JLPT N2 Vocabulary: When I Realized I’d Bitten Off More Than I Could Chew
So you crushed N3 and thought, “Hey, I’m getting pretty good at this Japanese thing!” Then you started looking into N2 and—wait, what? How many words now?
I’m sitting here, six months post-N2 exam, looking back at my Anki stats, and I still can’t quite believe what I put myself through. If you’re reading this because you just googled “N2 vocabulary count” and are having a mild panic attack, I get it. I’ve been exactly where you are.
Let me give you the reality check I wish someone had given me, along with the encouragement I desperately needed during those dark, vocabulary-filled months.
The Number That Made Me Question Everything
6,000 to 7,000 words.
When I first saw this number, I literally closed my laptop and walked away. That’s not a typo—we’re talking about roughly quadrupling your N3 vocabulary. I remember sitting there thinking, “Do I even know 7,000 words in English?”
For perspective, N3 was around 1,500 words. N2? We’re talking about learning an entire small dictionary. I spent a week in denial before accepting that this was really happening.
The cruel irony? Still no official list from JEES. We’re all just collectively agreeing on this number based on textbook analysis and the shared trauma of past test-takers. But trust me, after going through multiple practice tests and the real exam, that 6,000-7,000 range feels spot-on.
When Japanese Gets Seriously Adult
Here’s what nobody prepared me for: N2 vocabulary isn’t just “more words.” It’s where Japanese stops being a cute hobby and becomes a serious language skill.
Business vocabulary became my nemesis. Words like 勤務 (kinmu – duty) and 政府 (seifu – government) made me realize I was no longer learning Japanese for anime and travel—I was learning it for actual adult life in Japan.
Abstract concepts nearly broke my brain. 判断 (handan – judgment) and 提案 (teian – proposal) aren’t just vocabulary words—they’re tools for complex thinking and communication. This is when I realized I wasn’t just learning words; I was learning to think in Japanese.
Formal expressions made me feel like a fraud. ～に関して (ni kanshite – regarding) and ～次第 (shidai – depending on) are the kind of expressions that separate “I can get by in Japanese” from “I can actually function professionally in Japanese.”
News vocabulary hit different. Learning words like 記者 (kisha – reporter) and 報告 (houkoku – report) meant I could finally understand Japanese news without feeling completely lost. But it also meant Japanese current events became part of my study routine.
Emotional and psychological vocabulary got deep. 感情 (kanjou – emotion) and 緊張 (kinchou – nervousness) aren’t just words—they’re keys to understanding nuanced human experiences in Japanese.
Why N2 Vocabulary Is Your Make-or-Break Moment
I thought my grammar skills would carry me through N2 like they did for N3. I was so wrong it’s almost funny.
At this level, vocabulary is everything. The reading passages expect you to understand formal reports, academic papers, and news articles. The listening sections throw business meetings, university lectures, and complex conversations at you. Without the vocabulary, even perfect grammar won’t save you.
I learned this during my first practice test when I encountered a passage about environmental policy. I could parse every grammatical structure perfectly, but I was missing 40% of the meaning because I didn’t know half the vocabulary. It was a humbling wake-up call.
How I Survived 7,000 Words (And Why You Can Too)
Anki became my full-time job. I’m not exaggerating—I was doing 300-400 reviews a day at peak times. I set up multiple decks: core vocabulary, business terms, news vocabulary, and formal expressions. It was overwhelming, but it worked.
Themed studying saved my sanity. Instead of random word lists, I used resources like Nihongo Tango N2 that group vocabulary by topic. Learning business words together, then environmental vocabulary, then psychological terms—it actually stuck better than random drilling.
Real Japanese media became mandatory. NHK News Web became my morning routine. Japanese podcasts filled my commute. YouTube channels about everything from cooking to economics became study material. If it was in Japanese, I was consuming it.
Writing became my secret weapon. I started keeping a daily journal in Japanese, forcing myself to use new vocabulary actively. Writing opinion essays about current events using N2 vocabulary was painful but incredibly effective.
Grammar and vocabulary fusion changed everything. I realized I couldn’t separate them anymore. Learning ～に関して wasn’t just about memorizing the meaning—it was about understanding how it functions in formal writing and when to use it vs. alternatives.
The Breakdown and Breakthrough
Around month four of serious N2 prep, I hit a wall. I was forgetting words as fast as I was learning them. My Anki reviews were taking hours. I started dreaming in vocabulary flashcards.
That’s when I almost quit.
But then something clicked. I was reading a news article about climate change, and I realized I understood it. Not just the gist—I actually understood the nuanced arguments, the formal language, the complex vocabulary. All those months of grinding had accumulated into real comprehension.
The Tools That Actually Worked (After Much Trial and Error)
What carried me through: Anki for daily grinding (obviously), but Kitsun and Torii when I needed different review styles. Shin Kanzen Master N2 and Sou Matome became my bibles.
Apps that surprised me: BunPro for seeing vocabulary in grammar context, and honestly, just consuming massive amounts of real Japanese content through YouTube and news sites.
What didn’t work: Trying to learn 50 new words a day (burnout city), and apps that were too gamified for this level of serious vocabulary.
Reality check: I probably spent 2-3 hours a day on vocabulary for about 8 months. That’s not including grammar or listening practice. N2 is a serious time commitment.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
First, 6,000-7,000 words takes time. A lot of time. Don’t try to rush it. I gave myself almost a year of serious prep, and I barely felt ready.
Second, you’ll forget things. A lot of things. I’d learn a word, use it in three sentences, review it for a week, and then blank on it during a practice test. That’s normal. Trust the process.
Third, this is where vocabulary becomes genuinely useful. These aren’t just test words—they’re life words. Business communication, academic reading, understanding news, engaging in complex conversations—this vocabulary unlocks real participation in Japanese society.
The Real Talk About N2
JLPT N2 is where Japanese study becomes a lifestyle. The vocabulary load is massive, the complexity is real, and yes, it will test your commitment to learning this language.
But here’s what made it worth it: after passing N2, I could read Japanese novels, understand university lectures, participate in business meetings, and engage with Japanese culture at a level I never imagined possible.
The vocabulary you learn for N2 isn’t just about passing a test—it’s about becoming genuinely bilingual. These words let you access Japanese intellectual discourse, professional communication, and cultural nuance.
Is it overwhelming? Absolutely. Will there be days when you question your life choices? Definitely. But will you emerge on the other side with language skills that actually matter in the real world? 100%.
You’re Tougher Than You Think
If you made it through N3, you’ve already proven you can handle serious Japanese study. N2 is bigger, harder, and more demanding, but it’s not impossible.
Seven thousand words might sound impossible now, but remember—you’re not learning them all at once. You’re learning 10-20 at a time, day after day, month after month. And one day you’ll wake up and realize you actually know them.
The view from the other side of N2 is incredible. You’ll read Japanese books for pleasure, understand complex TV shows, and have deep conversations about topics that matter. Every single one of those 7,000 words is a step toward genuine fluency.
Take a deep breath, open your flashcard app, and get started. The mountain is high, but the summit is worth every step.