Refers to animals such as cows bringing food they have once swallowed back into the mouth to chew again. By extension, it refers to thoughts or words being repeatedly recalled. Used in expressions like 「言葉を反芻する (to ruminate on a word)」「教訓を反芻する (to ruminate on a lesson)」「会話を反芻する (to replay a conversation in one's mind)」. It is a metaphor derived from the zoological term, expressing the act of savoring memories, emotions, or knowledge over and over in the mind. It is widely used in contexts of book impressions, recollection, and meditation.
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N1判然はんぜん
Refers to the appearance of a matter becoming clearly understood. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「原因が判然としない (the cause is not clear)」「判然たる証拠 (clear evidence)」. 「判」 means to distinguish or clarify, 「然」 is a suffix indicating manner; together they express "a state of being clearly distinguished". It is mostly used in the negative form 「判然としない」, appearing widely in contexts that describe ambiguous, indeterminate situations. The style is biased toward news reports, official documents, and analysis.
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N1反駁はんばく
Refers to refuting and denying another's opinion or claim by providing grounds. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「論文に反駁する (to rebut a paper)」「反駁の余地がない (there is no room for rebuttal)」「鋭く反駁する (to rebut sharply)」. 「反」 means to oppose, 「駁」 means to argue down; together they express "to argue back and refute". Rather than mere opposition, it carries the nuance of rebutting the other party's claim with supporting reasons, used in discussion, academic, and legal contexts.
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N1繁忙はんぼう
Refers to work and the like being extremely busy. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「繁忙期 (a busy season)」「繁忙な日々 (busy days)」「繁忙を極める (to be extremely busy)」. 「繁」 means abundant or thriving, 「忙」 means busy; together they express "a state in which busyness is at its peak". It is mostly used in the form 「繁忙期」, as a noun referring to a time when workload concentrates in a particular industry. It is widely used in business and economic contexts, while in everyday conversation 「忙しい」 is the common form.
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N1氾濫はんらん
Refers to river water overflowing and spreading. By extension, it refers to a state in which things or information are so abundant that they overflow. Used in expressions like 「川が氾濫する (a river floods)」「情報が氾濫する (information floods)」「商品が氾濫する (goods are flooding the market)」. Both 「氾」 and 「濫」 mean water overflowing, forming a compound that stacks two characters to emphasize meaning. From the physical sense of flooding, it has extended in modern usage to metaphorical uses for information, goods, buzzwords, and the like spreading excessively, used widely in media and criticism contexts.
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N1ひいてはひいては
An adverb expressing that as one matter spreads, its influence reaches another related matter as well. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「個人の利益、ひいては社会全体の利益 (the benefit of the individual, and by extension the benefit of society as a whole)」「健康、ひいては人生の質 (health, and by extension the quality of life)」. It expresses spreading and expansion to a larger scope, used in contexts that develop reasoning step by step. It mostly appears in formal styles such as academic papers, editorials, and speeches, and is hardly used in everyday conversation.
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N1卑近ひきん
Refers to an appearance of being familiar, commonplace, and easily understandable by anyone. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「卑近な例 (a familiar example)」「卑近な話題 (a familiar topic)」「卑近な比喩 (a familiar metaphor)」. 「卑」 means low, 「近」 means near; together they express "something at a low, near position". As opposed to the abstract and difficult, it refers to the concrete and close at hand, and is widely used as an introductory phrase in explanation, as in 「卑近な例で言えば (to give a familiar example)」.
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N1卑屈ひくつ
Refers to viewing oneself lower than necessary, becoming dejected or fawning. Used in expressions like 「卑屈な態度 (a servile attitude)」「卑屈になる (to become servile)」「卑屈な笑い (a fawning smile)」. 「卑」 means low, 「屈」 means to bend; together they express a posture of lowering and bending oneself. It refers to a negative posture arising from failure, inferiority complexes, or differences in status, distinguished from appropriate modesty ('「謙虚」'). Whereas 「謙虚」 is a virtue, 「卑屈」 is excessive self-deprecation that becomes the object of criticism.
