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JLPT N1 Set Phrases & Formal Expressions Vocabulary (2026)

Complete JLPT N1 Set Phrases & Formal Expressions vocabulary with readings and example sentences (75 words).

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75 expressions spanning two distinct registers: classical idiomatic phrases (many built on body-part or nature imagery) and the formal set phrases of Japanese business writing — both essential for reading news, workplace emails, and formal speeches at the N1 level.

This article is part of our JLPT N1 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 75 words with the Set Phrases & Formal Expressions Vocabulary deck in Onigiri Anki.

Confrontation, Provocation & Escalation (11)

Idioms for making a tense situation worse — or finally reacting to one.

spur on拍車をかけるhakushaokakeru

新しい方針が改革に拍車をかけた。 — The new policy spurred the reform on.

add fuel to the fire火に油を注ぐhiniaburaososogu

彼の不用意な一言が、火に油を注いだ。 — His careless remark only added fuel to the fire.

grow impatient業を煮やすgouoniyasu

彼の返事の遅さに、業を煮やした。 — I grew impatient with his slow answer.

spoil; dampen水を差すmizuosasu

余計な口出しをして、場に水を差さないでくれ。 — Don't spoil the atmosphere with unnecessary interference.

show someone up鼻をあかすhanaoakasu

新人が予想以上の活躍を見せて、先輩の鼻をあかした。 — The rookie surprised everyone and showed up the veteran.

turn one's criticism toward矛先を向けるhokosakiomukeru

彼は政府に矛先を向けました。 — He turned his criticism toward the government.

cause a ripple effect波紋を呼ぶhamonoyobu

その発表は社内に波紋を呼びました。 — The announcement caused a stir within the company.

raise an objection異論を唱えるironotonaeru

彼はその計画に異論を唱えた。 — He raised an objection to that plan.

object; dissent異を唱えるiotonaeru

彼女はその計画に異を唱えた。 — She objected to the plan.

underestimate高をくくるtakaokukuru

若いからといって、彼女を高をくくるな。 — Don't underestimate her just because she's young.

frank; blunt歯に衣着せぬhanikinukisenu

彼女は歯に衣着せぬ物言いで、思ったことをはっきり言った。 — She was frank and said exactly what she thought.

Speaking Plainly, Persuading & Explaining (11)

How something is said — bluntly, fluently, or with careful diplomacy.

say all one has to say意を尽くすiotsukusu

彼は意を尽くして説明した。 — He explained it in full, leaving nothing unsaid.

teach one's grandmother to suck eggs釈迦に説法shakaniseppou

その規則を彼に説明するのは、釈迦に説法だ。 — Explaining that rule to him would be teaching grandma to suck eggs.

open the proceedings口火を切るkuchibiokiru

部長が短いあいさつで口火を切った。 — The manager kicked things off with a short greeting.

fluently; at length立て板に水tateitanimizu

証人は立て板に水のように、次々と質問に答えた。 — The witness spoke fluently and answered questions one after another.

rigid; by the book杓子定規shakushijougi

彼の杓子定規な対応では、みんなが困ります。 — His rigid response causes trouble for everyone.

be consistent; act properly筋を通すsujiotoosu

約束をしたなら、筋を通すべきです。 — If you make a promise, you should keep it.

superficially polite慇懃無礼inginburei

彼の慇懃無礼な態度には、少しも好感が持てない。 — I cannot feel any liking for his superficially polite attitude.

draw a clear line一線を画すissenokakusu

その会社は仕事と私生活を一線を画している。 — The company draws a clear line between work and private life.

remind firmly念を押すnenoosu

私は彼に、必ずドアを閉めるよう念を押した。 — I firmly reminded him to close the door.

make the books balance帳尻を合わせるchoujirioawaseru

最後に数字を調整して、帳尻を合わせた。 — They adjusted the numbers at the end to make the books balance.

originate from端を発するtanohassuru

その争いは一つのうわさに端を発した。 — The dispute originated from a single rumor.

