JLPT Vocabulary Deep-Dives

More than word lists: deep-dives into the high-frequency, multi-meaning words that do the heavy lifting in Japanese, with real examples, collocations, and practice.

Why a deep-dive beats a word list

A flashcard tells you 「かける = to hang」 — and then the JLPT shows you 電話をかける (make a phone call), 時間をかける (spend time), 鍵をかける (lock), 迷惑をかける (cause trouble), and your single translation falls apart. The hardest vocabulary on the test isn't rare words; it's the common, polysemous ones whose meaning shifts with the particle and the noun they sit next to. Those are exactly the words worth slowing down for.

Each deep-dive here focuses on:

Every important sense of the word, not just the dictionary headline.
Collocations — the nouns and particles it actually pairs with.
Look-alike words it's easy to confuse, and how to keep them apart.
Natural example sentences you can hear the rhythm of.

For the look-alike grammar patterns, see our confusing pairs section; for readings, the kanji guides.

Word deep-dives

N5

あげる (上げる): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — あげる (上げる) means to raise/lift, to increase, to give, and to finish — plus the 〜てあげる helper. One core image, all the meanings, examples, and the 上げる vs 上がる trap explained.
あつい (暑い・熱い・厚い): One Sound, Three Kanji — あつい sounds like one word but splits into three kanji: 暑い (hot weather), 熱い (hot to the touch / passionate), and 厚い (thick). Each meaning, antonym, and examples explained.
あつめる (集める): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — あつめる (集める) means to collect, gather, and bring together — stamps, money, information, even attention and popularity. Every meaning explained with examples, collocations, and the 集まる pair.
あう (会う・合う): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — あう means to meet a person (会う) and to match, fit, suit, or be correct (合う). Every meaning explained with example sentences, particle notes, and the 会う vs 合う confusion.
だす (出す): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — だす (出す) means to take out, to submit, to send, to serve, and to show — all from one core image. Every meaning explained with example sentences, collocations, and the 出す vs 出る trap.
はかる (測る・計る・量る): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — はかる means to measure — but which kanji? 測る for length and distance, 計る for time and numbers, 量る for weight and volume. All read はかる; examples and collocations explained.
ひく (引く・弾く): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — ひく is a high-frequency Japanese verb meaning to pull, to look up in a dictionary, to catch a cold, to subtract, to draw a line, and (as 弾く) to play an instrument. Examples included.
いれる (入れる): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — いれる (入れる) means to put in, to make a hot drink, to include, and to turn on. Learn every meaning with examples, key collocations, and how it differs from 入る (はいる).
かえる (帰る・変える): One Sound, Several Kanji (with Examples) — かえる sounds like one word but hides several verbs: 帰る (to go home), 変える (to change), and 換える/替える/代える (to exchange). Each kanji, verb group, and conjugation explained with examples.
かかる (掛かる): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — かかる is a super-versatile intransitive verb — it takes (time/money), hangs on a wall, gets locked, rings in (phone), catches an illness, and starts an engine. Each meaning with examples.
かける (掛ける): One Verb, 10+ Meanings (with Examples) — かける is one of the most versatile verbs in Japanese — to hang, to call (phone), to put on (glasses), to spend, to multiply, and more. Every meaning explained with examples and collocations.
かたい (硬い・固い・堅い): One Sound, Three Kanji — かたい sounds the same but splits into three kanji: 硬い (physically hard), 固い (firm/tight), and 堅い (sturdy/reliable). Each meaning explained with examples and a clear rule of thumb.
かう (買う・飼う): One Sound, Two Verbs (with Examples) — かう sounds like one word but is two verbs: 買う (to buy) and 飼う (to keep a pet). Both are transitive Group 1 う-verbs. Every meaning explained with examples and collocations.
きく (聞く・効く・利く): One Sound, Several Kanji (with Examples) — きく sounds the same but is written three ways: 聞く (to listen / hear / ask), 効く (medicine takes effect), and 利く (a function works). Each meaning explained with examples.
