confirm. To check something so there is no mistake, and make it clear. Example: 「予定を確かめる」 (to confirm a schedule), 「答えを確かめる」 (to check an answer). The noun form is 「確認」.
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N3, N5出すだす
To move something from inside to outside. Example: 「かばんから本を出す」 (to take a book out of a bag). Also used to mean handing something to someone, as in 「手紙を出す」 (to send a letter).
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N3助かるたすかる
To escape from danger or death. Example: 「乗客は全員助かった」 (all the passengers survived). Also used to mean being relieved by someone's help, as in 「手伝ってもらえると助かる」 (it would help a lot if you could assist). 「助ける」 is used when a person lends a hand and rescues someone, while 「助かる」 is used when the one rescued ends up safe: compare 「乗客を助ける」 with 「乗客が助かる」.
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N3ただただ
Not requiring payment. Example: 「ただでもらう」 (to receive for free). Also used to mean something is not special, or simply that, as in 「ただの風邪」 (just a cold). Written with the kanji 「只」, but usually written in hiragana.
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N3戦うたたかう
fight. To struggle in order to determine victory or defeat. Used for wars and matches. Example: 「優勝をかけて戦う」 (to fight for the championship). Also used to mean confronting an illness or difficulty, as in 「病気と戦う」 (to fight an illness).
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N3〜N5正しいただしい
A state of having no mistakes. Fitting the rules. The antonym is 「間違っている」 (mistaken).
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N2, N3畳むたたむ
fold. To fold something spread out and make it smaller. Example: 「洗濯物を畳む」 (to fold laundry). Also used to mean closing a business, as in 「店を畳む」 (to close a shop for good).
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N3立場たちば
The position or situation a person is placed in. Example: 「相手の立場で考える」 (to think from the other person's position).
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N3経つたつ
For time to pass. Example: 「あれから3年が経った」 (three years have passed since then). Easily confused with the homophones 「立つ」 (to stand) and 「建つ」 (for a building to be constructed).
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N3たっぷりたっぷり
A state in which an amount is plentiful. Example: 「たっぷり眠る」 (to sleep plenty), 「ソースをたっぷりかける」 (to pour on plenty of sauce).
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N2, N3縦たて
vertical. The up-and-down direction. Example: 「縦に並ぶ」 (to line up vertically). The antonym is 「横」 (horizontal).
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N2〜N4立てるたてる
To place something upright. Example: 「かんばんを立てる」 (to put up a sign). Also used to mean making a plan, as in 「よていを立てる」 (to make a schedule). Distinguished in writing from the homophone 「建てる」 (to build a house or building), and others.
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N3, N4建てるたてる
To construct a house or building, etc. Example: 「家を建てる」 (to build a house). Distinguished in writing from the homophone 「立てる」 (to place something upright; to make a plan), and others.
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N1, N3谷たに
valley. A low, hollow place between mountains.
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N3他人たにん
A person other than oneself. A person who is not family or a relative. 「赤の他人」 means a person who is completely unrelated to oneself.
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N2, N3種たね
seed. A grain that is the origin of a plant sprouting. Example: 「種をまく」 (to sow seeds). Also used to mean the cause or material of something, as in 「話の種」 (a conversation topic), 「心配の種」 (a source of worry).
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N3たびたびたびたび
Many times, repeatedly. Example: 「たびたびすみません」 (sorry for the repeated trouble). Written with the kanji 「度々」.
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N3だますだます
deceive. To make someone believe something that is not true. Example: 「うそを言って人をだます」 (to deceive someone by lying). Written with the kanji 「騙す」, but since this kanji is not used in daily life, it is usually written in hiragana.
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N3たまたまたまたま
By chance, just at that moment. Example: 「たまたま駅で友人に会った」 (happened to meet a friend at the station by chance).
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N3黙るだまる
To remain silent, saying nothing. To stop talking. Example: 「黙って聞く」 (to listen silently).
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N3, N4駄目だめ
A state of something not being allowed. Also used to mean something not going well. Example: 「駄目だった」 (it didn't work out).
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N3試すためす
To actually try something to check whether it works well. Example: 「新しい方法を試す」 (to try a new method).
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N3貯めるためる
To gradually collect something without using it. Mainly used for money, as in 「旅行のためにお金を貯める」 (to save up money for a trip). For things like water or trash, it is often written in hiragana as 「ためる」.
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N3頼るたよる
To rely not only on one's own strength but also on the help of a person or thing. Example: 「親に頼る」 (to rely on one's parents), 「地図に頼る」 (to rely on a map).
