To offset amounts so that the result becomes zero. Used to mean canceling out two opposing things by subtracting them, as in 「債権と債務を相殺する」(offset claims and debts). In this word, the character 「殺」 is read as 「さい」, and the whole word is read as 「そうさい」.
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N1奏するそうする
To play an instrument or the like. Also used as the idiomatic expression 「功を奏する」, meaning "the effects of one's efforts or ingenuity become apparent."
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N1装填そうてん
The act of loading ammunition or film into a prescribed position. Used in forms like 「弾を装填する」, applied to the action of loading necessary items into devices such as guns or cameras.
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N1双璧そうへき
Two things both outstanding and impossible to rank against each other. Used in forms like 「業界の双璧」 to refer to two equally great presences in a particular field. The character 「璧」 looks similar to 「壁」 (wall) but is a different character.
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N1壮烈そうれつ
Valiantly fierce. Used in expressions like 「壮烈な戦い」「壮烈な突撃」 to express intensity accompanied by martial valor and spirit. Somewhat literary in tone.
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N1疎外そがい
Excluding someone from a group and treating them as an outsider. Used in contexts where a person is shut out from a group or relationship and becomes isolated, as in 「疎外感」 or 「社会から疎外される」.
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N1そぐうそぐう
To match well with or be suitable for a certain place or situation. Expresses harmony with circumstances, as in 「時代にそぐう」 or 「場にそぐう」. In modern Japanese, it is often used in the negative form 「そぐわない」.
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N1そぐわないそぐわない
Being mismatched and unsuitable to a setting. Used in forms like 「時代にそぐわない」「場にそぐわない」, expressing that the subject does not harmonize with the situation or environment.
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N1素地そじ
The base or foundation upon which things stand. Used in forms like 「成功の素地を作る」「改革の素地が整う」 to refer to the underlying basis required for something to be realized.
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N1素質そしつ
The natural traits or aptitudes one is born with. Used in forms like 「音楽家の素質」「素質に恵まれる」, referring to abilities one is born with rather than acquired through later effort or learning.
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N1素知らぬそしらぬ
An appearance of pretending not to know something one actually does know. A pre-noun word used in scenes where one deliberately feigns ignorance, as in 「素知らぬ顔」 or 「素知らぬふり」.
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N1蘇生そせい
The act of those near death or stopped functions being brought back to life. Used in forms like 「蘇生措置」「心肺蘇生」 in contexts of restoring life or function that had once been lost.
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N1そそのかすそそのかす
The act of inciting another person through flattery or whispering into wrongful conduct. Used in forms like 「悪事をそそのかす」 in contexts of leading someone in a bad direction.
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N1そそるそそる
To arouse feelings such as appetite, interest, or curiosity. Used in contexts that stimulate a person's sensory or psychological desires, as in 「食欲をそそる香り」 or 「好奇心をそそる話」.
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N1そつそつ
A slip-up or wasted effort. In the form 「そつがない」, used as a compliment meaning "leaving no opening and handling things skillfully."
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N1そっけないそっけない
The state of being unfriendly and cold. Used in forms like 「そっけない態度」「そっけない返事」, expressing a manner that conveys no concern or warmth toward the other person.
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N1そっぽそっぽ
The direction in which one has turned one's face away. In the idiom 「そっぽを向く」, it expresses turning one's face away in defiance of the other person, or an attitude of ignoring them.
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N1その場しのぎそのばしのぎ
The act of getting through a situation temporarily without aiming at a fundamental solution. Used in forms like 「その場しのぎの対応」 to refer to a stop-gap manner of handling things.
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N1そびえるそびえる
Means that a mountain or tall building rises very high into the sky. Used to describe something standing so tall you look up at it, as in 「高層ビルがそびえる」 and 「山々がそびえる」. In kanji it is written 「聳える」, but it is generally written in hiragana.
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N1素養そよう
Knowledge and cultivation acquired through everyday learning and training. Used in forms like 「古典の素養」「音楽の素養」 to refer to internal knowledge and skills obtained through daily accumulation.
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N1逸らすそらす
The act of redirecting what is being aimed at to another direction, or shifting topic or attention away from the main thread. Used in forms like 「視線を逸らす」「話を逸らす」, meaning to deflect from what should originally be the target. It shares its reading with 「反らす」 but differs in characters and meaning.
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N1反らすそらす
The act of bending the body or a board backward or outward. Used in forms like 「背中を反らす」「胸を反らす」, meaning to curve an object's shape or one's posture backward like a bow. When used in the sense of redirecting gaze or topic elsewhere, the verb is 「逸らす」.
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N1損益そんえき
Loss and profit. Used in forms like 「損益計算書」「損益の改善」 in accounting and management contexts, referring to the monetary losses and gains in business activities or transactions.
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N1ぞんざいぞんざい
The state of treatment or actions being careless and rough. Used in forms like 「ぞんざいな言葉遣い」「ぞんざいに扱う」, expressing a coarse attitude lacking in care or respect.
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N1尊大そんだい
To take a haughty attitude that looks down on others. Used as in 「尊大な態度」 or 「尊大に構える」.
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N1存分ぞんぶん
The state of doing something to one's heart's content. Often used adverbially in forms like 「存分に楽しむ」「存分に力を発揮する」, expressing the manner of doing something abundantly and fully.