Restraint, Discretion & Commitment (11)

Idioms about holding back, deciding, or fully committing to something.

leave room for余地を残すyochionokosu

将来の変更のために、余地を残した。 — We left room for future changes.

set a prospect; set a target目途を立てるmedootateru

計画を始める前に、目途を立てる必要がある。 — We need to set a prospect before starting the project.

be on the back foot後手に回るgotenimawaru

後半はずっと後手に回っていた。 — We were on the back foot throughout the second half.

make up one's mind腹をくくるharaokukuru

私は腹をくくって、彼女に謝った。 — I made up my mind and apologized to her.

overlook; make allowances大目に見るoomenimiru

今回はそのミスを大目に見てください。 — Please overlook this one mistake.

be problematic; inconvenient差し障りがあるsashisawarigaaru

ここでこの話をするのは差し障りがあります。 — It would be problematic to discuss this here.

reach a compromise折り合いをつけるoriaiotsukeru

長い話し合いの末、両者は折り合いをつけました。 — They reached a compromise after a long discussion.

not give a second thought一顧だにしないikkodanishinai

彼はそのうわさを一顧だにしなかった。 — He didn't give the rumor a second thought.

be among; be listed名を連ねるnaotsuraneru

彼女は講演者の一人として名を連ねています。 — She is listed as one of the speakers.

be highly accomplished堂に入るdouniiru

彼は英語を堂に入った調子で話します。 — He speaks English in a highly accomplished manner.

keep an eye out目を配るmeokubaru

不審な人がいないか、周囲に目を配ってください。 — Please keep an eye out for suspicious people.

Opportunity, Influence & Social Maneuvering (8)

The idioms of getting things done through timing and relationships.

feel tempted食指が動くshokushigaugoku

その条件に、つい食指が動いた。 — I was tempted by those conditions.

a decisive word鶴の一声tsurunohitokoe

最後は部長の鶴の一声で決まりました。 — A single decisive word from the director settled the matter.

preliminary groundwork根回しnemawashi

その案を出す前に、関係者へ根回しをしました。 — I did some groundwork before proposing the plan.

official approvalお墨付きosumitsuki

この製品は国のお墨付きが出ました。 — This product received official government approval.

attract attention耳目を集めるjimokuoatsumeru

その新しいビルは耳目を集めた。 — The new building attracted attention.

bargaining; tactics駆け引きkakehiki

交渉では、駆け引きが重要です。 — In negotiations, tactics are important.

play a useful roleひと役買うhitoyakukau

彼女の助言が、決断にひと役買いました。 — Her advice played a useful role in the decision.

rumor; talk取り沙汰torizata

彼が近く辞任するという取り沙汰がある。 — There has been talk that he will resign soon.

Everyday Fixed Expressions (6)

Common set phrases outside the formal-business register.

anti-climax; letdown拍子抜けhyoushinuke

結果があまりにも簡単で、拍子抜けしました。 — The result was so easy that it was a letdown.

verbal promise口約束kuchiyakusoku

口約束だけでは足りません。 — A verbal promise is not enough.

mere theory机上の空論kijounokuuron

その政策は机上の空論に終わった。 — That policy ended up being nothing more than a theoretical idea.

one's heart's desire本懐honkai

その神社を訪れるのが、私の本懐だった。 — Finally visiting that shrine was the fulfillment of my heart's desire.

a tinge of一抹のichimatsuno

今でも、一抹の後悔が残っている。 — Even now, I still feel a tinge of regret.

bolt from the blue青天の霹靂seitennohekireki

彼の転勤は青天の霹靂だった。 — His transfer came as a bolt from the blue.

Formal Regret, Apology & Caution (10)

The vocabulary of official apologies and careful, hedged commitments.

regret; disappointment遺憾ikan

返事が遅れたことは遺憾です。 — We regret that the reply was delayed.

expression of regret遺憾の意ikannoi

会社は遺憾の意を表明した。 — The company issued an expression of regret.

most regrettable遺憾千万ikansenban

彼の突然の辞任は遺憾千万である。 — His sudden resignation is most regrettable.

truly regrettable誠に遺憾makotoniikan

今回の遅れは誠に遺憾です。 — We find this delay truly regrettable.

formal apology陳謝chinsha

会社は不手際について、正式に陳謝した。 — The company formally apologized for the mishandling.

appropriate handling善処zensho

その件は善処してください。 — Please handle the matter appropriately.

act with due caution慎重を期すshinchouokisu

慎重を期して、書類をもう一度確認します。 — We will check the documents again, taking due caution.

unavoidableやむを得ないyamuoenai

イベントを中止するのはやむを得なかった。 — Canceling the event was unavoidable.

be pressing; imminent差し迫るsashisemaru

報告書の締め切りが差し迫っている。 — The deadline for the report is pressing.

premature尚早shousou

今判断するのは尚早です。 — It is premature to judge now.

