A belief or principle of action that one firmly holds and is determined to uphold. Used in forms like 「信条とする」「政治信条」, expressing the conviction at the core of one's way of life.
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N2浸水しんすい
A house or piece of land being submerged in water due to flooding or the like.
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N2親善しんぜん
The maintenance of friendly and good relationships between nations, organizations, or people. Used in forms like 「親善試合」「親善大使」 in contexts of exchange or friendship.
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N2深層しんそう
The deep part of something that does not appear on the surface. 「心の深層」. The paired opposite word is 「表層」.
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N2真相しんそう
The true state of affairs hidden behind what appears on the surface. Used in situations of uncovering hidden facts, as in 「真相を究明する」.
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N2迅速じんそく
A response or movement being very quick. The paired opposite word is 「緩慢」.
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N2進捗しんちょく
Work or a plan progressing smoothly. 「進捗状況」.
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N2振動しんどう
An object shaking or vibrating in small, repeated movements.
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N2親密しんみつ
A relationship between people that is very close and deeply connected. Used in forms like 「親密な間柄」「親密な関係」.
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N2人脈じんみゃく
A word indicating a network of human relationships built up in work or social life. Used in forms like 「人脈を広げる」「人脈を生かす」. Particularly valued in business contexts.
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N2衰退すいたい
The decline of momentum or power into a state inferior to before. A formal word used in forms like 「産業が衰退する」「伝統文化の衰退」 in contexts where the strength of large entities such as nations, industries, cultures, or organizations diminishes.
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N2垂直すいちょく
The state of being straight at a right angle to a horizontal plane. A formal word used in forms like 「垂直に立てる」「垂直な壁」 expressing exact perpendicularity in a geometric or physical sense. Also used metaphorically, as in 「垂直統合」.
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N2随分ずいぶん
A state in which the degree greatly exceeds expectation. Used in forms like 「随分変わった」「随分遠い」 with the speaker's intuitive evaluation. Used in both spoken and written language, often combined with 「〜なものだ」「〜だね」.
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N2水没すいぼつ
The state of buildings or land sinking under water and disappearing from view. A formal word used in forms like 「川の氾濫で村が水没する」「地下駐車場が水没した」, expressing flood damage from inundation or accidents.
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N2水脈すいみゃく
An underground waterway. Refers to a stream of groundwater that gathers and flows in a band. Used in expressions like 「水脈を掘り当てる」「水脈を探る」, and also metaphorically for invisible currents such as 「思想の水脈」 (a current of thought).
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N2図々しいずうずうしい
A manner of acting without restraint, with no concern for the trouble caused to others. A colloquial word expressing negative evaluation of someone who unhesitatingly demands or acts without regard for others, used in forms like 「図々しい態度」「図々しく頼む」.
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N2据え置きすえおき
To place something in a designated spot and leave it there without moving it. By extension, it means to keep fees, prices, systems, and the like unchanged. Used in expressions like 「据え置き型エアコン」, 「料金据え置き」, and 「金利据え置き」. A formal word used in economic and administrative contexts, expressing a deliberate decision not to change something even when a change is expected.
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N2据え付けるすえつける
The act of fixing machines or equipment in their designated position. Used in forms like 「エアコンを据え付ける」「機械を据え付ける」 in contexts of installing large, hard-to-move items. It carries the implication that once installed, it is not easily moved.
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N2, N4過ぎるすぎる
To pass a time or place. Example: 「えきを過ぎる」 (to pass a station). Also used to mean an excessive degree, as in 「食べ過ぎる」 (to eat too much).
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N2優れるすぐれる
The state of having abilities or qualities at a higher level than others. A somewhat formal word used in forms like 「優れた才能」「景色が優れている」 to evaluate ability, quality, or condition highly. The negative form 「優れない」 can also indicate poor physical condition.
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N2筋書きすじがき
Originally a word referring to the script or synopsis of a play. By extension, it refers to a plan or course of events envisioned in advance. Often used in expressions like 「筋書き通りに進む」 and 「筋書きが狂う」, in contexts discussing whether actual circumstances match the planned course of events.
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N2, N3進めるすすめる
To move something forward. Example: 「車を進める」 (to move a car forward). Also used to mean carrying something to a further stage, as in 「計画を進める」 (to advance a plan). A person moving something forward is 「進める」, while something moving forward on its own is 「進む」; they are used as in 「計画を進める」 versus 「計画が進む」. Note the distinction from the homophone 「勧める」 (to recommend to someone).
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N2巣立つすだつ
A verb meaning that a baby bird grows up, leaves the nest, and flies away. By extension, it means a child leaving their parents to become independent, or a young person graduating from school and entering society. Used in expressions like 「子どもが巣立つ」 and 「学び舎から巣立つ」, in contexts of moving from a sheltered place to an independent life.
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N2すっきりすっきり
The state of being free of clutter or worries and feeling pleasantly organized. A colloquial adverb used in forms like 「部屋がすっきりする」「頭がすっきりする」 for both physical tidiness and mental refreshment.
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N2ずばりずばり
The state of striking at the core in one go without indirection. Used in forms like 「ずばり言い当てる」「ずばり指摘する」 in contexts of avoiding vague expressions and pointing directly at the essence. A colloquial word emphasizing the sharpness of speech or questions.
