A state of much time having passed since something was made. The antonym is 「新しい」 (new).
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N3震えるふるえる
tremble. To shake with small, repeated movements. Example: 「寒さで手が震える」 (hands tremble from the cold), 「声が震える」 (voice trembles).
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N3ふるさとふるさと
hometown. The land where one was born and raised. Written with the kanji 「故郷」, which can also be read 「こきょう」.
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N3平気へいき
A calm state, not worrying about something. Example: 「失敗しても平気だ」 (fine even if it fails). Also used when someone does something bad without any concern, as in 「平気でうそをつく」 (to lie without any qualms).
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N3平均へいきん
average. The middle value obtained by leveling out numbers or amounts. Example: 「平均点」 (average score).
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N3平和へいわ
peace. A state with no war or conflict, being calm. Example: 「世界平和」 (world peace). The antonym is 「戦争」 (war).
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N3減らすへらす
To make a number or amount smaller. Example: 「体重を減らす」 (to lose weight). 「減らす」 is used when a person makes it smaller, while 「減る」 is used when it decreases on its own: compare 「体重を減らす」 with 「体重が減る」. The word with the opposite meaning is 「増やす」 (to increase).
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N3減るへる
For a number or amount to become smaller. Example: 「人口が減る」 (the population decreases). 「おなかが減る」 means "to become hungry." 「減る」 is used when something decreases on its own, while 「減らす」 is used when a person makes it smaller: compare 「体重が減る」 with 「体重を減らす」. The word with the opposite meaning is 「増える」 (to increase).
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N3, N5辺へん
The area, the vicinity of a place. Example: 「この辺」 (around here).
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N3変化へんか
change. A state or quality of something changing. Example: 「気温の変化」 (change in temperature).
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N3, N5勉強べんきょう
study. To learn and remember something one doesn't know.
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N3変更へんこう
To change something that had been decided. Example: 「予定を変更する」 (to change a plan). While 「変化」 includes natural change, 「変更」 refers to a change made intentionally by a person.
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N3弁護士べんごし
lawyer. A legal expert who helps resolve disputes and assists in court trials.
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N2, N3方向ほうこう
direction. Which way something faces. Example: 「駅の方向」 (the direction of the station). Also used to mean the course/policy of something, as in 「話の方向が変わる」 (the direction of the conversation changes).
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N3包丁ほうちょう
A knife used for cooking. Example: 「包丁で野菜を切る」 (to cut vegetables with a kitchen knife).
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N3豊富ほうふ
abundant. A state of having a lot, being plentiful. Example: 「経験が豊富だ」 (to have abundant experience), 「豊富な品ぞろえ」 (a wide selection of goods).
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N3訪問ほうもん
visit. To visit a person's home or a place. Example: 「家庭訪問」 (a home visit).
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N3保険ほけん
insurance. A system in which people contribute money in preparation for illness or accidents, and receive payment when in trouble. Example: 「保険に入る」 (to take out insurance).
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N3募集ぼしゅう
To widely gather people or works. Example: 「アルバイトを募集する」 (to recruit part-time workers).
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N3干すほす
To expose something to sunlight or wind to remove moisture. Example: 「洗濯物を干す」 (to hang out laundry to dry).
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N3保存ほぞん
To keep something in its current state. Example: 「食品を保存する」 (to preserve food). Also used for computer data, as in 「ファイルを保存する」 (to save a file).
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N3ほっとほっと
A state of feeling relieved as tension eases. Example: 「無事と聞いてほっとした」 (felt relieved to hear they were safe).
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N3歩道ほどう
sidewalk. A path for pedestrians to walk on. Example: 「横断歩道」 (crosswalk). The word with the opposite meaning is 「車道」 (the roadway for vehicles).
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N3骨ほね
bone. The hard part that supports the body. 「骨が折れる」 means "to break a bone" (injury), but also idiomatically means something is a lot of trouble.
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N3掘るほる
dig. To make a hole in the ground. To take something out from inside the earth. Example: 「穴を掘る」 (to dig a hole), 「いもを掘る」 (to dig up potatoes).
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N3本気ほんき
A serious attitude, not a joke. Example: 「本気で怒る」 (to get seriously angry).
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N3本人ほんにん
The person themselves. Example: 「本人に確認する」 (to confirm with the person themselves).
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N3本物ほんもの
The real thing, not a fake. Example: 「本物のダイヤ」 (a real diamond). The antonym is 「にせ物」 (a fake).
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N2, N3ぼんやりぼんやり
A state in which the shape of something, a memory, or the like is not clear. 「遠くの山がぼんやり見える」 (the distant mountains look hazy). It also describes a state of thinking about nothing, with one's attention directed nowhere in particular. 「授業中にぼんやりする」 (to space out during class), 「ぼんやりしていて駅を乗り過ごした」 (I was spacing out and missed my station).
