The main cause or factor behind a result or event. The character 「因」 means "cause" and refers to elements that influence an outcome. Used in expressions such as 「成功の要因」, 「失敗の要因を分析する」, or 「複数の要因が絡む」, the word frequently appears when multiple causes combine to produce an outcome. Compared to 「原因」, which refers to a single direct cause, this word carries an analytical nuance of identifying multiple contributing factors, and is used in written and analytical contexts.
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N4用事ようじ
Something one must do. Example:「用事があるので、先に帰ります」(I have something to do, so I'll leave first).
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N2, N3様子ようす
The visible state or condition of something. Example: 「空の様子」 (the look of the sky), 「様子を見る」 (to see how things are/wait and see).
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N2要請ようせい
To strongly request something as being necessary.
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N2養成ようせい
To teach and train someone so that they acquire full-fledged ability or skill.
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N2要約ようやく
To sum up the main points of a piece of writing or speech briefly.
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N2, N5よくよく
often. A state of doing something many times. Also used to mean "skillfully," as in 「よくできました」 (well done).
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N2予言よげん
Foretelling something that will happen in the future, or the content of such a foretelling. Used in expressions such as 「予言する」, 「予言者」, or 「予言が的中する」. Often used in fortune-telling, religious, or mystical contexts, referring to announcements about the future based on intuition, inspiration, or revelation rather than firm evidence. Scientific predictions of the future are expressed with 「予測」 or 「予報」, not 「予言」. Also used for predictions whose accuracy is not assured, as in 「世紀末の予言」 or 「ノストラダムスの予言」.
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N2, N4汚れるよごれる
To become no longer clean. It means becoming dirty in appearance from mud or stains. Used as in 「服が汚れる」 (clothes get dirty). When someone makes something dirty, 「よごす」 is used, as in 「服を汚す」. The same 「汚れる」 read as 「けがれる」 becomes a different word expressing that sanctity or honor is spoiled.
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N4予習よしゅう
To study before a lesson. The antonym is「復習(ふくしゅう)」(review).
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N2余地よち
Room or possibility for doing or accepting something. Originally referred to physical "leftover space," but in modern Japanese the word is mainly used in an abstract sense meaning "the range of what can be allowed" or "room still available for something." Used in expressions such as 「議論の余地」, 「弁解の余地がない」, 「改善の余地」, or 「疑う余地もない」, and frequently appears in negative contexts in the form 「〜の余地がない」.
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N2予知よち
Sensing or knowing in advance that something will happen before it occurs. The character 「知」 means "to know," and the word is used for grasping future events through observation, reasoning, or supernatural ability. Used in both scientific and technical contexts such as 「地震予知」 (earthquake prediction) and supernatural contexts such as 「予知能力」 or 「予知夢」 (premonitory dream). While 「予言」 emphasizes the act of telling, 「予知」 emphasizes the act of knowing or perceiving.
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N4予定よてい
Something one is going to do. To decide in advance.
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N2呼びかけよびかけ
To call out to many people and urge them to take a certain action.
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N2, N4, N5呼ぶよぶ
call. To say a person's name, etc., aloud to get their attention.
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N2, N5読むよむ
read. To look at characters and grasp their meaning.
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N4予約よやく
To reserve a seat or room, etc., in advance.
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N2, N4, N5寄るよる
To go somewhere nearby. Used in the sense of stopping by a place. Example: 「店に寄る」 (to stop by a shop).
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N3, N4喜ぶよろこぶ
To feel happy, and show that feeling.
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N2落差らくさ
The difference in height that water or the like falls; also, a large gap between two things.
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N2楽観らっかん
To think positively that things will go well.
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N2乱用らんよう
To use a right, power, or the like carelessly or excessively.
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N2, N3理解りかい
understanding. Correctly grasping the meaning or content of something. Example: 「話を理解する」 (to understand what someone is saying). Also used to mean being considerate of another person's feelings, as in 「理解のある上司」 (an understanding boss).
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N2理屈りくつ
The logic of a matter; also, a forced or far-fetched reason.
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N2利点りてん
A point in which something is superior compared to others; a useful feature.
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N2, N4理由りゆう
The reason why something happened.
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N2流通りゅうつう
Goods passing from producers to consumers; also, something being widely used or accepted.
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N2, N4利用りよう
To make good use of a thing or system.
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N2良識りょうしき
The ability to judge right and wrong calmly and soundly. Refers to the standard of judgment considered reasonable in society at large. Used in expressions such as 「良識ある大人」 or 「良識を疑う」. While 「常識」 refers to widely shared knowledge, 「良識」 emphasizes the judgment based on such knowledge.
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N2了承りょうしょう
To take the circumstances into account and give one's consent.
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N4両方りょうほう
Both of two things. Not just one side, but a word that refers to both of them.
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N2臨機応変りんきおうへん
Responding flexibly and appropriately to changes in situation or circumstance. Used both adjectivally and adverbially, as in 「臨機応変な対応」 or 「臨機応変に処理する」. A four-character idiom that positively evaluates an attitude of acting on the spot with resourcefulness rather than following a rigid template.
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N2臨時りんじ
Doing something not at a fixed time, but as needed on a particular occasion.
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N2累計るいけい
To add things up one after another into a running total; also, that total itself.
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N2類似るいじ
Being very similar to one another.
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N4留守るす
Not being at home, or being away from home.
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N2, N3例れい
example. A specific thing of the same kind shown to explain something. Example: 「例を挙げる」 (to give an example). Also used in the phrase 「例の話」 to refer to a matter that both parties already know about.
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N2冷静れいせい
Judging things calmly, without being swayed by emotion.
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N4冷房れいぼう
To cool a room, and the machine for it. The antonym is「暖房(だんぼう)」(heating).
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N2〜N4歴史れきし
The flow of events from long ago to now.
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N2劣化れっか
A quality or property deteriorating from what it originally was.
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N2劣等感れっとうかん
The feeling that one is inferior to others. Used in expressions such as 「劣等感を持つ」 or 「劣等感を抱く」. It refers not to a momentary low mood but to a feeling that persists in the mind. The antonym is 「優越感」 (a sense of superiority). Another word containing 「劣等」 is 「劣等生」, which refers to a person whose grades or performance are poor.
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N2劣等生れっとうせい
A student whose grades or performance are inferior to others'. The antonym is 「優等生」 (an honor student). Besides school grades, it is also used to humble oneself about being the weakest in a group, as in 「この分野では私は劣等生だ」 (In this field I am the poor performer). Another word containing 「劣等」 is 「劣等感」, which refers to the feeling of being inferior.
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N2廉価れんか
Being inexpensive relative to quality, or selling something at a low price. Used in reference to the prices of products and services, as in 「廉価版」 or 「廉価で提供する」. The character 「廉」 means "cheap" or "inexpensive."
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N2連携れんけい
Parties who share the same goal keeping in contact and cooperating with one another.
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N2連帯れんたい
Two or more people being bound together and sharing their actions and feelings. As in 「連帯感」「労働者の連帯」, it expresses solidarity among companions. It also refers to several parties being bound together and bearing responsibility jointly; 「連帯責任」「連帯保証人」 express a relationship in which an obligation that one person would bear is taken on by everyone.