JLPT N2 Set Phrases & Idioms Vocabulary (2026)
Complete JLPT N2 Set Phrases & Idioms vocabulary with readings and example sentences (79 words).
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This set of 79 N2 expressions is dominated by 慣用句 (fixed body-part idioms) built from words like 気, 目, 手, 腹, 頭 and 足 paired with a verb, such as 気を配る or 手を焼く, alongside a smaller group of formal two-kanji nouns like 解消 and 保留. N2 reading and vocabulary sections lean heavily on recognizing these fixed combinations rather than translating word-for-word, so knowing which verb pairs with which body part is often what separates a right answer from a wrong one.
This article is part of our JLPT N2 Complete Vocabulary Guide. Practice all 79 words with the Set Phrases & Idioms Vocabulary deck in Onigiri Anki.
Mind, Heart & Temper (気・胸・腹) (16)
Idioms built on 気 (spirit/mood), 胸 (chest/heart) and 腹 (belly) that describe motivation, hesitation, anger and being moved emotionally — the 気を/気が pattern alone covers nine entries here and appears constantly in N2 reading and conversation.
気が済むまで、はっきり言ってください。 — Please say it clearly until you feel satisfied.
この大事な点を気に留めてください。 — Please take note of this important point.
上司に聞くのは気が引けます。 — I feel hesitant to ask my boss.
今日は外出する気が進みません。 — I don't really feel like going out today.
お客様の要望に気を配っています。 — I pay attention to customers' requests.
試験に落ちましたが、気を取り直してまた勉強しました。 — After failing the test, I pulled myself together and studied again.
母はいつも人に気を遣っています。 — My mother is always considerate of others.
息子の帰りが遅いので、気を揉んでいます。 — I'm worried because my son is late coming home.
彼は頭を打って気を失いました。 — He lost consciousness after hitting his head.
この日を胸に刻みます。 — I will etch this day in my heart.
彼女のスピーチは私の胸を打ちました。 — Her speech deeply moved me.
自分の仕事に胸を張ってください。 — Please be proud of your work.
ここは腹を割って、この問題を解決しましょう。 — Let's speak frankly and solve this problem.
彼は私の冗談に腹を立てました。 — He got angry at my joke.
その騒音に腹が立ちました。 — I was annoyed by the noise.
昼になると腹が減ります。 — I get hungry around noon.
Eyes, Ears & Mouth (目・耳・口) (13)
Idioms centered on 目 (eyes), 耳 (ears) and 口 (mouth) describing attention, perception and speech — what catches your eye, what you overhear, and when to speak up or hold back — frequent in N2 listening and reading sections.
報告書に目を通しました。 — I quickly glanced through the report.
話している時は口を挟まないでください。 — Please don't interrupt while I am talking.
彼はいつも人のことに口を出します。 — He always meddles in other people's business.
友達にその計画を口にしました。 — I mentioned the plan to my friend.
そのうわさはみんなの口に上っています。 — That rumor is being talked about among everyone.
彼女の話に耳を傾けました。 — I listened attentively to her story.
ニュースで新しい方針を耳にしました。 — I heard about the new policy on the news.
そのカラフルなポスターが目を奪いました。 — The colorful poster was eye-catching.
その明るい看板は目を引きます。 — The bright sign attracts attention.
環境問題に目を向けました。 — I turned my attention to the environment.
先生は私たちのミスに目をつぶりました。 — The teacher turned a blind eye to our mistake.
警備員が入口に目を光らせています。 — The security guard keeps a close watch on the entrance.
なくした鍵のありかに目星をつけました。 — I made a guess about where the missing keys might be.
Hands, Skill & Vivid Action (手・腕・風・水・舌) (12)
Expressions built on 手 (hand) and 腕 (arm) for practical effort and skill, plus a handful of non-body idioms — 風 (wind), 水 (water) and 舌 (tongue) — used the same fixed-phrase way to describe brisk action, momentum or astonishment.
毎日忙しくて、細かい作業まで手が回らないんです。 — I'm so busy every day that I can't get around to the detailed work.
彼の早い返事に舌を巻きました。 — I was amazed by his quick answer.
その料理人は腕を振るって、おいしい料理を作りました。 — The chef showed his skill and made a great dish.
問題が大きくなる前に、手を打ちました。 — We took action before the problem got worse.
引っ越しで、少し手を貸してください。 — Could you lend me a hand with the move?
仕事で手を抜かないでください。 — Please don't cut corners on your work.
私は弟のことに手を焼くことがあります。 — I sometimes have trouble with my younger brother.
私たちはけが人を助けるために手を尽くしました。 — We did everything possible to save the injured person.
会社はその計画から手を引きました。 — The company withdrew from the project.
あのけんかは水に流しましょう。 — Let's forget and forgive that argument.
新しい商品は風に乗って広がっています。 — The new product is gaining momentum.
選手たちは風を切って道を走りました。 — The athletes sped along the road.
Head, Shoulders & Face — Social Standing (頭・肩・顔) (9)
Idioms using 頭 (head), 肩 (shoulders) and 顔 (face) to talk about pride, reputation and social standing — bowing, saving face, looking dejected — themes that recur in N2 passages about workplace and interpersonal relationships.