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N3迷子まいご
A child who has lost their way or been separated from a parent and doesn't know where they are. Example: 「迷子になる」 (to get lost). The reading 「まいご」 is a special reading.
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N3任せるまかせる
entrust. To have someone else do a job or make a decision. Example: 「仕事を任せる」 (to entrust a job to someone).
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N3巻くまく
To wrap or roll something around, turning it in a circular motion. Example: 「マフラーを巻く」 (to wrap a scarf around oneself), 「ねじを巻く」 (to wind a screw/spring).
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N3孫まご
grandchild. The child of one's own child.
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N3混ざるまざる
For different things to become mixed together. Example: 「絵の具が混ざる」 (paints mix together). 「混ざる」 is used when things mix on their own, while 「混ぜる」 is used when a person mixes them: compare 「絵の具が混ざる」 with 「絵の具を混ぜる」. When it means joining a group of people, it can also be written 「交ざる」.
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N3, N5まずいまずい
A state of tasting bad. The antonym is 「おいしい」 (delicious).
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N2, N3貧しいまずしい
poor. Lacking money or goods, making life difficult. Example: 「貧しい家庭」 (a poor family). Also used to mean lacking in substance, as in 「貧しい発想」 (a poor/impoverished idea). The antonym is 「豊か」 (rich/abundant).
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N3混ぜるまぜる
To combine different things together. To stir something to make it uniform. Example: 「卵と砂糖を混ぜる」 (to mix eggs and sugar). 「混ぜる」 is used when a person mixes things, while 「混ざる」 is used when they mix on their own: compare 「絵の具を混ぜる」 with 「絵の具が混ざる」.
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N3, N5またまた
Again. The state in which the same thing happens once more. 「また来てください」(please come again), 「またあした」(see you tomorrow). It is a different word from the similar word 「まだ」(the state of not being finished).
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N2, N3全くまったく
Completely. Example: 「全く同じだ」 (completely the same). When used with a negative, it means "not at all," as in 「全く知らない」 (not know at all).
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N2, N3窓口まどぐち
A place at a government office or bank, etc., where staff deal with customers. Example: 「窓口で手続きする」 (to complete procedures at the counter). Also used to mean the person in charge of receiving inquiries, etc., as in 「相談窓口」 (a consultation counter/contact).
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N3まとまるまとまる
For scattered things to come together into one. Example: 「意見がまとまる」 (opinions come together), 「話がまとまる」 (a deal is settled). 「まとまる」 is used when things come together on their own, while 「まとめる」 is used when a person brings them together: compare 「意見がまとまる」 with 「意見をまとめる」.
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N3まとめるまとめる
To arrange scattered things into one. Example: 「荷物をまとめる」 (to pack up one's belongings), 「考えをまとめる」 (to organize one's thoughts). 「まとめる」 is used when a person brings things together, while 「まとまる」 is used when they come together on their own: compare 「意見をまとめる」 with 「意見がまとまる」.
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N3学ぶまなぶ
learn. To study and acquire knowledge or skill. Example: 「大学で経済を学ぶ」 (to study economics at university). Also used to mean coming to know something through experience, as in 「失敗から学ぶ」 (to learn from failure).
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N2, N3真似まね
imitation. To do exactly as another person does. Example: 「先生の発音を真似する」 (to imitate the teacher's pronunciation).
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N2, N3招くまねく
To invite someone as a guest. Example: 「パーティーに招く」 (to invite to a party). Also used to mean causing an undesirable result, as in 「誤解を招く」 (to invite/cause misunderstanding).
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N3間もなくまもなく
soon. Right away, in a little while. 「間もなく電車が参ります」. A formal expression often used in announcements. In the forms 「〜して間もなく」「〜して間もない」 it expresses being just after a certain event. 「引っ越して間もなく」 means the time when not much has passed since moving, and 「入社して間もない」 means having only just joined the company.
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N3守るまもる
To protect against danger. Example: 「家族を守る」 (to protect one's family). Also used to mean keeping to a promise or rule exactly, as in 「約束を守る」 (to keep a promise). The antonym in the sense of rules is 「破る」 (to break).
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N3迷うまよう
Not being able to decide what to do. Example: 「買うかどうか迷う」 (uncertain whether to buy it). Also used to mean losing one's way, as in 「道に迷う」 (to lose one's way).
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N3満員まんいん
A state of being full of people, with no more room. Example: 「満員電車」 (a packed/crowded train).
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N2, N3満足まんぞく
satisfaction. A state where one's wishes are fulfilled and the heart is content. Example: 「結果に満足する」 (to be satisfied with the result). The antonym is 「不満」 (dissatisfaction).
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