100+ Free Nihongo Kentei 2級 Practice Questions
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次の文の（ ）に入る助詞として最も適切なものを選びなさい。 「努力した（ ）、合格できなかった。」 (Choose the most appropriate particle/conjunction for the blank: "___ I made an effort, I could not pass.")
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Key Facts: Nihongo Kentei 2級 Exam
Nihongo Kentei 2級 is the second-highest grade of Japan's native-speaker Japanese-language exam, testing keigo, grammar, vocabulary, word usage, orthography, kanji, and comprehensive reading via mostly multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, with a 70% pass threshold.
Sample Nihongo Kentei 2級 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Nihongo Kentei 2級 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1取引先の担当者に「資料はいつご覧になりますか」と尋ねたい。下線部の敬語として最も適切なものを選びなさい。 (You want to ask a client contact when they will look at the documents. Choose the most appropriate honorific for the underlined part.)
2スポーツジムの受付係が客に言う言葉として最も適切なものを選びなさい。 「お申し込みありがとうございます。それではこちらの書類に（ ）ください。」 (Choose the most appropriate phrase a gym receptionist would say to a customer: "Thank you for applying. Now please ___ on this form.")
3次のうち、二重敬語（敬語の重ねすぎ）になっている誤った表現はどれか。 (Which of the following is an incorrect expression because it is a 二重敬語 — an over-stacked double honorific?)
4社外の人に対して、自分の上司（部長の田中）の行動を述べる。最も適切なものを選びなさい。 「ただいま田中は席を（ ）。」 (Speaking to someone outside your company about your boss Mr. Tanaka. Choose the most appropriate: "Tanaka is currently ___ from his seat.")
5「言う」の謙譲語として正しいものを選びなさい。 (Choose the correct 謙譲語 — humble form — of 言う 'to say'.)
6お客様に対する電話応対として最も適切なものを選びなさい。 「恐れ入りますが、お名前を（ ）。」 (Choose the most appropriate phone response to a customer: "Excuse me, but could you ___ your name?")
7次の文の敬語の誤りを正しく直したものを選びなさい。 「先生が私の作文を拝見してくださった。」 (Choose the correct fix for the keigo error: "The teacher 拝見 (humbly looked at) my composition for me.")
8「来る」の尊敬語として正しいものを選びなさい。 (Choose the correct 尊敬語 — respectful form — of 来る 'to come'.)
9ビジネスメールで上司に予定を確認する。最も適切な表現を選びなさい。 「会議の件、ご都合は（ ）。」 (Confirming a schedule with your superior in a business email. Choose the most appropriate: "Regarding the meeting, ___ your availability?")
10「食べる」の尊敬語と謙譲語の組み合わせとして正しいものを選びなさい。 (Choose the correct pairing of the 尊敬語 (respectful) and 謙譲語 (humble) forms of 食べる 'to eat', in that order.)
About the Nihongo Kentei 2級 Exam
The Japanese Language Examination, popularly nicknamed 'Goken' (語検) and known officially as Nihongo Kentei (日本語検定), is a Japanese-proficiency test designed for native and near-native speakers — not for foreign learners as the JLPT is. It uses a seven-grade system from 7級 (elementary) up to 1級 (most advanced), and Level 2 (2級) sits one step below the top, calibrated to university-graduate and intermediate working-professional ability. The exam assesses six skill domains — keigo (honorifics), grammar, vocabulary, word meaning/usage, orthography, and kanji — plus a 総合問題 comprehensive reading section, all within a single 60-minute sitting. Questions are predominantly four-option multiple choice, with a few short handwriting items possible in the orthography, kanji, and comprehensive sections. The test rewards native-level precision: choosing the correct honorific for a situation, distinguishing same-sound homophones (同音異義語), writing correct okurigana, knowing four-character idioms (四字熟語) and the original meanings of commonly misused expressions, and reading editorials accurately. The Nihongo Kentei Committee administers it twice a year, in June and November, with the June 2026 general session held on Saturday, June 13. From fiscal year 2025, Level 2 certification requires an overall score rate of 70% or higher, and Pre-Level 2 (準2級) requires 60% or higher.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
60 minutes total (the same 60-minute sitting applies to Levels 1 through 3). All seven content areas are completed within this single timed session.
