Mastering a language like Japanese at the B2 level involves a solid understanding of both everyday vocabulary and more nuanced terms that help in expressing complex thoughts. At this stage, your goal is to enhance your conversational skills, improve reading comprehension, and gain the ability to express yourself in various contexts. To help you on this journey, I’ve compiled a list of 50 essential words that you need to know. These words cover a range of categories, including verbs, adjectives, nouns, and adverbs, and will significantly boost your proficiency.

Verbs

1. **説明する (setsumei suru)** – To explain
– Example: 彼は新しいプロジェクトについて**説明した**。 (Kare wa atarashī purojekuto ni tsuite setsumei shita.) – He explained the new project.

2. **含む (fukumu)** – To include
– Example: この料金は朝食を**含みます**か？ (Kono ryōkin wa chōshoku o fukumimasu ka?) – Does this fee include breakfast?

3. **発展する (hatten suru)** – To develop
– Example: その国は急速に**発展している**。 (Sono kuni wa kyūsoku ni hatten shiteiru.) – That country is developing rapidly.

4. **表現する (hyōgen suru)** – To express
– Example: 彼女は感情をうまく**表現できる**。 (Kanojo wa kanjō o umaku hyōgen dekiru.) – She can express her emotions well.

5. **判断する (handan suru)** – To judge
– Example: 彼の行動を**判断する**のは難しい。 (Kare no kōdō o handan suru no wa muzukashī.) – It is difficult to judge his actions.

6. **提供する (teikyō suru)** – To provide
– Example: 会社は良いサービスを**提供している**。 (Kaisha wa yoi sābisu o teikyō shiteiru.) – The company provides good service.

7. **確認する (kakunin suru)** – To confirm
– Example: 予約を**確認したい**のですが。 (Yoyaku o kakunin shitai no desu ga.) – I would like to confirm my reservation.

8. **発表する (happyō suru)** – To announce
– Example: 新しい製品を**発表します**。 (Atarashī seihin o happyō shimasu.) – We will announce a new product.

9. **発見する (hakken suru)** – To discover
– Example: 彼は新しい星を**発見した**。 (Kare wa atarashī hoshi o hakken shita.) – He discovered a new star.

10. **受け入れる (ukeireru)** – To accept
– Example: 私たちは彼の提案を**受け入れた**。 (Watashitachi wa kare no teian o ukeireta.) – We accepted his proposal.

Adjectives

11. **複雑な (fukuzatsu na)** – Complex
– Example: その問題は**複雑**で理解しにくい。 (Sono mondai wa fukuzatsu de rikai shinikui.) – That problem is complex and hard to understand.

12. **基本的な (kihonteki na)** – Basic
– Example: **基本的な**知識が必要です。 (Kihonteki na chishiki ga hitsuyō desu.) – Basic knowledge is required.

13. **安全な (anzen na)** – Safe
– Example: この地域は**安全**です。 (Kono chiiki wa anzen desu.) – This area is safe.

14. **危険な (kiken na)** – Dangerous
– Example: それは**危険**な仕事です。 (Sore wa kiken na shigoto desu.) – That is a dangerous job.

15. **特別な (tokubetsu na)** – Special
– Example: 今日は**特別**な日です。 (Kyō wa tokubetsu na hi desu.) – Today is a special day.

16. **一般的な (ippanteki na)** – General
– Example: これは**一般的**な意見です。 (Kore wa ippanteki na iken desu.) – This is a general opinion.

17. **具体的な (gutaiteki na)** – Specific
– Example: **具体的**な例を教えてください。 (Gutaiteki na rei o oshiete kudasai.) – Please give me a specific example.

18. **異なる (kotonaru)** – Different
– Example: 彼らは**異なる**意見を持っている。 (Karera wa kotonaru iken o motteiru.) – They have different opinions.

19. **経済的な (keizaiteki na)** – Economic
– Example: **経済的**な理由で。 (Keizaiteki na riyū de.) – For economic reasons.

20. **政治的な (seijiteki na)** – Political
– Example: **政治的**な問題 (Seijiteki na mondai) – Political issue.

Nouns

21. **経験 (keiken)** – Experience
– Example: 仕事の**経験**が必要です。 (Shigoto no keiken ga hitsuyō desu.) – Work experience is required.

22. **技術 (gijutsu)** – Technology
– Example: 新しい**技術**を学ぶ。 (Atarashī gijutsu o manabu.) – To learn new technology.

23. **影響 (eikyō)** – Influence
– Example: 彼の意見は大きな**影響**を与えた。 (Kare no iken wa ōkina eikyō o ataeta.) – His opinion had a big influence.

24. **責任 (sekinin)** – Responsibility
– Example: 彼はそのプロジェクトの**責任**を持っています。 (Kare wa sono purojekuto no sekinin o motteimasu.) – He has responsibility for that project.