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N1秘訣ひけつ
Refers to a knack or method, little known to others, for doing something well. Used in expressions like 「成功の秘訣 (the secret of success)」「長寿の秘訣 (the secret of long life)」「秘訣を伝授する (to pass on a secret)」. 「秘」 means secret, 「訣」 means the heart of a mystery; together they express "the secret essence". It is a word for essential know-how hard to see from the surface, appearing frequently in self-help books, interview articles, and contexts that discuss the skills of artisans.
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N1ひた隠しひたがくし
Refers to thoroughly concealing something so that others will not learn of it. Used in expressions like 「過去をひた隠しにする (to keep one's past tightly hidden)」「真相をひた隠す (to keep the truth tightly hidden)」「ひた隠しに隠す (to hide thoroughly)」. 「ひた」 is a prefix meaning 「ひたすら (single-mindedly) / もっぱら (entirely)」, expressing consistent dedication. It is mostly used for serious matters or the concealment of inconvenient information, and is used in news reports and the narrative prose of novels.
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N1ひたむきひたむき
Refers to the appearance of devoting oneself to a single thing without looking aside. Used in expressions like 「ひたむきな努力 (single-minded effort)」「ひたむきに取り組む (to tackle wholeheartedly)」「ひたむきな姿勢 (a wholehearted attitude)」. 「ひた」 is a prefix meaning 「ひたすら (single-mindedly)」, expressing a pure and earnest posture, used in contexts of positive evaluation. It carries praise for pure, unselfish effort without calculation or expectation of return, and appears frequently in contexts of youth, sports, and depictions of artisans.
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N1匹敵ひってき
Refers to capacity, value, or scale being at a level equal to the object of comparison. It is a formal word used in the form 「Aに匹敵するB (a B that matches A)」, or in expressions like 「世界に匹敵する技術 (technology that matches that of the world)」「彼に匹敵する選手はいない (there is no player who matches him)」. Both 「匹」 and 「敵」 mean "counterpart, equal"; together they express "to stand shoulder to shoulder". It expresses a relationship in which it is hard to rank one above the other, and carries the nuance that the evaluator acknowledges "taking A's level as the standard, B is equal to that level".
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N1一頃ひところ
Refers to a certain past period of time. Used in expressions like 「一頃の勢いを失う (to lose the momentum one once had)」「一頃は流行した (was once in fashion)」「一頃に比べて (compared with a former time)」. It is a noun referring to a past period in which conditions differed from the present, used when speaking of past circumstances in contrast with the present. It is a word with a specific period of time in mind rather than a vague past, used widely in contexts that look back on changes.
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N1一筋縄ひとすじなわ
A set phrase used in the form 「一筋縄ではいかない」, meaning that something is so difficult to handle that ordinary means will not work. Used in expressions like 「彼は一筋縄ではいかない相手だ (he is no easy opponent)」「一筋縄ではいかない問題 (a tricky problem)」. The original meaning is "a single rope", and the phrase was born from the metaphor that the target is too tough to be caught with simple equipment. 「一筋縄」 is hardly used on its own, and almost always appears within this idiomatic expression.
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N1ひねくれるひねくれる
Refers to losing one's natural straightforwardness and coming to receive things in a twisted way. Used in expressions like 「ひねくれた性格 (a warped disposition)」「ひねくれた解釈 (a twisted interpretation)」「ひねくれた物の見方 (a contrarian way of seeing things)」. It expresses the appearance of taking goodwill or kindness in reverse, or deliberately adopting an oppositional attitude, and carries a negative evaluation. 「捻」 means to twist, expressing the nuance of being unstraight, not earnest. It is a word for everyday use in character description.