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N3, N4足りるたりる
For a necessary number or amount to be sufficient. Example: 「お金が足りない」 (not enough money).
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N3単位たんい
unit. The standard used for counting length, weight, etc., such as meters or kilograms. Also used to mean units of academic credit at a university, etc., as in 「単位を取る」 (to earn credits).
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N3単純たんじゅん
simple. Being uncomplicated in structure or way of thinking. Example: 「単純な作業」 (simple work). The antonym is 「複雑」 (complex).
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N3たんすたんす
A piece of furniture with drawers used for storing clothing, etc. Written with the kanji 「箪笥」, but since this kanji is not used in daily life, it is written in hiragana.
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N3団体だんたい
A gathering of people who share the same purpose. Example: 「団体で申し込む」 (to apply as a group). The paired expression is 「個人」 (individual).
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N3担当たんとう
To take charge of a job or role. Also, the person who does so. Example: 「営業を担当する」 (to be in charge of sales), 「担当者」 (the person in charge).
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N3地域ちいき
region. A defined area of land. Example: 「地域の行事」 (a regional event).
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N3, N5小さいちいさい
small. A state where the shape, number, sound, etc., of something is below normal. The antonym is 「大きい」 (big).
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N3知恵ちえ
The ability to think well and make judgments about things, or the ability to come up with ideas. Used in expressions such as 「知恵を絞る」「生活の知恵」. Refers not to mere knowledge but to thinking ability that can actually be applied.
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N3地下ちか
underground. Below the ground. Example: 「地下鉄」 (subway), 「地下1階」 (basement level 1). The antonym is 「地上」 (above ground).
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N3〜N5近いちかい
near. A state where the distance is small. Also used for a short amount of time. The antonym is 「遠い」 (far).
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N2, N3, N5近くちかく
A nearby place. Example: 「駅の近く」 (near the station).
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N2, N3近づくちかづく
For a distance or time to become closer. Example: 「台風が近づく」 (a typhoon approaches), 「試験が近づく」 (the exam draws near). Also used to mean becoming closer/friendlier with someone. 「近づく」 is used when something comes closer on its own, while 「近づける」 is used when a person moves something closer: compare 「台風が近づく」 with 「いすを壁に近づける」.
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N3近寄るちかよる
Approaching something. Also, trying to interact closely with a person. Used in expressions such as 「危険だから近寄るな」「なかなか近寄りがたい人」.
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N3地球ちきゅう
earth. The planet we live on.
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N3遅刻ちこく
To be late for a set time. Example: 「学校に遅刻する」 (to be late for school).
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N3知識ちしき
knowledge. Content one knows from learning or experience. Example: 「知識が豊富だ」 (to have abundant knowledge), 「専門知識」 (specialized knowledge).
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N3知人ちじん
acquaintance. Someone one knows. Also used for a person not as close as a 「友人」 (friend).
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N3縮むちぢむ
The length or size of something becoming smaller. Also, the body becoming compact from cold or surprise. Used in expressions such as 「セーターが縮む」「寒さで体が縮む」.
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N3縮めるちぢめる
Making the length, distance, or time of something shorter. Used in expressions such as 「時間を縮める」「距離を縮める」 in contexts of one's own action shortening something.
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N3ちっともちっとも
Not even a little (with a negative). Always followed by a negative form. Example: 「ちっとも知らなかった」 (didn't know at all).
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N3地方ちほう
A certain region within a country. Example: 「東北地方」 (the Tohoku region). Also used to mean an area away from a big city, as in 「地方に住む」 (to live in the countryside). The paired term is 「都会」 (city).
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N3ちゃんとちゃんと
properly. Neatly, correctly. 「ちゃんと片づける」「ちゃんと説明する」. When the form 「ちゃんとした」 modifies a following noun, it means being proper rather than careless, and trustworthy. 「ちゃんとした会社」「ちゃんとした服装」. Commonly used in spoken language.
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N2, N3中央ちゅうおう
center. The middle. Example: 「町の中央」 (the center of a town). Also used to mean the center of government, etc., as in 「中央政府」 (central government).
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N3中古ちゅうこ
secondhand. An item that has been used before. Example: 「中古車」 (a used car). The antonym is 「新品」 (brand new).
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N3中心ちゅうしん
The middle. Example: 「円の中心」 (the center of a circle). While 「中央」 refers to the physical middle of a place, 「中心」 is also broadly used for the most important part or person in something, as in 「チームの中心」 (the core of a team).
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