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N1他愛ないたあいない
A state in which content lacks substance or depth and is rambling. Also, a state of being innocent and unguarded, harmless. Used as in 「他愛ない話」「他愛ない冗談」「他愛ない子供の遊び」「酔って他愛なく眠る」. 「他愛」 originally meant "consideration for others," but in the form 「他愛ない」 it derived from the meaning "so absent-minded as to lack even concern for others" into modern uses such as "lacking substance," "innocent," and "defenseless." It is also read as 「たわいない」, and in modern usage both forms are used in parallel.
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N1他意たい
Another intention or hidden thought contained in one's words but not expressed openly. A formal word used in contexts of explaining that one has no malice or ulterior motive, in the form 「他意はない」.
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N1退役たいえき
A soldier finishing their active service and leaving the military. Used in expressions such as 「退役軍人」「退役する」. It means leaving active duty and withdrawing from military service, and is not used for retirement in civilian jobs. A formal word.
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N1退化たいか
A phenomenon in which an organ or function of a living thing becomes reduced or simplified over generations. Used in biology, as in「目が退化する」(the eyes degenerate). By extension, it is also used figuratively to mean that something which had advanced or developed reverts to a worse state, as in「能力が退化する」(one's abilities deteriorate) or「文明が退化する」(civilization regresses).
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N1大家たいか
A person recognized as outstanding in a particular field. Used as in "日本画壇の大家" or "文学の大家", referring to someone highly regarded for many years of achievement. The same "大家" read as "おおや" is a different word meaning the owner of a rental house or apartment.
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N1大義たいぎ
An important moral principle that one must uphold, or a justified cause. Used in expressions such as 「大義名分」「大義を掲げる」. A formal word indicating a reason justified socially or publicly, not a personal goal.
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N1大義名分たいぎめいぶん
「大義」means a moral principle to be honored, and「名分」means the duty one must uphold according to one's position. Together, the word refers to a noble reason that everyone can acknowledge, used to justify an action. Used in contexts that show public legitimacy, as in「大義名分を掲げる」(to hold up a just cause) or「大義名分が立つ」(to have legitimate grounds).
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N1大挙たいきょ
A large group of people acting together as one body. Used in expressions such as 「大挙して押し寄せる」「大挙訪問する」. Not used for individual actions, but to describe large-scale collective actions.
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N1大勢たいせい
The overall course or trend of a situation. Used as in "大勢が決する" or "大勢に影響はない", expressing which way the whole is leaning rather than its details. The same "大勢" read as "おおぜい" is a different word meaning that there are many people.
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N1怠惰たいだ
A state of being idle and slack, not doing what one should do. Used in expressions such as 「怠惰な生活」「怠惰に過ごす」. A formal expression that is the opposite of 「勤勉」(diligent).
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N1体得たいとく
Mastering knowledge or skill as one's own through actual experience. Used in expressions such as 「技術を体得する」 with the implication of not just learning in one's head but absorbing it through the body. A formal word.
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N1滞納たいのう
Failing to pay money that should have been paid by the deadline. Used in expressions such as 「家賃を滞納する」「税金を滞納する」. A word used only for monetary payments.
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N1退廃たいはい
A state in which morals or culture have declined and lost their soundness. Used in expressions such as 「退廃的な文化」「風紀が退廃する」. A formal word used critically to describe spiritual or social decay.
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N1大別たいべつ
Dividing the whole into several large categories. Used in expressions such as 「大別すると三種類になる」. Used in contexts of classifying into large groupings rather than dividing finely.
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N1怠慢たいまん
Being lazy and not doing what one should do. Used in expressions such as 「職務怠慢」「怠慢な態度」. A formal word used to criticize a person in a responsible position for failing to fulfill their duties.
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N1体面たいめん
The outward form and dignity shown to the world. A formal word used in expressions such as 「体面を保つ」「体面を気にする」 referring to outward evaluation conscious of others' eyes.
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N1大役たいやく
An important role that carries heavy responsibility and is not easy to fulfill. Used in expressions such as 「大役を果たす」「大役を任される」. Refers to weighty duties such as officiating at a wedding or representing at a ceremony.
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N1耐え難いたえがたい
A state of being so painful that one cannot endure it. Used in expressions such as 「耐え難い苦痛」「耐え難い暑さ」. A formal written word describing the intensity of physical or mental pain.
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N1絶えずたえず
A state of continuing without interruption. Used in expressions such as 「絶えず努力する」「絶えず流れる」. A formal adverb emphasizing the persistence of continuity.
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N1堪えるたえる
To patiently endure pain or hardship. Also, to have enough strength to meet a certain standard. Used in expressions such as 「痛みに堪える」「批判に堪える」. This kanji is also read 「こらえる」, used in scenes of holding back something welling up without letting it out, as in 「涙を堪える」「笑いを堪える」.
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N1打開だかい
Taking some action to break through a deadlocked situation in which one cannot move forward. Used in expressions such as 「難局を打開する」「事態を打開する」.
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N1多岐たき
A state of branching out and extending in many directions. Mostly used in the form 「多岐にわたる」. A formal word describing the breadth of topics, fields, or work.
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N1卓越たくえつ
Being far superior to others. Used in expressions such as 「卓越した技術」「卓越した才能」. A formal word used when something is not merely skilled but excellent enough to overwhelm others.
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N1託すたくす
Entrusting an important matter or wish to someone trusted. Used in expressions such as 「子供の将来を託す」「夢を後輩に託す」. Has a heavier meaning than simply leaving something temporarily.
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