Interfering and meddling in other people's matters without being asked. Used as in 「お節介を焼く」 or 「お節介な人」. Even when it comes from goodwill, it is mostly felt as a nuisance.
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N1お膳立ておぜんだて
Making preparations in advance so that things proceed smoothly. Used as in 「お膳立てをする」 or 「お膳立てが整う」. Originally referring to preparing a meal, it has expanded to mean arrangements and preparation in general.
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N1襲いかかるおそいかかる
To approach with the intention of attacking fiercely. Used in expressions like 「猛獣が襲いかかる」 or 「不幸が襲いかかる」. Besides direct attacks by people or animals, it is also used metaphorically for sudden disasters or anxieties striking someone.
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N1汚濁おだく
The pollution and clouding of water, air, and the like. A formal word expressing the deterioration of the environment, as in「水質の汚濁が進む」「大気汚濁」.
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N1おだてるおだてる
To praise someone more than they actually deserve, put them in a good mood, and try to make them act as one wishes. It is written with the kanji 「煽てる」, but is normally written in hiragana.
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N1億劫おっくう
A word describing the feeling that doing something is bothersome and one is not inclined to do it. Used in situations where even small actions feel troublesome, as in「外出が億劫だ」「返事を書くのが億劫になる」.
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N1おっとりおっとり
A state in which one's personality or manner is calm, composed, and unhurried. Used as in 「おっとりした人」 or 「おっとりと構える」, as an adverb or na-adjective expressing a person's character in a positive way.
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N1お手上げおてあげ
A state of having no idea what to do at all and no means of resolving the situation. Used as in 「お手上げの状態」 or 「もうお手上げだ」. A colloquial expression that includes the feeling of surrender or giving up.
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N1汚点おてん
An incident that harms one's honor and remains on one's life or career record. Used as in 「人生の汚点」 or 「経歴に汚点を残す」. Originally meaning "stain" or "blemish," it is often used metaphorically in the sense of dishonor. A formal written word found in news and literature.
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N1おどおどおどおど
A state of being unsettled by anxiety or fear, with one's attitude and gaze unsteady. Used adverbially in expressions like 「おどおどした態度」 or 「おどおどと答える」. A negative word expressing lack of confidence or agitation.
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N1お伽話おとぎばなし
An old tale or fantastical story told to children. Used as in 「桃太郎のようなお伽話」 or 「お伽話の世界」. Also used as a metaphor referring to stories far removed from reality.
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N1オノマトペおのまとぺ
A word that represents sounds or states using sound. Refers to onomatopoeic and mimetic words such as 「どきどき」 or 「さらさら」. A scholarly term originating from French, used in linguistics and textual theory.
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N1怯えるおびえる
To be timid and fearful, thinking of something frightening or a bad thing that seems likely to happen. It refers to a state in which the heart is unsettled from anxiety, even when nothing has actually happened yet.
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N1おびただしいおびただしい
A state of an extremely large quantity, overwhelming to behold. Used as in 「おびただしい数の人々」 or 「おびただしい血が流れる」. Not merely "many," but often accompanied by a nuance of surprise or discomfort at that quantity.
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N1脅かすおびやかす
To endanger another's position or safety, causing anxiety. Used as in「地位を脅かす」「平和を脅かす」. The same kanji read as「おどかす」becomes a separate word meaning "to startle," whereas「おびやかす」is used with the meaning of jeopardizing an ongoing state such as position or safety.
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N1帯びるおびる
Including and carrying a certain quality or element. Used as in 「緊張を帯びる」 or 「赤みを帯びる」, expressing a state in which a tendency, hue, or atmosphere is added to something. A formal expression more indirect than 「持つ」, indicating a faint inclusion.
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N1オブザーバーおぶざーばー
A person who attends a meeting but has no formal right of speech or decision. Used as in 「オブザーバーとして参加する」. Derived from the English word observer, used in business or international conferences.
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N1おぼつかないおぼつかない
A state of being unsteady and unreliable, with no certainty that things will go well. Used as in 「足取りがおぼつかない」 or 「合格はおぼつかない」. Used broadly for actions, conditions, and prospects, a formal adjective expressing instability.
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N1汚名おめい
A bad reputation or shameful name. Used as in 「汚名を着せる」 or 「汚名をそそぐ」 to refer to ill repute unjustly attached to someone, or evaluations that bring shame. A formal written word encountered in news and literature.
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N1思い上がるおもいあがる
To consider oneself superior to what one really is and become conceited. Used as in 「思い上がった態度」 or 「思い上がるな」, expressing a state of excessive self-confidence to the point of looking down on others. Carries a strong nuance of criticism.
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N1思い詰めるおもいつめる
To think deeply about something and fall into a cornered state of mind. Used as in 「思い詰めた表情」 or 「思い詰めるな」. Expresses a state of serious thinking in a negative direction.
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N1面影おもかげ
A face, appearance, or remembered figure. Used to refer to the image of a person or thing remaining in memory, as in「面影が残る」「昔の面影はない」.
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N1趣おもむき
The deep flavor or atmosphere that a thing possesses. Used in situations expressing an aesthetic sense that can be felt deeply, as in「趣がある庭」「秋の趣を感じる」.
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N1赴くおもむく
A formal word meaning to proceed toward a place or situation. Used in situations of going to a destination, as in「任地に赴く」「現場に赴く」.
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N1思惑おもわく
The thoughts, intentions, or expectations one holds in mind regarding a matter. Expresses a prediction or aim that oneself or another has drawn up in the mind beforehand, as in「思惑通り」「思惑が外れる」.