25. **目的 (mokuteki)** – Purpose
– Example: この会議の**目的**は何ですか？ (Kono kaigi no mokuteki wa nan desu ka?) – What is the purpose of this meeting?

26. **結果 (kekka)** – Result
– Example: その試験の**結果**はどうでしたか？ (Sono shiken no kekka wa dō deshita ka?) – How were the results of that exam?

27. **資料 (shiryō)** – Materials
– Example: 会議のための**資料**を準備する。 (Kaigi no tame no shiryō o junbi suru.) – To prepare materials for the meeting.

28. **制度 (seido)** – System
– Example: 新しい教育**制度**が導入された。 (Atarashī kyōiku seido ga dōnyū sareta.) – A new educational system was introduced.

29. **理論 (riron)** – Theory
– Example: 彼の**理論**は興味深いです。 (Kare no riron wa kyōmi bukai desu.) – His theory is interesting.

30. **状況 (jōkyō)** – Situation
– Example: 現在の**状況**を説明してください。 (Genzai no jōkyō o setsumei shite kudasai.) – Please explain the current situation.

Adverbs

31. **すでに (sudeni)** – Already
– Example: 彼は**すでに**帰りました。 (Kare wa sudeni kaerimashita.) – He has already gone home.

32. **実際に (jissai ni)** – Actually
– Example: **実際に**会って話しましょう。 (Jissai ni atte hanashimashō.) – Let’s meet and talk actually.

33. **特に (toku ni)** – Especially
– Example: **特に**問題はありません。 (Toku ni mondai wa arimasen.) – There are no particular problems.

34. **完全に (kanzen ni)** – Completely
– Example: **完全に**理解しました。 (Kanzen ni rikai shimashita.) – I completely understood.

35. **急速に (kyūsoku ni)** – Rapidly
– Example: 彼は**急速に**進歩しています。 (Kare wa kyūsoku ni shinpo shiteimasu.) – He is progressing rapidly.

36. **必ず (kanarazu)** – Certainly
– Example: **必ず**来てください。 (Kanarazu kite kudasai.) – Please make sure to come.

37. **常に (tsune ni)** – Always
– Example: 彼は**常に**忙しいです。 (Kare wa tsune ni isogashī desu.) – He is always busy.

38. **約 (yaku)** – Approximately
– Example: **約**10分かかります。 (Yaku 10 pun kakarimasu.) – It takes approximately 10 minutes.

39. **再び (futatabi)** – Again
– Example: **再び**会いましょう。 (Futatabi aimashō.) – Let’s meet again.

40. **一方で (ippō de)** – On the other hand
– Example: 彼は親切だが、**一方で**厳しい。 (Kare wa shinsetsu da ga, ippō de kibishī.) – He is kind, but on the other hand, strict.

Expressions and Connectors

41. **その結果 (sono kekka)** – As a result
– Example: **その結果**、彼は成功しました。 (Sono kekka, kare wa seikō shimashita.) – As a result, he succeeded.

42. **例えば (tatoeba)** – For example
– Example: **例えば**、このような場合です。 (Tatoeba, kono yō na baai desu.) – For example, in such a case.

43. **まず (mazu)** – First of all
– Example: **まず**、自己紹介をお願いします。 (Mazu, jikoshōkai o onegaishimasu.) – First of all, please introduce yourself.

44. **さらに (sara ni)** – Furthermore
– Example: **さらに**、彼は新しいアイデアを提案した。 (Sara ni, kare wa atarashī aidea o teian shita.) – Furthermore, he proposed a new idea.

45. **その上 (sono ue)** – Moreover
– Example: **その上**、彼は時間も守ります。 (Sono ue, kare wa jikan mo mamorimasu.) – Moreover, he is punctual.

46. **ちなみに (chinami ni)** – By the way
– Example: **ちなみに**、彼は作家です。 (Chinami ni, kare wa sakka desu.) – By the way, he is a writer.

47. **したがって (shitagatte)** – Therefore
– Example: **したがって**、私は賛成します。 (Shitagatte, watashi wa sansei shimasu.) – Therefore, I agree.

48. **しかし (shikashi)** – However
– Example: **しかし**、それは難しいです。 (Shikashi, sore wa muzukashī desu.) – However, it is difficult.

49. **ところが (tokoro ga)** – On the contrary
– Example: **ところが**、彼は来ませんでした。 (Tokoro ga, kare wa kimasen deshita.) – On the contrary, he didn’t come.

50. **なぜなら (nazenara)** – Because
– Example: **なぜなら**、それは重要だからです。 (Nazenara, sore wa jūyō dakara desu.) – Because it is important.

Conclusion

Learning these 50 essential words will help you deepen your understanding and improve your ability to communicate effectively in Japanese at the B2 level. Each word comes with its own set of nuances and contexts, so make sure to practice them in sentences and dialogues. Use them in your conversations, writing, and try to recognize them in the texts you read. With consistent practice, you will find yourself becoming more fluent and confident in your use of Japanese. Happy learning!