このルールを頭に入れておいてください。 — Please keep this rule in mind.
彼女の英語は、私と肩を並べるほど上手です。 — Her English is on par with mine.
彼は先生に頭を下げました。 — He bowed to the teacher.
その問題が私の頭を悩ませています。 — That problem has been bothering me.
結果を聞いて、彼女は肩を落としました。 — She looked dejected after hearing the result.
私は彼の肩を持ちません。 — I will not side with him.
彼はパーティーに少し顔を出しました。 — He stopped by the party for a little while.
彼女は友人の顔を立てました。 — She saved her friend's face.
その失敗は部長の顔をつぶしました。 — That mistake embarrassed the manager.
Feet, Hips & Commitment (足・腰・身・首) (12)
Idioms with 足 (feet/legs), 腰 (hips/lower back), 身 (body/self) and 首 (neck) describing commitment, posture and figurative movement, from settling into a task (腰を据える) to getting involved where you shouldn't (首を突っ込む).
引っ越しのあと、腰を据えて働き始めました。 — After the move, I settled down and started working.
今日から勉強に身を入れます。 — I will apply myself to my studies from today.
その事件のあと、部長は身を引きました。 — The manager stepped down after the incident.
その危険を身をもって知りました。 — I learned the danger personally.
日曜日に美術館へ足を運びました。 — I made a trip to the museum on Sunday.
帰りに本屋に足を止めました。 — I stopped by the bookstore on the way home.
その二つの会社は、計画で足並みをそろえました。 — The two companies coordinated their efforts on the project.
帰りに近くの公園まで足を伸ばしました。 — On the way home, we stretched out to a nearby park.
説明が分からず、彼は首をかしげました。 — He tilted his head because the explanation was hard to understand.
他人のことに首を突っ込まないでください。 — Don't poke your nose into other people's business.
急な知らせに腰を抜かしました。 — I was stunned by the sudden news.
休みの後で、やっと腰を上げて勉強しました。 — After the holiday, I finally got moving and started studying.
Business & Formal Compound Nouns (17)
Two-character Sino-Japanese compound nouns common in formal writing, news and business Japanese — cancellation, postponement, consent and related administrative concepts — that round out the N2 vocabulary section alongside the idioms above.
報告書を終えて、手応えを感じました。 — I felt a sense of accomplishment after finishing the report.
今日は雨が降る見込みは低いです。 — There is a low prospect of rain today.
予定を見直しました。 — I reviewed the schedule again.
けんかは解消して、気持ちが楽になりました。 — The argument was resolved, and I felt relieved.
会議は急な電話で中断されました。 — The meeting was interrupted by an urgent phone call.
試合は来週まで延期になりました。 — The game has been postponed until next week.
その件はまだ保留です。 — The decision is still pending.
その写真を使うことについて、彼の承諾を得ました。 — We received his consent to use the photo.
肝心なのは、健康を保つことです。 — The most important thing is to stay healthy.
彼の言葉がお世辞だとすぐに分かりました。 — I could tell it was flattery.
友人のお見舞いに病院へ行きました。 — I went to the hospital to visit my friend.
彼の行方はまだ分かりません。 — We still don't know his whereabouts.
大雨で電車が足止めされました。 — The train was delayed by heavy rain.
努力が空回りしているようです。 — My efforts are going nowhere.
二つの報告書には食い違いがありました。 — There was a discrepancy between the two reports.
車が道の真ん中で立ち往生しました。 — The car stalled in the middle of the road.
よく考えて、その引き受けをしました。 — I accepted the undertaking after thinking it over.
を vs が: agency in body-part idioms
A clear pattern splits many of these idioms by the particle before the verb. Idioms with を put the subject in control of the body part — 気を配る (pay attention), 手を貸す (lend a hand), 腹を立てる (make oneself angry) — while the が versions describe a feeling that simply arises on its own: 気が引ける (feel hesitant), 気が進む (feel inclined), 腹が立つ (become annoyed). 腹を立てる and 腹が立つ mean almost the same thing but differ in exactly this way, and N2 listening questions often hinge on telling them apart. The list also has a built-in antonym pair worth learning together: 顔を立てる (save someone's face) and 顔をつぶす (make someone lose face) use the same body part for opposite social outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does N2 vocabulary rely so heavily on body-part idioms?
Japanese uses 慣用句 (kan'yōku) — fixed phrases combining a body-part noun with a verb — as its main way of expressing subtle mental and social states, similar to how English relies on phrasal verbs. This list alone draws on nine different body parts, from 目を光らせる (keep a close watch) to 腰を上げる (finally get moving), and these can't be guessed from the individual kanji meanings, which is exactly why the exam tests them directly.
What's the difference between idioms like 気を配る and formal nouns like 解消 or 保留?
The idioms are conversational and show up in dialogue and narrative reading passages, while words like 解消, 中断, 延期, 保留 and 承諾 are Sino-Japanese nouns typical of news articles, business emails and formal announcements. Both registers appear on the N2 exam, so this set deliberately covers both rather than treating them as separate study lists.
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