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N1響き渡るひびきわたる
Refers to a sound or voice traveling so strongly that it reaches every corner of a wide area. It is a compound verb used in expressions like 「鐘の音が響き渡る (the sound of the bell rings out)」「歓声が響き渡る (cheers ring out)」「号砲が響き渡る (the starting signal rings out)」. It expresses the appearance of sound reaching every corner of a space; in addition to the physical propagation of sound, it is also used as a metaphor for the spread of fame, as in 「名声が響き渡る」. It implies a wider scope and stronger impression than 「響く」.
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N1微々たるびびたる
Refers to an appearance of being so small in quantity or degree as to be insignificant. It is an adnominal used in expressions like 「微々たる金額 (a trifling sum)」「微々たる成果 (paltry results)」「微々たる差 (a negligible difference)」. It must modify a following noun, emphasizing smallness of scale. As a reduplicated form stacking 「微」, it carries the nuance of "scant, barely worth mentioning", expressing self-deprecation or dismissiveness rather than mere "smallness".
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N1疲弊ひへい
Refers to organizations, economies, or physical strength growing tired and weakened, losing their natural vitality. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「経済が疲弊する (the economy is exhausted)」「現場が疲弊する (the front lines are exhausted)」「国土が疲弊する (the country is depleted)」. 「疲」 means to be tired, 「弊」 means to weaken or break down; together they express "becoming tired and worn out". It expresses a state of weakening as the result of long-lasting burden, indicating a state more serious and structural than the temporary tiredness of 「疲労」.
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N1美貌びぼう
Refers to a person whose appearance is strikingly beautiful. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「美貌の持ち主 (a person of beauty)」「美貌を誇る (to be proud of one's beauty)」「絶世の美貌 (peerless beauty)」. 「美」 means beautiful, 「貌」 means face or appearance; together they express "a beautiful appearance". It is mostly used in contexts that praise the appearance of women or young men, pointing to the beauty of well-proportioned features. The focus is on outward beauty rather than inner attractiveness, and it is used in literary works, biographies, and entertainment journalism.
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N1備忘録びぼうろく
Refers to a document or notebook in which one records key points so as not to forget them. Used in expressions like 「備忘録に記す (to write in one's memorandum)」「備忘録として残す (to leave as a memorandum)」「備忘録代わりのメモ (a memo serving as a memorandum)」. 「備」 means to prepare, 「忘」 means to forget, 「録」 means a record; together they express "something recorded in preparation for forgetting". A typical example is a document briefly summarizing the key points of a meeting or daily observations, and it is a word used in formal and business contexts.
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N1, N2微妙びみょう
Having fine differences that are hard to state clearly; subtle. 微妙な色の違い (a subtle difference in color). In conversation, also used as an indirect way of saying something is not good (味は微妙だった "the taste was so-so").
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N1肥沃ひよく
Refers to land being fertile and crops growing well. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「肥沃な土壌 (fertile soil)」「肥沃な大地 (a fertile earth)」「肥沃な三日月地帯 (the Fertile Crescent)」. 「肥」 means to be plump and rich, 「沃」 means to be moistened with water; together they express "land rich in nutrients and well-watered". It is widely used in agricultural, geographical, and historical contexts, appearing frequently in geographical descriptions such as the birthplaces of civilizations. There is also a metaphorical use expressing rich creativity, as in 「肥沃な想像力 (a fertile imagination)」.
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N1非力ひりき
Refers to lacking strength. Used in expressions like 「非力ながら全力を尽くす (lacking power, but doing one's utmost)」「非力な自分を恥じる (to be ashamed of one's powerlessness)」「非力さを痛感する (to keenly feel one's powerlessness)」. 「非」 is a negative, 「力」 means capability or physical strength; together they express the state in which "one's power does not reach". It is used both for modestly saying that one's own ability falls short and for objectively pointing to a lack of capability, and is often used as an expression of humility.
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N1翻すひるがえす
Refers to quickly changing direction or attitude to the opposite. Used in expressions like 「身を翻す (to turn one's body)」「前言を翻す (to retract a previous statement)」「旗を翻す (to wave a flag)」. It is used both for the physical reversal of the body or a flag and for the retraction of promises, assertions, or decisions, accompanied by the nuance of a sudden change that catches the other party off guard. In metaphorical use it shares its root with 「翻意」, referring to the act of overturning what has once been decided, and often carries the nuance of damaging trust.
