A damp, gloomy feeling that will not lift. It also describes something bothersome and unpleasant. Used in expressions like 「梅雨はうっとうしい」 and 「前髪がうっとうしい」.
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N2促すうながす
Working on the other party so that they will do something. Used as in 「発言を促す」, 「注意を促す」, or 「反省を促す」 in scenes of drawing out an action without compulsion. Frequently used in somewhat formal writing.
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N2頷くうなずく
The motion of nodding the head up and down to indicate feelings of agreement, understanding, or consent. Used as in 「深く頷く」 or 「黙って頷く」 in scenes of agreeing with another's words or conveying that one has understood.
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N2埋まるうまる
The state in which something enters from above or inside and becomes covered or filled. Used as in 「雪に埋まる」 or 「予定が埋まる」, in both the physical sense of being covered and the sense of all empty spaces being filled.
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N2埋め立てうめたて
Construction work that fills the sea, lakes, or swamps with earth and sand to create land. Used as in 「湾の埋め立て」 or 「埋め立て地」 in scenes of large-scale projects converting water surface into residential or industrial land.
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N2裏口うらぐち
An entrance to a building that is not the front one. By extension, an improper, illegitimate means of doing something. Used in expressions like 「裏口入学」 and 「裏口から入る」.
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N2裏工作うらこうさく
A scheme or behind-the-scenes maneuvering carried out secretly, without bringing it into the open. Used in expressions like 「裏工作を行う」. It carries a somewhat negative nuance.
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N2恨みうらみ
A feeling of hatred toward someone because one feels one was treated terribly. Used as in 「恨みを抱く」 or 「恨みを晴らす」. Expresses a negative emotion that is deeper and lasts longer in the heart than momentary anger.
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N2売り上げうりあげ
The total amount of money received from selling products or services. Used as in 「月間の売り上げ」 or 「売り上げが伸びる」. A basic indicator of a company's performance, frequently appearing in management and economic contexts.
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N2売り出しうりだし
Beginning to sell a new product. Used when full-scale selling starts, as in 「新商品の売り出し」. It also refers to a sales event in which goods are sold cheaply for a set period; 「大売り出し」 and 「歳末売り出し」 have this meaning, referring to a shop cutting prices to draw in customers. It is used of people as well: 「売り出し中の歌手」 expresses that a newcomer is starting to become widely known and that their activity is getting into full swing.
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N2潤ううるおう
(1) To become moist by containing water. 「肌が潤う」. (2) To become prosperous and gain benefit. 「観光で町が潤う」. The meaning extended from moisture spreading through something to economic prosperity. This is an intransitive verb; the transitive verb is 「潤す」.
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N2憂いうれい
Worry or grief; anxiety and sadness about the future. Used in expressions like 「憂いを帯びた表情」, 「後顧の憂い」, and 「憂いのない日々」. The reading 「うれい」 is the common one, but in compound words it can also be read as 「うい」 (as in 「憂き目」). It carries a literary tone.
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N2売れ行きうれゆき
How well a product is selling, the state of its sales. Used as in 「売れ行きが良い」 or 「売れ行きが伸び悩む」. A word expressing the momentum and trend of sales performance, frequently appearing in business and retail contexts.
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N2上回るうわまわる
A state where quantity or degree is more or higher than the reference standard. Used as in 「予想を上回る」 or 「前年比を上回る」 in scenes of exceeding the comparison target. A formal expression frequently appearing in statistics and performance reports.
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N2運営うんえい
To run and manage an organization, business, or the like so that it functions well.
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N2うんざりうんざり
A feeling of being fed up and sick of something. Used in expressions like 「同じ話にうんざりする」, 「うんざりするほど暑い」, and 「もううんざりだ」. It expresses distaste toward repetition or an excessive state of something.
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N2運搬うんぱん
To carry people or things from one place to another.
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N2疫学えきがく
The academic field that studies how diseases spread within populations. A discipline that investigates causes and pathways statistically, used as in「疫学調査」「疫学的な分析」. A specialized word commonly seen in medical and public health contexts.
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N2えぐいえぐい
A taste that is harsh and irritates the throat. By extension, it describes a way of doing something that is blunt and merciless. Used in expressions like 「えぐい味」 and 「えぐいやり方」. Its slang-like usage has become widespread.
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N2似非えせ
A prefix-like word expressing the meaning of "not genuine, only superficial." A written-language word placed before a noun to add the negative meaning of "fake" or "lacking substance," as in「似非学者」「似非文化人」.
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N2閲覧えつらん
To look through and read a book, document, web page, or the like. Used in expressions like 「閲覧室」, 「資料を閲覧する」, and 「閲覧注意」. It is widely used both for using materials in a library and for viewing content on the internet.
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N2得手えて
Something one is good at. In modern usage it is rarely used on its own, and instead appears within set expressions such as 「得手不得手」 (strengths and weaknesses) and 「得手に帆を揚げる」 (to hoist one's sail when a favorable wind comes for something one is good at, meaning to make the most of a favorable chance in one's strong point).
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N2干支えと
The twelve zodiac signs, or the animal assigned to a given year. Used in topics of culture and annual events, as in「今年の干支」「干支を尋ねる」. There is also an academic term read「かんし」using the on-yomi reading, but「えと」is the common reading in everyday use.
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N2襟足えりあし
A word for the back of the neck, around the hairline. An everyday word for a body part, often used in beauty and barbering contexts, as in「襟足を刈る」「襟足がすっきりしている」.
