JLPT N1 Science & Technology Vocabulary (2026)
Complete JLPT N1 Science & Technology vocabulary with readings and example sentences (65 words).
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This category collects 65 advanced N1 words drawn from physics, electronics, materials science, and computing, the technical register used in science journalism, engineering documentation, and the abstract reading passages that distinguish N1 from N2. Many of these words rarely surface in conversational Japanese but recur throughout N1 reading comprehension sections built around technology and scientific explanation.
This article is part of our JLPT N1 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 65 words with the Science & Technology Vocabulary deck in Onigiri Anki.
Physics & Electromagnetic Phenomena (15)
Core physics vocabulary covering waves, fields, and particles, which is the register N1 reading passages use for popular-science explanations of technologies like superconductors or optical instruments.
波形が画面に表示された。 — The waveform was displayed on the screen.
電波は周囲の機器の干渉を受けることがある。 — Radio waves can be affected by interference from nearby devices.
このガラスは光をほとんど透過する。 — This glass transmits almost all light.
太陽光の反射がまぶしかった。 — The reflection of sunlight was dazzling.
電磁波は通信にも使われている。 — Electromagnetic waves are also used in communication.
看護師は患者を誘導した。 — The nurse guided the patient.
その橋は共振で崩れた。 — The bridge collapsed due to resonance.
量子の理論は理解が難しい。 — Quantum theory is difficult to understand.
研究者は学生たちに素粒子を説明した。 — The researcher explained elementary particles to the students.
彼は大学で流体力学を専攻した。 — He majored in fluid dynamics at university.
その研究室では低温下で超伝導の研究をしている。 — The laboratory is researching superconductivity at low temperatures.
その材料は加熱すると発光した。 — The material began to emit light when heated.
その実験は真空中で行われた。 — The experiment was conducted in a vacuum.
粒子は散乱して広がります。 — The particles spread by scattering.
その物体に電荷が蓄えられました。 — An electric charge was accumulated in the object.
Electronics, Circuits & Power (11)
Terms for electronic components, conduction, and power systems that appear constantly in N1 passages about energy infrastructure, batteries, and consumer electronics.
情報は一か所に集積されている。 — The information has been accumulated in one place.
この材料では伝熱が思ったより速い。 — Heat transfer in this material is surprisingly fast.
金属を温めると熱伝導が高まる。 — When metal is heated, thermal conduction increases.
感電を防ぐために絶縁が重要だ。 — Insulation is important to prevent electric shock.
このワイヤーは導電性が高い。 — This wire has high electrical conductivity.
半導体はスマートフォンに欠かせない。 — Semiconductors are indispensable for smartphones.
集積回路はさらに小さくなった。 — The integrated circuit became even smaller.
この回路は単純だが、よく動く。 — This circuit is simple, but it works well.
新しい発電所が発電を開始した。 — The new power plant started generating electricity.
この電池は蓄電容量が大きい。 — This battery has a large storage capacity.
コンデンサーがすぐに放電した。 — The capacitor discharged quickly.
Materials & Structural Properties (11)
Vocabulary describing how materials withstand stress, heat, and structural demands, essential for N1 passages on manufacturing, product durability, and materials science.
この反応では、酵素が触媒として働く。 — The enzyme acts as a catalyst for this reaction.
人によって、ストレスに対する耐性は違う。 — People differ in their resistance to stress.
この橋は地震にも耐えうる堅牢な構造です。 — This bridge has a robust structure that can withstand earthquakes.
この顕微鏡は材料の微細な構造を映し出します。 — The microscope shows the fine-scale structure of the material.
結果は微小な変化でも左右されます。 — Even minute changes can affect the result.
その試料は均質で、比較しやすいです。 — The samples are homogeneous and easy to compare.
この工場は多層構造を採用して、断熱性を高めている。 — This factory has adopted a multilayer structure to improve thermal insulation.
この塗料は耐熱性に優れている。 — This coating has excellent heat resistance.
地震で壁が破壊された。 — The earthquake caused the wall to be destroyed.
新しい電車は流線形をしている。 — The new train is streamlined.
彼は瓶を密閉した。 — He sealed the bottle airtight.
Measurement, Detection & Data Analysis (10)
Precision and measurement vocabulary used throughout N1 passages that discuss sensors, quality control, and statistical reasoning about experimental data.
そのシステムは異常をすぐに検知した。 — The system quickly detected the abnormality.
