JLPT Level 3 Expression List

The JLPT also includes an Expression list - written in the Test Content Spec as 「あいさつ語等表現」 - or Greetings and other Expressions. These expressions are quite frequently used in the exam and I recommend you know all of them. Note: these expressions are not in the vocabulary list - as they are expressions rather than words.

I have compiled and formatted this Expression list (and added my own definitions) from the latest official JLPT Test Content Specification book (as of 2007): Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Test Content Specifications (Revised Edition), The Japan Foundation and Association of International Education, Japan (2004).

The Level 3 list below does not include expressions from Level 4. There are currently 11 expressions for Level 3 (+21 from Level 4 = 32).

Num Expression Definition
1 いってらっしゃい。 A farewell greeting
2 いってまいります。 I'm going now
3 おかえりなさい Welcome Home
4 おかげさまで Thanks to you
5 おだいじに Take care (if someone is ill)
6 お待たせしました。 Sorry to have kept you waiting
7 おめでとうございます。 Congratulations
8 かしこまりました。 Certainly Sir/Madam
9 それはいけませんね。 That's no good
10 ただいま。 "I'm home" (said when returning home)
11 よく、いらっしゃいました。 Welcome
Have a question? Ask at the JLPT Study Forum

by Peter van der Woude
Email:
URL: www.jlptstudy.com/3
Updated: 2-June-2007

Comments and/or corrections are welcome.