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N1ひるむひるむ
Refers to one's spirit being broken and one shrinking back in the face of an opponent's momentum or a difficult situation. Used in expressions like 「敵の威圧にひるむ (to flinch at the enemy's intimidation)」「批判にひるまず立ち向かう (to confront criticism without flinching)」「ひるむことなく (without flinching)」. It is a word focused on psychological wavering and retreat rather than physical withdrawal, and is used both in positive contexts that show strength of will through the negative form 「ひるまず」 and in contexts that depict weakness through the positive form 「ひるんだ」.
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N1吹聴ふいちょう
Refers to bragging about one's own achievements or information all around in a triumphant tone. As in 「自慢話を吹聴する (to brag everywhere)」「手柄を吹聴する (to boast of one's exploits)」「噂を吹聴して回る (to go around spreading rumors)」, it is used in scenes that critically describe the appearance of oneself proudly spreading word. It mostly carries negative connotations and is evaluated as a lack of modesty. 「吹」 means to spread as if blowing, 「聴」 means to make others hear.
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N1風格ふうかく
Refers to the dignity and gravitas naturally inherent in a person or object. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「風格のある建物 (a building of dignified bearing)」「大物の風格 (the air of a great figure)」「横綱の風格 (the dignity of a yokozuna)」. It refers to the dignity that emerges naturally from long-cultivated experience or essential quality, and is spoken of as something unattainable through surface decoration. It is often used with praise, in evaluations of people, architecture, and works of art.
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N1風采ふうさい
Refers to the outward impression of a person received from their dress and bearing. Used in expressions like 「風采が上がらない (one's bearing is unimpressive)」「立派な風采 (a fine appearance)」. 「采」 means coloring or manner, and together the two characters express "a manner viewed from outside". Rather than physical features alone, it refers to overall appearance including clothing and demeanor.
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N1風潮ふうちょう
Refers to a trend in views or behavior spreading throughout an era or society. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「最近の風潮 (recent trends)」「悪しき風潮 (an unfortunate trend)」「世の風潮 (the prevailing trend)」. 「風」 means the movement of the times, 「潮」 means a current; together they form a metaphor expressing the flow of society as a whole. The word includes a sense of being temporary and fashion-like in character, and is often referred to critically. Compared to 「傾向 (tendency)」, it is more fleeting, and is widely used in news reports and editorials as a term that captures the spirit of the times.
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N1風貌ふうぼう
Refers to the outward impression of a person received from their face, build, and dress. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「異様な風貌 (a strange appearance)」「学者らしい風貌 (a scholarly appearance)」「貫禄のある風貌 (an appearance of authority)」. 「風」 means manner, 「貌」 means face; rather than referring to appearance itself, the word refers to the overall impression including atmosphere. It is a stylistic expression in character description, widely used in novels, criticism, and profiles.
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N1不穏ふおん
Refers to an appearance that is not peaceful, in which something dangerous is likely to happen. Used in expressions like 「不穏な空気 (an uneasy atmosphere)」「不穏な動き (an ominous movement)」. 「穏」 means calm, and 「不」 added to it expresses the state of "not being calm". It is used in situations where tension or conflict lies beneath the surface in society, politics, or human relations.
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N1不可解ふかかい
Refers to a matter whose reason or meaning cannot be understood no matter how one tries. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「不可解な行動 (incomprehensible behavior)」「不可解な事件 (an inscrutable case)」「不可解な発言 (an inscrutable remark)」. 「解」 means "to solve, to understand", with the original sense being "cannot be solved". It is used for matters that cannot be explained within the bounds of logic or common sense, and is widely used in mystery novels, crime reports, and character assessments.
