゅん A moment; an instant; a split second. Describes an extremely brief period of time.
86. 一生 いっしょう One's whole life; lifetime; throughout life. Refers to the entire span from birth to death.
87. 一層 いっそう Much more; still more; all the more. Emphasises an increase in degree or intensity.
88. 一体 いったい What on earth; what in the world. Used to intensify questions expressing bewilderment or frustration.
89. いつでも いつでも Anytime; always; whenever. Expresses availability or constant readiness without time restriction.
90. いつの間にか いつのまにか Before one knows it; without noticing; at some point. Describes something that happened unnoticed.
91. いつまでも いつまでも Forever; for good; indefinitely. Expresses something continuing without end.
92. 今に いまに Before long; soon; eventually. Predicts something will happen in the near future.
93. 今にも いまにも At any moment; on the verge of; about to. Describes imminent action on the brink of happening.
94. 羨ましい うらやましい Envious; jealous; enviable. Expresses longing for what someone else has or experiences.
95. 永遠 えいえん Eternity; perpetuity; forever. Refers to an infinite or unending span of time.
96. 大いに おおいに Greatly; very much; considerably. Emphasises a large degree or significant extent.
97. 幼い おさない Very young; childish; immature. Describes someone or something characteristic of early childhood.
98. 恐ろしい おそろしい Terrible; dreadful; frightening. Describes something that inspires fear or is shockingly extreme.
99. お互い おたがい Each other; mutual; reciprocal. Refers to a shared or two-way relationship between people.
100. 穏やか おだやか Calm; gentle; mild. Describes a peaceful, undisturbed state of weather, personality, or atmosphere.
101. 大人しい おとなしい Quiet; docile; well-behaved. Describes someone or something that is calm and obedient.
102. 主に おもに Mainly; primarily; chiefly. Used to indicate the most significant portion or focus.
103. 思わず おもわず Unintentionally; involuntarily; without thinking. Describes an action done spontaneously.
104. およそ およそ About; roughly; approximately. Used to give an estimated number or general idea.
105. 温暖 おんだん Warm; mild. Describes a pleasantly warm climate or temperature.
106. 確実 かくじつ Certain; sure; reliable. Describes something definite and beyond doubt.
107. 賢い かしこい Wise; clever; smart. Describes intelligence, particularly practical or street-smart wisdom.
108. 必ずしも かならずしも Not always; not necessarily. Used with negative predicates to express partial negation.
109. かなり かなり Considerably; fairly; quite. Indicates a degree that is more than expected.
110. 可能 かのう Possible; feasible; practicable. Describes something that can be done or achieved.
111. 痒い かゆい Itchy; itching. Describes the physical sensation of needing to scratch.
112. かわいそう かわいそう Poor thing; pitiable; feeling sorry for. Expresses sympathy or pity towards someone.
113. 可愛らしい かわいらしい Lovely; sweet; adorable. A slightly more refined way of saying cute.
114. 完全 かんぜん Perfect; complete; flawless. Describes a state with nothing lacking or deficient.
115. きつい きつい Tight; intense; harsh. Describes something physically tight, mentally demanding, or severe.
116. 気の毒 きのどく Pitiful; unfortunate; feeling sorry. Expresses sympathy for someone in a difficult situation.
117. 奇妙 きみょう Strange; peculiar; curious. Describes something unusual that defies normal expectations.
118. 疑問 ぎもん Question; doubt; uncertainty. A point that is unclear or open to question.
119. 逆 ぎゃく Reverse; opposite; contrary. Indicates the opposite direction, order, or meaning.
120. 急激 きゅうげき Sudden; drastic; sharp. Describes a rapid and intense change.
121. 急速 きゅうそく Rapid; swift; fast-paced. Describes progress or change happening at high speed.
122. 急に きゅうに Suddenly; abruptly; all at once. Describes an unexpected, rapid change or event.
123. 器用 きよう Skillful; dexterous; handy. Describes someone who is good with their hands or adept at various tasks.
