Every JLPT test-taker meets words they do not know. That is not a sign you are unprepared; at every level, the reading section is designed so that you will not recognize everything. What matters is whether one unknown word stops you or whether you can keep going.
This guide gives you a repeatable way to handle unfamiliar words under time pressure.
First, decide whether the word matters
Not every unknown word needs to be understood. Before you start decoding, ask:
- Is it in the question or the answer choices? Then it probably matters.
- Is it in the passage, but not near the sentence the question asks about? Then it probably does not.
- Is it a name, a place, or a technical term the passage explains? Then you can often skip it.
Learning to ignore the right words is as valuable as decoding the right ones.
Technique 1: Use the kanji
Even if you do not know a word, you may know its parts. Combine them.
- 到着 — you may know 着 (arrive), so a word about arriving.
- 利用者 — 利用 (use) plus 者 (person): a user.
- 無料 — 無 (without) plus 料 (fee): free of charge.
Kanji that share meaning across compounds are an enormous help. This is part of the case for learning components, as described in learning kanji with radicals.
Technique 2: Use the surrounding words
Japanese often repeats ideas or contrasts them, so nearby words constrain meaning.
彼は部屋が散らかっているので、いつも探し物をしている。
Even without knowing 散らかっている, the clause "he's always looking for things" suggests the room is messy. That is the meaning.
Look for connectives that signal relationships:
- しかし, でも, ところが — contrast
- だから, そのため, したがって — result
- たとえば, 例えば — example
- つまり, すなわち — restatement
If the sentence after つまり restates the sentence before it, the unknown word probably means what the restatement says.
Technique 3: Use the grammar
Parts of speech give strong clues.
- A word followed by を and a verb is probably a noun (object).
- A word before だ/です is a noun or na-adjective.
- A word ending in い before a noun is probably an i-adjective.
- A word ending in く before a verb is probably an adverb form.
Knowing the grammatical role narrows your guess. If you are still building this base, the JLPT N5 grammar checklist is a good map of the fundamentals.
Technique 4: Use positive or negative tone
Many passages have a clear emotional direction. Look at nearby words:
- Positive: 嬉しい, 便利, 素晴らしい, おかげで
- Negative: 困る, 残念, 不便, せいで
If an unknown word sits in a clearly positive sentence, guess positive. This will not give you the exact meaning, but it is often enough to choose between answer options.
Technique 5: Eliminate answers
You do not always need the exact meaning. Often the answers differ in obvious ways:
- Cross out options that contradict the passage.
- Cross out options that use extreme words (必ず, 全部, 絶対) unless the passage does.
- Between the remaining options, choose the one that best matches your guess.
What not to do
- Do not freeze. Spending a minute on one word costs you the next question.
- Do not change the passage's meaning to fit your guess. If your guess creates a contradiction, discard it.
- Do not skip the question. An educated guess is better than a blank.
Build the skill outside the exam
Guessing from context is a skill, and skills improve with practice.
- Read at the right level. Material where you know 90–95% of words trains inference without frustration. See extensive reading in Japanese.
- Practice under timed conditions. The pressure is part of the challenge, and a timed practice session reveals whether your technique holds up.
- Review after. Look up the words you guessed, check whether you were right, and write down patterns you missed. A mistake log is ideal for this.
For a closer look at what the reading section expects at the entry level, the N5 reading strategy covers the basics, and the JLPT preparation guide puts everything in order.
Practice with explanations
JLPT Ready's Dojo Practice mode removes time pressure and explains every answer, so you can see exactly why a guess was right or wrong. When you are ready for pressure, Real Exam mode is timed and scored like the official structure for the level. You can start free with N5 and try both.