この機械は高精度な測定を行えます。 — This machine can perform high-precision measurements.
その系は臨界点付近で不安定になった。 — The system became unstable near the critical point.
二つの測定値には大きな偏差があった。 — There was a large deviation between the two measurements.
計算にはまだ誤差がある。 — There is still some error in the calculation.
必要なデータだけを抽出した。 — We extracted only the necessary data.
日々の練習で知識が蓄積された。 — Knowledge accumulated through daily practice.
その点は異常値として扱われた。 — That point was treated as an outlier.
この装置では信号処理が重要だ。 — In this device, signal processing is important.
私たちは工事の前に測量を行っている。 — We are conducting a survey before construction.
Automation, AI & Control Systems (11)
Vocabulary for automated and intelligent systems, the core register for N1 passages on robotics, self-driving vehicles, and software reliability.
安全な制動には、しっかりしたブレーキ操作が必要だ。 — Safe braking requires solid brake operation.
そのネットワークは、十分な冗長性を持たせて設計された。 — The network was designed with enough redundancy.
その説明は冗長だ。 — That explanation is redundant.
データは逐次処理される。 — The data are processed sequentially.
安全のために冗長経路が用意されている。 — Redundant paths are provided for safety.
倒れた木が障害物になった。 — A fallen tree became an obstacle.
機械学習は今、多くの分野で使われている。 — Machine learning is now used in many fields.
人工知能が私たちの仕事を効率よくしている。 — Artificial intelligence is helping us work more efficiently.
このロボットは自律して動く。 — This robot operates autonomously.
医師は遠隔診療で患者を診察した。 — The doctor examined the patient via remote consultation.
二つのシステムの同期は完了しました。 — The synchronization of the two systems was complete.
R&D Lifecycle & General Descriptors (7)
General-purpose engineering descriptors and product-development terms that recur across nearly every N1 science and technology passage regardless of the specific subject matter.
これは汎用の道具で、さまざまな場面で使えます。 — This is a general-purpose tool that can be used in many situations.
その方針の変更は、業界全体に波及効果をもたらした。 — The policy change had a ripple effect across the entire industry.
新しい技術で、効率が飛躍的に向上した。 — The new technology improved efficiency dramatically.
電気代を抑えるため、高効率なシステムが必要です。 — We need a high-efficiency system to reduce electricity costs.
何度も修正して、設計を完成させた。 — We completed the design after many revisions.
まず試作を作ってから改良した。 — We made a prototype first and then improved it.
新型は来月から量産に入る。 — The new model will go into mass production next month.
冗長 means something different in an engineering sentence than in a conversation
In everyday Japanese, 冗長 (jouchou) is mildly critical: a report or speech described as 冗長 is padded and long-winded. In this word set, however, 冗長 and its derivatives 冗長性 (redundancy as a system property) and 冗長経路 (redundant path, e.g. a backup network route) carry no negative meaning at all — they describe deliberately duplicated components built in for fail-safety. A learner who only knows the conversational sense will misread 冗長性の高いシステム as criticism of bad design, when it actually praises a system's resilience. This split reading is worth internalizing before tackling any N1 passage on infrastructure, aviation, or software architecture, where 冗長 shows up almost exclusively in its positive engineering sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 微細 and 微小? Both get translated as 'tiny.'
微細 (bisai) emphasizes fineness of structure or detail, as in 微細な加工 (fine-scale machining) or fine surface texture. 微小 (bishou) emphasizes smallness of magnitude or scale, as in a 微小な誤差 (minute error) or a 微小な粒子 (tiny particle). In this list, 微細 fits naturally with 多層 in precision-manufacturing contexts, while 微小 fits with 誤差 and 偏差 in measurement contexts.
偏差 and 誤差 both appear in this list and both get glossed as 'error' — what's the actual difference?
誤差 (gosa) is the discrepancy between a measured value and the true or expected value, such as instrument error. 偏差 (hensa) is how far a data point sits from a reference point like a mean, and is the term behind 標準偏差 (standard deviation). A passage on a sensor system might use 誤差 for the sensor's inherent inaccuracy and 偏差 for how individual readings scatter around the norm, both in the same sentence with different roles.
Practice All 65 Science & Technology Vocabulary Words
Import the Science & Technology Vocabulary deck into Onigiri Anki and master this category with spaced repetition.