124. 共通 きょうつう Common; shared; mutual. Describes something that two or more parties have in common.
125. 臭い くさい Stinky; smelly; bad-smelling. Describes an unpleasant odour.
126. ぐっすり ぐっすり Sound asleep; fast asleep. Describes sleeping deeply and peacefully.
127. 悔しい くやしい Frustrating; vexing; mortifying. Describes the bitter feeling of regret or defeat.
128. 苦しい くるしい Painful; agonising; tough. Describes physical or emotional distress and hardship.
129. 暮れ くれ Year end; dusk; the close of a period. Refers to the end of the year or the fading of daylight.
130. 詳しい くわしい Detailed; thorough; well-informed. Describes information that is comprehensive or a person who is knowledgeable.
131. ケチ けち Stingy; cheap; miserly. Describes a person who is excessively reluctant to spend money.
132. 結局 けっきょく After all; in the end; eventually. Sums up the final outcome of a situation.
133. 濃い こい Thick; dense; strong; dark. Describes concentrated colour, flavour, or density.
134. 幸運 こううん Good luck; good fortune. Describes a favourable turn of events or a blessed state.
135. 豪華 ごうか Luxurious; gorgeous; extravagant. Describes something lavish and impressive in quality or appearance.
136. 公正 こうせい Fair; just; impartial. Describes decisions, judgments, or processes free from bias.
137. 高速 こうそく High speed; express. Describes rapid movement or fast-paced systems and infrastructure.
138. ごく ごく Quite; very; extremely. An intensifier used to emphasise that something is to a remarkable degree.
139. 今回 こんかい This time; now; the current occasion. Refers to the present instance of a recurring event.
140. 今後 こんご From now on; hereafter; in the future. Refers to the period of time starting from the present.
141. こんなに こんなに This much; so much; to this extent. Expresses surprise or emphasis about a degree or amount.
142. 最低 さいてい Lowest; worst; minimum. Describes the bottom of a scale in quality, value, or degree.
143. 幸い さいわい Fortunately; luckily; happily. Indicates that something turned out well despite potential risk.
144. ざっと ざっと Roughly; approximately; at a glance. Describes doing something quickly and without fine detail.
145. 密 みつ Dense; close; tight; crowded. Describes things packed closely together or done in secret.
146. 妙 みょう Strange; unusual; peculiar. Describes something oddly off or inexplicably different from normal.
147. 明後日 あさって Day after tomorrow. A common time expression used in everyday planning and scheduling.
148. 蒸し暑い むしあつい Humid; muggy; sultry. Describes hot weather with heavy moisture in the air.
149. 無駄 むだ Futile; useless; wasteful. Describes something that yields no productive result.
150. 夢中 むちゅう Absorbed; engrossed; crazy about. Describes being completely captivated by something.
151. 明確 めいかく Clear; definite; explicit. Describes something stated or understood without ambiguity.
152. もしかすると もしかすると Perhaps; maybe; possibly. Expresses uncertainty about something that might happen.
153. もしも もしも If; supposing. A stronger, more emphatic form of もし used in hypothetical statements.
154. 厄介 やっかい Troublesome; burdensome; annoying. Describes something or someone that causes difficulty or inconvenience.
155. やや やや Slightly; somewhat; a little. Indicates a small degree or marginal amount.
156. 唯一 ゆいいつ Only; sole; unique. Describes something that is one of a kind with no alternatives.
157. 友好 ゆうこう Friendship; amity; friendly relations. Describes warm, cooperative relationships between groups or nations.
158. 優秀 ゆうしゅう Excellent; outstanding; superior. Describes exceptional ability or performance.
159. 愉快 ゆかい Pleasant; cheerful; delightful. Describes a happy, enjoyable feeling or atmosphere.
160. 陽気 ようき Cheerful; lively; sunny disposition. Also refers to the season or weather.
161. 要するに ようするに In short; in a word; basically. Used to summarise or get to the point of a discussion.