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N2澄ますすます
(1) To make something clear by removing what clouds it. As in 「水を澄ます」, that is, turning something muddy into a clean state. (2) In the form 「耳を澄ます」, to concentrate so as to catch even the faintest sound. Used as in 「物音がしないか耳を澄ます」. (3) To put on airs and take a prim, affected attitude. 「澄ました顔」.
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N2, N3済ますすます
To bring something to a finish. Example: 「用事を済ます」 (to finish an errand). Also used to mean making do with something simple, as in 「昼食はパンで済ます」 (to have just bread for lunch). The form 「済ませる」 is also commonly used with the same meaning. A person finishing something is 「済ます」, while a matter coming to an end is 「済む」; they are used as in 「用事を済ます」 versus 「用事が済む」.
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N2速やかすみやか
The manner of doing things quickly and without delay. A formal word used in forms like 「速やかに対応する」「速やかな処置」 in administrative, work, or medical contexts requiring prompt action.
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N2ずらりずらり
The state in which many things or people are lined up in a row or spread across an area. A colloquial adverb used in forms like 「ずらりと並ぶ」「ずらりと揃う」, simultaneously impressing visual breadth and large quantity.
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N2精鋭せいえい
Personnel carefully selected for their outstanding ability. A formal word used in forms like 「精鋭部隊」「精鋭を集める」, referring to elite individuals chosen from a larger group.
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N2, N3性格せいかく
personality. Characteristics shown in how a person feels and acts. Example: 「明るい性格」 (a cheerful personality). Note the distinction from the homophone 「正確」 (accurate).
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N2正規せいき
Conforming to officially established rules. 「正規雇用」. The paired opposite word is 「非正規」.
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N2制御せいぎょ
To control and adjust a machine or a matter so that it moves as intended.
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N2清算せいさん
(1) To properly settle and close out a debt or financial relationship. 「借金を清算する」. (2) To thoroughly settle and end a past relationship. 「過去を清算する」. Distinguished from 「精算」 (to recalculate an amount in detail), which has the same reading.
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N2生死せいし
Life and death. Used in serious situations involving someone's life, as in 「生死にかかわる」.
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N2成熟せいじゅく
The state in which fruits, people, or societies have fully developed into a completed state. A formal word used in forms like 「社会の成熟」「人格の成熟」「成熟した判断」, expressing the endpoint of development over time.
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N2斉唱せいしょう
The act of many people singing or reciting the same song or words in unison. A formal word used in forms like 「国歌斉唱」「校歌を斉唱する」 in official settings such as ceremonies or assemblies.
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N1, N2精神せいしん
The workings of the human mind and consciousness; the mental side as opposed to the body. 精神的に疲れる (mentally tired). Also means the idea at the root of something, as in チームの精神 (the team's spirit).
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N2ぜいたくぜいたく
The act of living extravagantly by spending money and goods beyond one's status or needs. Used in forms like 「ぜいたくな暮らし」「ぜいたくを言う」, referring to consumption beyond one's means or excessive demands.
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N2, N3生命せいめい
Life. Often used in written language or set expressions such as 「生命保険」 (life insurance); in spoken language, 「命」 is normal.
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N2制約せいやく
A condition or rule that limits the scope of action or choice. A formal word used in forms like 「制約を受ける」「制約がある」「時間の制約」, referring to various restrictions of a physical, contractual, or temporal nature.
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N2, N3整理せいり
To neatly tidy up things that are scattered around. Example: 「机の上を整理する」 (to tidy up a desk). Also used to mean organizing thoughts or information in an understandable way, as in 「問題点を整理する」 (to organize the problem points).
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N2急かすせかす
The act of urging someone to hurry up. Used in forms like 「子どもを急かす」「返事を急かす」, with the sense of pushing someone to speed up when they are acting calmly.
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N2積載せきさい
The act of loading cargo onto vehicles or ships. A formal word used in forms like 「積載量」「最大積載重量」, a technical and legal term referring to placing goods onto transport equipment.
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N2世辞せじ
Words of praise spoken not from the heart but to please someone. Often used in the form 「お世辞」, a somewhat formal word referring to formal, social pleasantries.
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N2世相せそう
The overall state and trend of society in a given era. A formal word used in forms like 「世相を反映する」「世相を映す」, often appearing in public writing such as newspapers, editorials, or commentary.
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N2世俗せぞく
The ordinary, everyday world, as opposed to the religious or spiritual. A formal word used in forms like 「世俗を離れる」「世俗的な関心」, referring to mundane, secular matters.
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N2摂取せっしゅ
The act of taking nutrients, knowledge, or information into the body or mind. A formal word used in forms like 「栄養を摂取する」「情報を摂取する」, mainly referring to intentional intake for health or learning.
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N2絶体絶命ぜったいぜつめい
A situation in which one is utterly cornered with no means of escape. A four-character idiom. A formal word used in forms like 「絶体絶命のピンチ」「絶体絶命の状況」, emphasizing a critical situation.
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N2是非ぜひ
A judgment of whether something is good or bad, right or wrong. A formal word used in forms like 「是非を問う」「是非を論じる」. It shares its reading and characters with the adverb 「ぜひ」 (by all means) but differs in usage; here it is treated as a noun.
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