Business & Formal Announcement Phrases (12)

Set phrases from Japanese business email and formal written communication.

rough estimate概算gaisan

費用の概算は予想より少なかった。 — The rough estimate was lower than expected.

prearranged course既定路線kiteirosen

合併は既定路線として進められた。 — The merger was carried out as a foregone conclusion.

thorough notification周知徹底shuuchitettei

ルールの周知徹底を図ります。 — We will make sure the rules are thoroughly communicated.

as promptly as possible可及的速やかにkakyuutekisumiyakani

できるだけ可及的速やかにご返信ください。 — Please reply as promptly as possible.

consider positively前向きに検討するmaemukinikentousuru

その提案は前向きに検討します。 — We will consider it positively.

retroactive application遡及sokyuu

新しい規則は遡及して適用される。 — The new rule will be applied retroactively.

unfinished未了miryou

報告書はまだ未了です。 — The report is still unfinished.

submission to deliberation付議fugi

その提案は次の会議に付議される。 — The proposal will be submitted for discussion at the next meeting.

mention言及genkyuu

彼は演説でその問題に言及した。 — He mentioned the issue in his speech.

impressions所感shokan

旅行についての所感をうかがいました。 — I asked for your impressions about the trip.

urgent至急shikyuu

至急、ご返信ください。 — Please reply urgently.

take every precaution万全を期すbanzenokisu

発売前に万全を期します。 — We will take every precaution before the launch.

Formal Character & Manner (6)

Words for describing someone's conduct or bearing in formal registers.

noble and lofty高邁koumai

彼は高邁な理想を語った。 — He spoke of noble and lofty ideals.

fair and upright公明正大koumeiseidai

彼は公明正大に調査を進めた。 — He handled the investigation in a fair and upright manner.

special; exceptional格別kakubetsu

このお茶には格別の香りがある。 — This tea has a special aroma.

though humble微力ながらbiryokunagara

微力ながら、お手伝いさせていただきます。 — Though I am of humble ability, I will do my best to help.

modestly speaking手前味噌ながらtemaemisonagara

手前味噌ながら、この案はうまくいく。 — Modestly speaking, this plan will work.

omission遺漏irou

その書類には遺漏があった。 — There were omissions in the document.

Idiom register vs. business-email register

This list genuinely mixes two different kinds of formality. Expressions like 火に油を注ぐ (to add fuel to the fire), 立て板に水 (fluent as water down a board), and 鶴の一声 (a crane's single cry — one authoritative word that settles everything) are traditional idioms you might hear in a speech or read in a novel. By contrast, 前向きに検討する (to consider positively), 可及的速やかに (as promptly as possible), and 万全を期す (to take every precaution) are stock business-formal phrases you'll meet almost verbatim in corporate announcements and government notices — they read as slightly hollow, deliberately non-committal language, similar to how "we will look into this" functions in English corporate-speak. Recognizing which register a phrase belongs to helps you judge the tone of a passage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 陳謝 and the more common 謝罪?

謝罪 (already known from N2) is the general word for apologizing. 陳謝 is a more formal, often public apology — the kind given by an official or company representative at a press conference, explicitly stating regret for a specific fault. It's the word you'll see in news headlines about corporate scandals.

How is 遺憾 used differently from a normal apology?

遺憾 (regret) is a classic diplomatic and corporate hedge word — it expresses regret about a situation without necessarily admitting fault or apologizing outright, which is why 遺憾の意を表明する ("to express regret") is common in political statements where a direct apology would be too strong an admission.

Practice All 75 Set Phrases & Formal Expressions Vocabulary Words

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