162. 夜中 よなか Midnight; the middle of the night; late at night. Refers to the deep nighttime hours.
163. 余分 よぶん Extra; surplus; excess. Describes something beyond what is needed.
164. 楽 らく Easy; comfortable; relaxed. Describes a state of ease or lack of difficulty.
165. 陸 りく Land; shore; dry ground. Refers to solid ground as opposed to sea or air.
166. 利口 りこう Clever; smart; bright. Describes someone who is quick-witted and makes good judgements.
167. わがまま わがまま Selfish; spoiled; wilful. Describes someone who insists on having their own way.
168. わざと わざと On purpose; deliberately; intentionally. Indicates an action was done with conscious intent.
169. 粋 いき Chic; stylish; refined. Describes an understated elegance rooted in Edo-period aesthetics.
170. 依然 いぜん Still; as yet; as before. Indicates a situation remains unchanged despite expectations.
171. 全員 ぜんいん All members; everyone. Refers to every person in a particular group without exception.
172. 先日 せんじつ The other day; a few days ago. A polite way to refer to a recent past event.
173. 全体 ぜんたい Whole; entirety; overall. Refers to the complete scope of something, or used as an adverb meaning 'on earth' in questions.
174. そっくり そっくり The spitting image of; exactly alike. Also means entirely or completely when referring to amounts or transfers.
175. そっと そっと Softly; gently; quietly. Describes doing something with care so as not to be noticed or to disturb.
176. その上 そのうえ In addition; furthermore; moreover. A conjunction that adds information, often escalating the point.
177. そのうち そのうち Before long; eventually; sooner or later. Expresses that something will happen at an unspecified time in the near future.
178. そのまま そのまま As it is; without change; just like that. Describes maintaining a current state or condition.
179. 粗末 そまつ Humble; crude; poor quality. Describes something simple, rough, or inadequately made.
180. それぞれ それぞれ Each; every; respectively. Refers to individual items or people within a group, considered separately.
181. 平ら たいら Flat; level; smooth. Describes a surface without bumps, slopes, or irregularities.
182. 多少 たしょう A little; somewhat; to some extent. Similar to 少し but slightly more formal.
183. 直ちに ただちに At once; immediately; right away. A formal adverb indicating prompt action without delay.
184. たっぷり たっぷり Plenty; ample; a generous amount. Describes having more than enough of something.
185. 度々 たびたび Often; repeatedly; frequently. Indicates something happening many times.
186. たまたま たまたま By chance; coincidentally; accidentally. Describes something that happened unexpectedly or without planning.
187. たまらない たまらない Unbearable; intolerable; irresistible. Expresses that something is too intense to endure, whether positive or negative.
188. 単純 たんじゅん Simple; uncomplicated; naive. Describes something straightforward or lacking complexity.
189. 単に たんに Simply; merely; only. Limits the scope of a statement to exclude broader interpretations.
190. 違いない ちがいない No doubt; certainly; must be. An expression of strong conviction that something is true.
191. 近頃 ちかごろ Lately; recently; nowadays. Refers to the current period or recent times.
192. 直接 ちょくせつ Direct; immediate; firsthand. Describes doing something without intermediaries or going through something directly.
193. 次々 つぎつぎ In succession; one after another; one by one. Describes events or actions occurring in rapid sequence.
194. 常に つねに Always; constantly; at all times. A formal equivalent of いつも, used in written and official contexts.
195. 罪 つみ Crime; sin; fault; guilt. Refers to both legal offences and moral wrongdoing.
196. 適度 てきど Moderate; appropriate degree; just right. Describes an amount or level that is neither too much nor too little.
197. 同一 どういつ Identical; the same; one and the same. Used to indicate complete sameness between two things.
198. 当時 とうじ At that time; in those days. Refers to a specific period in the past being discussed.
199. どうしても どうしても No matter what; at any cost; by all means. Expresses strong determination or an unavoidable situation.