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N1不覚ふかく
Refers to a failure caused by negligence or unexpected circumstances, or to the appearance of failing to suppress one's emotions. Used in expressions like 「不覚を取る (to suffer an unintended defeat)」「不覚にも涙ぐむ (to find oneself tearing up unawares)」. 「覚」 means to be aware or self-conscious, with the original sense being a state in which "self-awareness is lacking". It is used broadly, from the defeats of warriors to ordinary lapses in attention.
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N1不可侵ふかしん
Refers to something that cannot be encroached upon from outside, or that must not be encroached upon. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「不可侵条約 (a non-aggression treaty)」「基本的人権は不可侵だ (basic human rights are inviolable)」「不可侵の領域 (an inviolable domain)」. 「侵」 means "to encroach", with the original sense being "cannot be encroached upon". It is used for territory and sovereignty between states, and for important rights such as human rights and dignity, appearing frequently in contexts of international law, constitutions, and ethics.
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N1不可分ふかぶん
Refers to two or more things being so closely connected that they cannot be separated. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「不可分の関係 (an inseparable relationship)」「権利と義務は不可分だ (rights and duties are inseparable)」「不可分一体 (an indivisible whole)」. 「分」 means "to divide", with the original sense being "cannot be divided". It is used broadly for not only physical separation but also for the indivisibility of concepts and relationships, and appears frequently in legal, philosophical, and policy contexts.
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N1俯瞰ふかん
Refers to looking down from a high place. By extension, it refers to grasping a matter holistically from a wide-angle perspective. Used in expressions like 「町を俯瞰する (to overlook the town)」「俯瞰的な視点 (a bird's-eye view)」. 「俯」 means to bow one's face, to face downward; 「瞰」 means to look down. It is used widely, from geographical looking down to the comprehensive grasp of discussions or situations.
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N1不朽ふきゅう
Refers to remaining without decay forever, an appearance in which value or fame is not lost even with the long passage of time. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「不朽の名作 (an immortal masterpiece)」「不朽の名声 (undying fame)」「不朽の業績 (an imperishable achievement)」. 「朽」 means to rot and collapse, and the original sense is "not rotting". It is used widely in contexts that praise the enduring value of works of art, accomplishments, and monumental figures. It is often used for evaluations that continue to be passed down even after death.
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N1不遇ふぐう
Refers to being in an unfortunate position in which one cannot obtain status or treatment that matches one's talents and efforts. Used in expressions like 「不遇な晩年 (an unfortunate later life)」「不遇をかこつ (to lament one's misfortunes)」. 「遇」 means to meet or be received, and the word refers to a state of "not being able to encounter favorable circumstances". It is used widely in contexts describing the sorrow of capable people who are not recognized by the world.
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N1服するふくする
Refers to obeying rules, orders, or duties and acting accordingly, or to placing oneself in a certain state. Used in expressions like 「刑に服する (to serve a sentence)」「喪に服する (to be in mourning)」. The character 「服」 carries the sense "to obey", expressing the act of accepting an order, norm, or situation. It is used in formal contexts such as law, ceremony, and the military.
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N1不屈ふくつ
Refers to not yielding to any hardship or adversity. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「不屈の精神 (an indomitable spirit)」「不屈の闘志 (an indomitable fighting spirit)」「不屈の意志 (an indomitable will)」. 「屈」 means to bend or submit, and the original sense is "not bending". It is used widely in contexts that praise figures who endure adversity to pursue their goals, appearing frequently in biographies, sports reports, and memorial writings. It is an evaluative word strongly tinged with praise.
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N1伏兵ふくへい
Refers to soldiers hiding and lying in wait so as not to be detected by the enemy. Used in expressions like 「伏兵に襲われる (to be attacked by an ambush)」「予選の伏兵 (a dark horse in the preliminaries)」「思わぬ伏兵 (an unexpected dark horse)」. Originally a military term, it is also used in daily life in the metaphorical sense of "an unexpected strong opponent or obstacle". It is used widely in contexts of competition such as sports, elections, and business, in situations where an unknown entity displays unexpected strength.
