A block of time within an era. Example: 「1990年代」 (the 1990s). Also used to mean people of a similar age, as in 「同年代」 (people of the same generation).
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N3年齢ねんれい
age. A person's number of years. Example: 「年齢を聞く」 (to ask someone's age).
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N3農家のうか
farmer. A household or person whose job is farming. Example: 「農家の人」 (a farming person).
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N3農業のうぎょう
agriculture. An industry involving growing crops or raising livestock on fields.
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N3能力のうりょく
ability. The power to carry something through. Example: 「能力が高い」 (to have high ability).
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N3乗せるのせる
To place a person or thing on top of a vehicle, etc. Example: 「客を車に乗せる」 (to give a passenger a ride in a car). 「乗せる」 is used when one puts another person or thing onto a vehicle, while 「乗る」 is used when one gets on it oneself: compare 「客を車に乗せる」 with 「客が車に乗る」. Note the distinction from the homophone 「載せる」 (to publish an article in a newspaper, etc.).
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N3望むのぞむ
To wish for something to happen. Example: 「平和を望む」 (to wish for peace). Also used to mean looking out over a distance, as in 「山を望む」 (to have a view of the mountains).
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N3伸ばすのばす
To make a length or strength greater. Example: 「髪を伸ばす」 (to grow one's hair long), 「背筋を伸ばす」 (to straighten one's back). Also used to mean developing something, as in 「才能を伸ばす」 (to develop one's talent). 「伸ばす」 is used when a person acts to make something longer or greater, while 「伸びる」 is used when it grows on its own: compare 「髪を伸ばす」 with 「髪が伸びる」. When it means extending a deadline, it is written 「延ばす」.
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N2, N3伸びるのびる
For a length or force to become greater. Example: 「髪が伸びる」 (hair grows), 「売り上げが伸びる」 (sales grow). 「伸ばす」 is used when a person acts to make something longer or greater, while 「伸びる」 is used when it grows on its own: compare 「髪を伸ばす」 with 「髪が伸びる」. When it means time lengthening, it is written 「延びる」.
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N3述べるのべる
To state a thought or opinion in words. A literary word; in spoken language, 「言う」 is normal. Example: 「意見を述べる」 (to state an opinion).
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N3, N5乗るのる
ride. To get on a train, car, etc. The antonym is 「降りる」 (to get off).
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N3載るのる
For an article or photo, etc., to appear in a newspaper or book. Example: 「新聞に載る」 (to appear in the newspaper). Also used to mean an object being placed on top of something, as in 「机に載っている本」 (a book on the desk). 「載せる」 is used when a person puts something in a newspaper, etc., while 「載る」 is used when the article or photo appears there: compare 「記事を載せる」 with 「記事が載る」. Note the distinction from the homophone 「乗る」 (to get on a vehicle).
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N3のんびりのんびり
A relaxed manner, not rushing. Example: 「休日はのんびり過ごす」 (to spend a holiday relaxing).
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N3配達はいたつ
delivery. To deliver goods or mail. Example: 「新聞配達」 (newspaper delivery).
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N3売店ばいてん
A small shop located inside a station, hospital, etc. Example: 「駅の売店」 (a station kiosk).
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N3俳優はいゆう
actor. A person who plays roles in movies or plays.
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N3〜N5入るはいる
enter. To move inside. Example: 「へやに入る」 (to enter a room). The antonym is 「出る」 (to exit).
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N3生えるはえる
For grass, hair, teeth, etc., to grow out. Example: 「草が生える」 (grass grows), 「ひげが生える」 (a beard grows). 「生やす」 is used when a person lets something grow, while 「生える」 is used when it comes out on its own: compare 「ひげを生やす」 with 「ひげが生える」.
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N3墓はか
grave. A place where a dead person is buried and memorialized. Example: 「墓参り」 (visiting a grave).
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N2, N3ばかばか
Dull-witted. A word used to insult someone. Example: 「ばかなことをするな」 (don't do something stupid). Also used to mean "extremely," as in 「ばかに寒い」 (unusually cold). Written with the kanji 「馬鹿」, but usually written in hiragana or katakana.
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N3博士はかせ
expert. A friendly way of calling someone who knows a great deal about a certain field. Used without any connection to a university degree, as in "弟は星の博士だ" (my little brother is a star expert) or "魚の博士". The same "博士" read as "はくし" is a different word meaning the highest academic degree granted by a university.
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N3博士はくし
doctor. The highest academic degree given to a person who has deeply researched a field of study. When referring to the degree, it is read 「はくし」. Apart from the degree, a person very knowledgeable in a certain field is sometimes called 「はかせ」.
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N3拍手はくしゅ
applause. To clap one's hands to express praise or joy. Example: 「拍手を送る」 (to give applause).
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N2, N3爆発ばくはつ
explosion. For gunpowder, gas, etc., to suddenly burst violently. Example: 「ガス爆発」 (a gas explosion). Also used to mean pent-up emotion suddenly bursting out, as in 「怒りが爆発する」 (anger explodes).
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N3博物館はくぶつかん
museum. A facility that collects and displays materials related to history, nature, etc. A facility displaying art is called 「美術館」 instead.