200. 同様 どうよう Same; identical; similar. Indicates that something is the same kind or manner as another.
201. 得意 とくい Good at; skilled in; proud; triumphant. Describes proficiency in something or a feeling of pride.
202. 独特 どくとく Unique; distinctive; peculiar. Describes a quality that belongs only to a particular person or thing.
203. どこか どこか Somewhere; anywhere; some place. An indefinite pronoun for unspecified locations.
204. 途端 とたん The moment; just as; as soon as. Indicates something happens immediately after another action.
205. とにかく とにかく Anyway; anyhow; at any rate. Used to set aside details and focus on the main point.
206. 共に ともに Together with; along with; both. Indicates shared action or simultaneous occurrence.
207. とんでもない とんでもない Outrageous; unthinkable; absurd. Also used as a humble denial meaning 'not at all' or 'no way.'
208. どんなに どんなに How much; no matter how. Used to emphasise degree, often with ～ても to express 'no matter how much.'
209. なんで なんで Why; what for; how come. A casual interrogative adverb asking for the reason behind something.
210. 苦手 にがて Poor at; weak in; not good with. Describes a lack of skill or a dislike for something.
211. 日中 にっちゅう During the day; daytime; in broad daylight. Refers to the hours when the sun is up.
212. 年間 ねんかん During the year; yearly; annual. Used to indicate a span of one or more years.
213. 激しい はげしい Intense; violent; fierce; severe. Describes extreme force, emotion, or degree.
214. ばったり ばったり By chance; unexpectedly; with a thud. Describes a chance encounter or sudden collapse.
215. 派手 はで Showy; flashy; gaudy; flamboyant. Describes something eye-catching or extravagant.
216. ハンサム ハンサム Handsome; good-looking. Used to describe an attractive man with refined features.
217. 必死 ひっし Desperate; frantic; with all one's might. Describes putting every ounce of effort into something.
218. 等しい ひとしい Equal; equivalent; the same. Describes two things being identical in value, degree, or status.
219. 一人一人 ひとりひとり One by one; each person; every individual. Emphasises treating people as separate individuals.
220. 不安 ふあん Anxiety; uneasiness; worry. A feeling of insecurity or apprehension about something uncertain.
221. 不可 ふか Impossible; unacceptable; not allowed. Indicates something cannot or should not be done.
222. 無事 ぶじ Safety; peace; without incident. Describes arriving or completing something without problems.
223. 不思議 ふしぎ Mysterious; strange; wondrous. Describes something puzzling or beyond ordinary explanation.
224. 不正 ふせい Injustice; unfairness; fraud. Describes dishonest or wrongful conduct.
225. 再び ふたたび Again; once more; a second time. Expresses the repetition of an action or event.
226. ふと ふと Suddenly; by chance; unexpectedly. Describes something happening without planning or intention.
227. 不平 ふへい Complaint; discontent; dissatisfaction. A feeling of unfairness or grievance.
228. 別に べつに Not particularly; nothing special; not really. Used with negatives to downplay or dismiss something.
229. まあ まあ Well; I suppose; more or less. A filler expressing hesitation, modesty, or mild surprise.
230. まさに まさに Exactly; precisely; truly. Emphasises that something is exactly as described.
231. 真っ赤 まっか Deep red; bright crimson; flushed. Describes an intense, vivid red colour or a completely flushed face.
232. 全く まったく Completely; entirely; really; truly. Expresses totality or strong emphasis.
233. まぶしい まぶしい Dazzling; blinding; radiant. Describes light so bright it is hard to look at.
234. 申告 しんこく Report; declaration; filing. A formal report or statement submitted to authorities.
235. 精巧 せいこう Elaborate; exquisite; finely crafted. Describes something made with remarkable precision and skill.
236. 当然 とうぜん Obvious; natural; as a matter of course. Describes something that is expected or goes without saying.
237. 前もって まえもって In advance; beforehand; previously. Describes doing something ahead of time as preparation.