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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N3販売はんばい
To sell goods. Example: 「チケットを販売する」 (to sell tickets). A more formal, business-oriented way of saying 「売る」 (to sell).
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N3被害ひがい
To suffer damage or harm. Also refers to the damage received. Example: 「台風の被害」 (typhoon damage). The antonym is 「加害」 (inflicting harm).
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N3比較ひかく
comparison. To compare two or more things. Example: 「値段を比較する」 (to compare prices).
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N2〜N5引くひく
pull. To move something toward oneself by applying force. Example: 「戸を引く」 (to pull a door). The antonym is 「押す」 (to push). There is also the homophone 「弾く」 (to play a musical instrument), among others.
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N3, N5低いひくい
low. A state where the length from bottom to top is small. The antonym is 「高い」 (high).
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N3膝ひざ
knee. The bendable joint in the middle of the leg. Example: 「膝をつく」 (to kneel down).
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N3肘ひじ
elbow. The bendable joint in the middle of the arm. Example: 「肘をつく」 (to rest on one's elbow).
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N3非常ひじょう
An unusual, urgent situation. It is used on its own as a noun, as in 「非常の際」 (in an emergency), 「非常の場合」 (in case of emergency). It is also often combined with other words, as in 「非常口」 (emergency exit), 「非常ベル」 (emergency bell), 「非常階段」 (emergency stairs), 「非常食」 (emergency rations). Adding 「に」 gives 「非常に」, an adverb meaning the same as 「とても」 (very); the part of speech and the meaning both change, as in 「非常の際に備える」 versus 「非常に寒い」.
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N3, N4非常にひじょうに
Expresses that the degree of something is very strong. It has the same meaning as 「とても」 and 「たいへん」, and is often used in written language. It is formed by adding 「に」 to the noun 「非常」 (an unusual, urgent situation; 「非常口」「非常ベル」); 「非常」 on its own does not mean 「とても」. Compare 「非常の場合」, which means in an emergency, with 「非常に寒い」, which means very cold.
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N3額ひたい
forehead. The part of the face from above the eyebrows to the hairline. Also called おでこ. When read as 「がく」, it means a sum of money or a frame for holding a picture.
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N3ぴったりぴったり
A state of fitting together without any gap. Example: 「サイズがぴったりだ」 (the size fits perfectly). Also used to mean "exactly," as in 「3時ぴったり」 (exactly 3 o'clock).
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N2, N3引っ張るひっぱる
To pull something toward oneself with force. Example: 「ロープを引っ張る」 (to pull a rope). Also used to mean leading a group from the front, as in 「チームを引っ張る」 (to lead the team).
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N3, N4酷いひどい
A very bad state. Example:「酷いあめ」(terrible rain),「酷いことを言う」(to say cruel things).
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N3皮膚ひふ
What covers the surface of the body. A medical/formal term; in daily conversation, 「肌」 is more commonly used.
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N3秘密ひみつ
secret. Something kept hidden from others. Example: 「秘密を守る」 (to keep a secret).
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N3ひもひも
A long, thin thing used for tying or binding items. Thicker than thread but thinner than rope. Written with the kanji 「紐」, but since this kanji is not used in daily life, it is usually written in hiragana.
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N3冷やすひやす
To lower the temperature of something to make it cold. Example: 「ビールを冷やす」 (to chill beer). 「頭を冷やす」 means "to calm down." 「冷やす」 is used when a person lowers the temperature, while 「冷える」 is used when it drops on its own: compare 「ビールを冷やす」 with 「ビールが冷える」.
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N3費用ひよう
expense. Money required to do something. Example: 「旅行の費用」 (travel expenses).
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N3表ひょう
table, chart. Something in which figures or items are arranged vertically and horizontally so they are easy to read. Used as in "調査の結果を表にまとめる" (to compile survey results into a table), "成績表", or "時刻表". The same "表" read as "おもて" is a different word meaning the side of an object seen from the front or outside.
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N2, N3評価ひょうか
evaluation. To judge and determine the value or quality of something. 「作品を評価する」「高い評価を受ける」. Going a step further from this, it is also used to mean recognizing something as good, or thinking highly of it. 「努力が評価される」「その点は評価できる」 do not mean judging whether something is good or bad, but recognizing its good points.
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N3表現ひょうげん
expression. To express one's thoughts or feelings in words or in some form. 「気持ちを言葉で表現する」「絵で表現する」. It also refers to the form of words expressed in that way, that is, the wording itself. As in 「丁寧な表現」「わかりにくい表現を直す」, it is used in the sense of what manner of speaking is used.
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N3評判ひょうばん
reputation. Public evaluation or rumor about something. Example: 「評判がいい店」 (a shop with a good reputation).
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N2, N3表面ひょうめん
surface. The outermost side of an object. Example: 「水の表面」 (the surface of water). Also used to mean outward appearance, as in 「表面上は仲がいい」 (on the surface, they get along well).
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N3昼寝ひるね
nap. Sleeping for a short time during the daytime. Example: 「昼寝をする」 (to take a nap).
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N3, N5広いひろい
A state where a place is large. The antonym is 「狭い」 (narrow).
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N3広がるひろがる
For an area or range to become larger. Example: 「うわさが広がる」 (a rumor spreads), 「景色が広がる」 (a view opens up/spreads out). 「広がる」 is used when something becomes larger on its own, while 「広げる」 is used when a person makes it larger: compare 「うわさが広がる」 with 「うわさを広げる」.
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N3広げるひろげる
To make an area or range larger. To open and stretch something out. Example: 「地図を広げる」 (to spread out a map), 「店を広げる」 (to expand a shop). 「広げる」 is used when a person makes something larger, while 「広がる」 is used when it becomes larger on its own: compare 「うわさを広げる」 with 「うわさが広がる」.
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N3瓶びん
bottle. A container made of glass or similar material, used for holding liquids. Example: 「ジュースの瓶」 (a juice bottle).
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N3貧乏びんぼう
Having no money and living a hard life. Example: 「貧乏な暮らし」 (a poor life). The antonym is 「金持ち」 (rich person).
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N3不安ふあん
anxiety. Feeling worried and unable to settle down. Example: 「将来が不安だ」 (the future is uncertain/worrying). The antonym is 「安心」 (peace of mind).
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