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N1覆面ふくめん
Refers to covering and concealing one's face with cloth or the like, or such a covering itself. By extension, it refers to a state in which one's identity or whereabouts are hidden. Used in expressions like 「覆面強盗 (a masked robber)」「覆面取材 (undercover reporting)」. 「覆」 means to cover, 「面」 means the face; together they directly express "covering the face". It is used in diverse contexts such as crime, investigative journalism, and the covert operation of police patrol cars.
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N1不詳ふしょう
Refers to something whose details are unknown. Used in expressions like 「身元不詳 (unknown identity)」「作者不詳 (author unknown)」. It is a formal expression used in news reports, official documents, and records for items whose information cannot be verified. 「詳」 means detailed, and 「不」 added to it indicates the state of "details unknown".
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N1不祥事ふしょうじ
Refers to disgraceful incidents that damage trust or honor, caused by organizations or people in positions of responsibility. Used in expressions like 「企業の不祥事 (a corporate scandal)」「不祥事が発覚する (a scandal comes to light)」「相次ぐ不祥事 (a series of scandals)」. 「祥」 means "auspicious, fortunate", and the original sense is "an inauspicious event". It refers broadly to incidents involving legal or ethical violations, or matters drawing social criticism, and is used frequently when such matters are reported as organizational problems. It tends to point to misconduct in positions of public responsibility rather than to an individual's private failings.
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N1腐心ふしん
Refers to wearing out one's mind in continual contrivance in order to accomplish something. It is a formal word used in expressions like 「資金繰りに腐心する (to rack one's brains over financing)」「経営再建に腐心する (to rack one's brains over corporate restructuring)」「対応に腐心する (to wrestle with how to respond)」. 「腐」 conveys the image of "worrying until one's mind rots", expressing effort accompanied by mental anguish. It is a formal word stating in measured fashion the appearance of grappling earnestly with difficulty, and is used widely in business and political contexts.
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N1風情ふぜい
Refers to a deeply felt charm or flavor. It is a word expressing traditional Japanese aesthetics, referring to feelings drawn from natural scenery, old townscapes, gestures, or the changing seasons. Used in expressions like 「秋の風情 (the charm of autumn)」「風情のある宿 (an inn with character)」「風情を楽しむ (to enjoy the atmosphere)」. In addition, when attached to a word referring to a person, as in 「私風情 (someone like me)」「子供風情 (a mere child)」, it has a secondary usage carrying the meaning "a worthless person like ~", expressing either humility or contempt.
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N1伏字ふせじ
Refers to concealing portions of text that cannot be expressed and indicating them with symbols such as 〇 or ×. Used in expressions like 「伏字にする (to render as bowdlerized text)」「実名を伏字で表記する (to indicate a real name with placeholder symbols)」. 「伏」 means to conceal, 「字」 means character; together they express "concealing characters". It is a specialized term in printing and editing, used for reasons of censorship, discretion, or editorial considerations, in contexts of news reporting and publishing.
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N1不測ふそく
Refers to something that cannot be foreseen. Used in expressions like 「不測の事態 (an unforeseen situation)」「不測の事故 (an unforeseen accident)」. 「測」 means to measure or predict, and 「不」 added to it expresses the state of "cannot be predicted". It refers to sudden, unexpected events, and is used widely in crisis management and news reporting.
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N1不遜ふそん
Refers to lacking modesty and being arrogant. Used in expressions like 「不遜な態度 (an arrogant attitude)」「不遜極まりない (utterly arrogant)」. 「遜」 means to be modest, and 「不」 added to it expresses the state of "not being modest". It is often used as a critical, negative evaluation.
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N1不退転ふたいてん
Refers to seeing through to the end a resolve once made, never turning back. Originally a Buddhist term meaning not retreating from a stage attained in spiritual practice. As in 「不退転の決意 (a resolve never to retreat)」「不退転の覚悟 (steadfast determination)」, it combines with words emphasizing resolve and readiness. It is used widely in politicians' policy speeches and in important public commitments.
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