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N2襟元えりもと
The collar area of clothing, or the base of the neck. Used as in「襟元を正す」「襟元が寒い」. The phrase「襟元を正す」is also used as a set expression meaning to correct one's posture or attitude.
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N2円滑えんかつ
A state in which things proceed smoothly without any hitches. Used in expressions like 「円滑な人間関係」, 「会議を円滑に進める」, and 「業務の円滑化」. It is a na-adjective, taking the forms 「円滑だ」, 「円滑な」, and 「円滑に」.
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N2縁側えんがわ
In a traditional Japanese house, a wooden-floored strip that projects along the outside of a room. It is a space connecting the interior to the garden, and is used in expressions like 「縁側でお茶を飲む」 and 「縁側に腰掛ける」. It is one of the words symbolizing Japanese residential culture.
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N2縁起えんぎ
Refers to omens or beliefs concerning the good or bad luck of what is to come. Used in expressions like 「縁起がいい」, 「縁起を担ぐ」, or 「縁起でもない」. Linked to objects and words suggesting fortune or misfortune, it is used widely from everyday conversation to formal writing.
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N2縁組えんぐみ
A word for establishing a family relationship through marriage, adoption, and the like. Used as in「養子縁組」「縁組を結ぶ」. A somewhat formal word used in contexts related to law and family registers; in everyday conversation, the words「結婚」or「養子」are used separately instead.
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N2遠景えんけい
The scenery seen in the distance. Used as in 「遠景に山が見える」 or 「遠景を描く」, indicating the part of a landscape positioned far away in the composition of a painting, photograph, or written description. The antonym is 「近景」.
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N2援助えんじょ
To help someone in trouble by providing effort or resources.
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N2炎症えんしょう
A reaction in which body tissue swells red and is accompanied by heat and pain due to injury or infection. Used as in 「炎症を起こす」 or 「炎症が治まる」. A word frequently appearing in medical and health contexts, and also commonly used in daily life.
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N2演じるえんじる
To take on and express a role or part, or to perform an action in an exaggerated manner. Used in expressions like 「主役を演じる」 or 「茶番を演じる」. Besides roles in plays and films, it has a metaphorical usage for negative actions, as in 「醜態を演じる」.
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N2縁談えんだん
Discussions about marriage, or marriage proposals. Used as in 「縁談を持ち込む」 or 「縁談が破談になる」. A formal word mainly referring to arranged marriages involving a third party, or marriages between families.
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N2縁日えんにち
A day said to have a special connection with a particular deity or Buddha at a shrine or temple. Also refers to the festival or market held on that day. A word familiar as a feature of old downtown areas, used as in「縁日に出かける」「縁日の屋台」.
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N2円満えんまん
A state of being harmonious and settled without friction. Used in expressions like 「円満な家庭」 and 「円満に解決する」.
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N2遠路えんろ
A long road or distant journey. 「遠路はるばる」 is a set phrase used in greetings like 「遠路はるばるお越しいただく」 to express gratitude to someone who has come from afar. In modern usage, it is almost exclusively used in this idiomatic expression.
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N2老いおい
Growing old; also, the weakening of mind and body with age. 老いを感じる (feel one's age). The verb form is 老いる.
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N1, N2老いるおいる
To grow old, with the mind and body weakening with age. Used as in 「老いた親」. Also used as a noun in the form 「老い」.
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N2往年おうねん
The past that has gone by, especially the era when that person or thing was flourishing. Used as in 「往年の名選手」 or 「往年の面影」 in contexts of looking back at past glory or one's prime. Characteristically, it does not refer simply to "the old days," but specifically to a brilliant period in the past.
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N2応募おうぼ
To apply in response to a call for applicants.
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N2往来おうらい
The coming and going of people and vehicles, or the road on which they travel. Used in expressions like 「人の往来が激しい」 or 「往来で遊ぶな」. A formal word used in contexts about traffic or places.
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N2覆うおおう
To cover something from above and hide it, enveloping the whole. Used for situations where something is broadly enveloped over a surface, like cloth or snow.
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N2大柄おおがら
A state of having a body larger than ordinary. Used as in 「大柄な男性」 or 「大柄な体格」 to express that a person's build is large. Also used in the meaning of large patterns on cloth or designs.
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N2大げさおおげさ
A state of showing or expressing things in a way that is exaggerated beyond reality. Used as in 「大げさに騒ぐ」 or 「大げさな身振り」. Carries the nuance that the speaker feels it is excessive.
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N2侵すおかす
To wrongfully intrude on another person's territory or rights and cause harm. Although read the same way, 「冒す」 is used for facing danger and 「犯す」 for committing a crime. Note that the kanji changes depending on the meaning.
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N2置き去りおきざり
To leave a person or thing behind at a place and go away. Used in expressions like 「置き去りにされる」 and 「問題を置き去りにする」.
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N2臆病おくびょう
The nature or state of being easily frightened even by trivial matters. Used as in 「臆病な性格」 or 「臆病風に吹かれる」. A na-adjective, used in the forms 「臆病だ」 or 「臆病な」. The antonym of 「大胆」.
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N2お蔵入りおくらいり
For a plan or work to be shelved without being realized or released. Used in expressions like 「企画がお蔵入りになる」.
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N2怠るおこたる
A verb meaning to lazily fail to do what one ought to do. Used in situations of not fulfilling duties one is supposed to carry out, as in「注意を怠る」「義務を怠る」. While「怠ける」(using the same kanji) carries the general meaning of "being lazy to take it easy,"「怠る」is used with the nuance of failing to fulfill an obligation.
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