きめる (決める): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — きめる (決める) means to decide, to choose, to fix or set, and to settle. Every meaning is explained with examples, key collocations, and the きめる vs きまる trap.
きる (切る・着る): One Sound, Two Verbs (with Examples) — きる is two different N5 verbs in one sound: 切る (to cut, an う-verb) and 着る (to wear, a ru-verb). Both meanings explained with conjugations, examples, and the clothing-verb family.
まわる (回る): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — まわる (回る) means to spin/rotate, to go around and make the rounds, to take a detour, and (of time) to pass. Every meaning explained with examples, idioms, and its transitive twin 回す.
みつける (見つける): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — みつける (見つける) means to find, discover, or spot something on purpose. Learn how it differs from its intransitive twin 見つかる (to be found / turn up), with examples and collocations.
なく (泣く・鳴く): To Cry (People vs Animals) — なく has two N5 kanji: 泣く (a person cries/weeps) and 鳴く (an animal, bird, or insect makes its cry). Learn the difference, plus the look-alike 無く, with examples.
なおす (直す・治す): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — なおす means to fix or correct (直す) and to cure or heal (治す) — same sound, two kanji. Learn each meaning, the 〜直す 'redo' helper, and the なおる pair, with examples.
のる (乗る): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — のる is a core N5 verb: to ride or board a vehicle (電車に乗る), to take advice (相談に乗る), to get carried away (調子に乗る), and to appear in print (新聞に載る). Explained with examples.
おちる (落ちる): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — おちる (落ちる) means to fall or drop, but also to fail an exam, to decline, and to come off (like a stain). One core image, every meaning explained with examples and its transitive partner 落とす.
おくる (送る・贈る): To Send / To Give a Gift — おくる sounds like one word but splits into two kanji: 送る (to send, to see someone off, to spend a life) and 贈る (to give a gift or honor). Examples, collocations, and how to tell them apart.
さがす (探す・捜す): To Search (Two Kanji) — さがす means to search — but two kanji split the meaning: 探す (look for something you want, like a job) vs 捜す (look for something lost, like a missing wallet). Explained with examples.
すむ (住む・済む): One Sound, Two Verbs (with Examples) — すむ is two different verbs that sound identical: 住む (to live / reside) and 済む (to finish / be settled). Each explained with examples, the に-place rule, 住んでいる, and where すみません comes from.
たつ (立つ): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — たつ means to stand and stand up — but the same sound also writes 建つ (a building stands) and 経つ (time passes). All three meanings explained with examples and collocations.
とどける (届ける): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — とどける (届ける) means to deliver something to a destination and, officially, to report or notify. Learn it with examples and its tricky intransitive twin 届く (to arrive / reach).
とおる (通る): To Pass Through (and 通す・通う) — とおる (通る) means to pass through, go along a route, or pass an exam. Learn it with its transitive twin 通す (to let through) and the related 通う (to commute), with examples.
とる (取る): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — とる is a core N5 verb meaning to take, grab, or pick up — plus to take notes/a vacation, to remove, and (as 撮る) to take a photo. Every meaning explained with examples.
つける (付ける): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — つける means to attach, to turn on (a light), to wear, and to apply — the transitive partner of つく. Every meaning explained with examples, collocations, and the つける vs つく trap.
つく (着く・付く・点く): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — つく splits across three kanji — 着く (to arrive), 付く (to attach/stick/come with), and 点く (a light turns on) — plus idioms like 気がつく. Every meaning explained with examples and its transitive partner つける.
つくる (作る): One Verb, Many Meanings (with Examples) — つくる (作る) means to make, cook, prepare, build, and create — from cooking a meal to making friends to growing vegetables. Every meaning explained with examples and the look-alike kanji 造る・創る.
やめる (止める・辞める): One Sound, Several Verbs (with Examples) — やめる, 辞める, やむ, and とめる all sound or look alike but mean different things — quit an activity, resign a job, stop on its own, or halt something. Each explained clearly with examples.