Passing Score
Overall score rate of 70% or higher earns Level 2 certification; 60% or higher earns Pre-Level 2 (準2級). These FY2025 thresholds replaced the earlier 75%/65% standard, and per-domain minimums were eliminated.
Exam Fee
5,800 yen for individual examinees; 5,200 yen for group (5+) examinees (2026, tax included). (Nihongo Kentei Committee (日本語検定委員会), supported by MEXT and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Nihongo Kentei 2級 Exam Content Outline
Keigo (Honorifics)
Selecting correct 尊敬語/謙譲語/丁寧語, applying uchi-soto rules, and detecting double or excessive honorifics in business and customer-service contexts.
Grammar
Particle choice, accurate conjugation (avoiding ら抜き/れ足す/さ入れ errors), subject-predicate agreement, style consistency, and advanced expressions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms, antonyms, word relationships, business and abstract terms, four-character idioms, and natural collocations.
Word Meaning & Usage
Idioms, proverbs, and famously misused expressions judged for their correct original meaning in context.
Orthography (表記)
Okurigana rules, modern kana usage, and homophone (同音異義語) selection determined by sentence context.
Kanji
On/kun and special compound readings, out-of-list readings, similar-form kanji, compound structure, and idiom kanji.
Comprehensive Reading (総合問題)
Editorial and long-passage comprehension: main idea, reference resolution, connectives, sentence ordering, and author intent.
How to Pass the Nihongo Kentei 2級 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Overall score rate of 70% or higher earns Level 2 certification; 60% or higher earns Pre-Level 2 (準2級). These FY2025 thresholds replaced the earlier 75%/65% standard, and per-domain minimums were eliminated.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 60 minutes total (the same 60-minute sitting applies to Levels 1 through 3). All seven content areas are completed within this single timed session.
- Exam fee: 5,800 yen for individual examinees; 5,200 yen for group (5+) examinees (2026, tax included).
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Nihongo Kentei 2級 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nihongo Kentei 2級 the same as JLPT N2?
No. Despite both being 'Level 2', they are different exams. JLPT N2 is for foreign learners and uses 'N' levels, while Nihongo Kentei (日本語検定) 2級 is for native and near-native Japanese speakers and uses 級 (kyū) levels 1–7. Nihongo Kentei tests native-level precision in keigo, kanji, orthography, idioms, and reading.
Who administers Nihongo Kentei and at what level is 2級?
It is administered by the Nihongo Kentei Committee (日本語検定委員会) with support from Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Level 2 (2級) is the second-highest of seven grades (1級 is highest), aimed at university-graduate to intermediate working-professional Japanese ability.
What score do I need to pass Nihongo Kentei 2級?
From fiscal year 2025, you need an overall score rate of 70% or higher to be certified at Level 2, or 60% or higher to receive Pre-Level 2 (準2級). The previous 75%/65% thresholds and the per-domain 50% minimum were abolished.
What areas does Nihongo Kentei 2級 test?
Six skill domains — keigo (honorifics), grammar, vocabulary, word meaning/usage, orthography (表記), and kanji — plus a 総合問題 comprehensive reading section. It emphasizes correct honorific use, homophone and okurigana accuracy, four-character idioms, and accurate reading of editorials.
How long is the exam and how is it formatted?
Nihongo Kentei 2級 runs for 60 minutes (the same time as Levels 1 and 3). It is predominantly four-option multiple choice, with a small number of short handwriting items possible in the orthography, kanji, and comprehensive sections.
When is Nihongo Kentei held in 2026 and what does it cost?
It is held twice a year, in June and November. The June 2026 general-venue session is on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with applications open from March 2 to May 15, 2026. The Level 2 fee is 5,800 yen for individuals and 5,200 yen for group examinees.