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N3激しいはげしい
intense. Very strong in force. Example: 「激しい雨」 (heavy rain), 「激しい運動」 (intense exercise). Also used for emotions, as in 「激しい怒り」 (intense anger).
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N3挟むはさむ
hold between. To hold or press something from both sides (「トングで肉を挟む」, to grip meat with tongs). Also used for putting something into a gap or between things (「本にしおりを挟む」, to put a bookmark in a book). 「口を挟む」 means to cut into someone's talk. When something is caught in between, the verb 「挟まる」 is used, as in 「ドアに指が挟まる」 (to get one's finger caught in a door).
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N3端はし
edge. The outermost part, away from the center. Example: 「道の端を歩く」 (to walk along the edge of the road). Also read 「はじ」.
To remove something that is attached. Example: 「ボタンを外す」 (to undo a button), 「眼鏡を外す」 (to take off one's glasses). Also used to mean leaving a place, as in 「席を外す」 (to step away from one's seat). 「外す」 is used when a person removes something, while 「外れる」 is used when it comes off on its own: compare 「ボタンを外す」 with 「ボタンが外れる」.
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N3外れるはずれる
For something that was attached to come off and separate. Example: 「ボタンが外れる」 (a button comes undone). Also used to mean a prediction, etc., not coming true, as in 「天気予報が外れる」 (the weather forecast is wrong). 「外す」 is used when a person removes something, while 「外れる」 is used when it comes off on its own: compare 「ボタンを外す」 with 「ボタンが外れる」.
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N3肌はだ
skin. The surface of a person's body. Used in expressions like 「肌が荒れる」 (the skin becomes rough). The phrase 「肌に合う」 also means "to suit one's nature/taste."
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N2, N3畑はたけ
Land used for growing vegetables and fruits. As opposed to a 「田」 (paddy field), which is flooded to grow rice, this refers to land that is not flooded.
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N3発見はっけん
discovery. Finding something not previously known. Example: 「新種の発見」 (discovery of a new species).
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N3発達はったつ
Growing into a more complete state. Example: 「筋肉が発達する」 (muscles develop), 「交通が発達した町」 (a town with developed transportation). While 「発展」 tends to refer to growth in scale, 「発達」 more often refers to improvement in function or ability.
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N2, N3発展はってん
When the momentum of something grows and it becomes bigger or more active. Example: 「経済の発展」 (economic development), 「町が発展する」 (a town develops).
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N3発売はつばい
To put a product on sale. Example: 「新商品を発売する」 (to release a new product).
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N3発表はっぴょう
To announce something widely to many people. Example: 「研究発表」 (research presentation), 「合格発表」 (announcement of exam results).
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N2, N3派手はで
A manner in which colors or behavior stand out and are showy. Example: 「派手な服」 (flashy clothes). The antonym is 「地味」 (plain/subdued).
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N3離すはなす
To separate attached things and create a gap between them. Example: 「手を離す」 (to let go of one's hand), 「机を離して置く」 (to place desks apart). Note the distinction from the same-sounding word 「放す」 (to release something one was holding). 「離す」 is used when a person creates the gap, while 「離れる」 is used when the gap opens on its own: compare 「手を離す」 with 「手が離れる」.
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N3花火はなび
fireworks. Something launched into the night sky using gunpowder to create patterns of light. Example: 「花火大会」 (fireworks festival).
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N3離れるはなれる
To become distant. To leave a place. Example: 「駅から離れた家」 (a house far from the station), 「故郷を離れる」 (to leave one's hometown). 「離れる」 is used when the gap opens on its own, while 「離す」 is used when a person creates it: compare 「手が離れる」 with 「手を離す」.
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N3羽はね
The part of a bird or an insect used for flying in the sky. Also the feathers that cover a bird's body. For example, 「羽を広げる」. When counting birds and rabbits it is read 「わ」, and is used as in 「二羽(にわ)」.
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N2, N3幅はば
width. The length across something. Example: 「道の幅」 (the width of a road). Also used to mean breadth of range, as in 「幅広い知識」 (broad knowledge).
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N3場面ばめん
scene. The state of the place where something is happening. Example: 「感動的な場面」 (a moving scene). Also used to refer to a segment of a movie or play.
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N3流行るはやる
To become widely popular with many people. Example: 「このアプリが流行っている」 (this app is popular). Also used when a disease spreads widely, as in 「インフルエンザが流行る」 (the flu is spreading). In written language, 「流行(りゅうこう)する」 is also used.
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N3針はり
needle. A thin, pointed tool used for sewing or injections. Example: 「針と糸」 (needle and thread). Also broadly refers to thin, pointed objects such as a clock's hands or a fishing hook.
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N3反省はんせい
To reflect on one's own words and actions and think about what was wrong. Example: 「反省して謝る」 (to reflect and apologize).
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N3判断はんだん
judgment. To think about something and decide. Example: 「状況を判断する」 (to judge the situation).
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N3犯人はんにん
A person who has committed a crime. Example: 「犯人を捕まえる」 (to catch the criminal).
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