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N1折り合いおりあい
Parties in conflict yielding to each other and reaching an agreement. Used in the forms 「折り合いをつける」 or 「折り合いがつく」 to mean adjusting opposing opinions and interests. There is also the usage 「折り合いが悪い」 to express how good or bad a human relationship is.
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N1織り込むおりこむ
Incorporating multiple elements inside and combining them into a unified whole. Used as in 「要望を織り込む」 or 「計画に織り込む」. Originally referring to weaving threads into cloth, it is generally used metaphorically.
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N1織り成すおりなす
Multiple elements combining together to form a single whole. Used as in 「光と影が織り成す風景」 or 「歴史が織り成すドラマ」. A formal word with a metaphorical and literary nuance.
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N1折り目おりめ
A crease formed when paper or cloth is folded. By extension, it refers to propriety in conduct or a well-mannered attitude. Idiomatically used in the form 「折り目正しい」 to describe someone whose manners and behavior are proper and well-disciplined.
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N1, N3, N4折れるおれる
For a hard object to bend and separate. Example: 「えだが折れる」 (a branch breaks).
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N1疎かおろそか
To handle something one is supposed to do carelessly and cut corners on it. Used in expressions like 「練習を疎かにする」, it is used in the sense of treating lightly something that ought to be given effort.
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N1音響おんきょう
The resonance of sound, or the sound effects produced by audio equipment. Used in expressions like 「音響効果」 or 「音響設備」 in contexts dealing with sound quality at concerts, films, or halls. A specialized and formal word.
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N1温厚おんこう
A state of being calm, with good character and considerate of others. Used as in 「温厚な人物」 or 「温厚篤実」, a formal word mainly used to praise a person's personality and character. Includes the sense of composure that does not give way to anger or irritation.
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N1音信おんしん
Contact through letters or telephone. Used in situations expressing whether contact with another person is maintained or has been broken, as in「音信不通」「音信が途絶える」. In older usage it was also read「いんしん」, and that reading still survives in some contexts.
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N1温存おんぞん
Keeping something important without using it. Used as in 「主力選手を温存する」 or 「余力を温存する」 to mean not using it now in preparation for an important future scene. The object is limited to "things that decrease when used," such as strength, forces, or funds.
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N1温暖化おんだんか
A long-term rise in the average temperature of the entire planet. Primarily used in the form 「地球温暖化」 (global warming), and frequently appears in contexts of environmental issues. Often refers to climate change caused by human social and economic activities.
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N1音頭おんど
A word for being the first to raise one's voice before a crowd, setting the rhythm and bringing everyone together. A set expression used in forms like「音頭を取る」「乾杯の音頭」.
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N1穏便おんびん
A word describing the manner of handling things calmly without escalating them. A formal expression used in situations of settling matters without bringing conflicts or problems to the surface, as in「穏便に済ませる」「穏便な解決」.
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N1温和おんわ
For one's personality to be gentle and not sharp-tongued. It is also used to describe a climate that is warm and mild.
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N1回顧かいこ
「回」 means to turn back or to reflect, and 「顧」 means to look back; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to looking back and recalling past events or one's own experiences. Used in expressions like 「半生を回顧する」 or 「回顧録」, it is used in formal contexts of looking back on the past.
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N1, N2回収かいしゅう
To collect and take back items that have already been distributed or used.
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N1, N2階層かいそう
(1) A stratum formed when society is divided by status or income. 「富裕階層」. (2) A structure made up of layers stacked one on another. 「階層構造」.
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N1快諾かいだく
「快」 means pleasant, and 「諾」 means to consent; together they mean to consent gladly. It refers to gladly accepting a request or offer from another. Used in expressions like 「出演を快諾する」, it is a formal word for accepting another's request with pleasure.
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N1かいつまむかいつまむ
It refers to extracting only the key points and speaking briefly. Used in expressions like 「要点をかいつまんで話す」 or 「かいつまんで説明する」, in situations of summing up a long story to convey it briefly.
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N1, N2街道かいどう
A main road connecting towns. Also used figuratively, as in 「出世街道」.
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N1解離かいり
「解」 means to break apart and become loose, and 「離」 means to separate; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to something that had been gathered into one breaking apart. Used in expressions like 「組織から解離する」 or 「物質が解離して別の状態になる」, it is a formal word for situations of bonds becoming undone and separating. It is also seen in chemistry and psychology contexts.
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N1乖離かいり
A divergence or gap between two things that should naturally align. Used in expressions like 「理想と現実の乖離」 (a gap between ideal and reality) or 「世論との乖離」 (a divergence from public opinion), it refers to the distance that arises between two matters. A formal word frequently seen in editorials and critical essays.
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N1顧みるかえりみる
To look back on and reflect upon past events or one's own words and actions. Used as in「過去を顧みる」「家庭を顧みる暇もない」.
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N1省みるかえりみる
「省」 means to look back upon oneself, to reflect. It refers to looking back on one's own words and actions and reflecting. Used in expressions like 「我が身を省みる」, in the sense of inner reflection. While the same-reading 「顧みる」 is used for looking back in a broader sense, 「省みる」 carries a stronger nuance of self-reflection.
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N1画一的かくいつてき
It describes a manner in which everything fits the same standard or the same mold, with no individuality or difference. Used in expressions like 「画一的な教育」 or 「画一的に扱う」, it is often used to negatively express a state in which diversity has been lost.
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