debt. To borrow money. Money that has been borrowed. Example: 「借金を返す」 (to pay back a debt), 「借金がある」 (to have debt).
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N3邪魔じゃま
A presence or act that hinders things from proceeding smoothly. Used in forms like 「邪魔をする」「邪魔にならない」. When visiting someone's home, the form 「お邪魔する」 is used, as in 「お邪魔します」「明日お邪魔してもいいですか」. This is a greeting that humbly expresses a visit, phrased as receiving the other person's time and space; it does not actually mean causing trouble.
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N2, N3収穫しゅうかく
harvest. To gather in crops that have been grown. Example: 「米の収穫」 (a rice harvest). Also used to mean a good result gained from an activity, as in 「今日の会議は収穫が多かった」 (today's meeting was very productive).
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N3宗教しゅうきょう
religion. The spiritual practice of believing in gods or buddhas and following their teachings. Example: 「宗教を信じる」 (to believe in a religion), 「宗教団体」 (a religious organization).
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N3就職しゅうしょく
To enter a company, etc., and start working. Example: 「銀行に就職する」 (to get a job at a bank), 「就職活動」 (job hunting). The antonym is 「退職」 (retiring/resigning).
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N3修正しゅうせい
correction. To fix a bad point or mistake. Example: 「文章を修正する」 (to revise a piece of writing), 「軌道修正」 (course correction).
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N3渋滞じゅうたい
For cars, etc., to get backed up so the flow stops moving smoothly.
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N3重力じゅうりょく
The force by which the earth pulls objects toward its center. A term learned in science class.
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N3主題しゅだい
The central idea of a story or work. A theme. The homophone-starting word 「首都」 (capital city) is a different word.
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N3出血しゅっけつ
(1) For blood to come out. Example: 「出血を止める」 (to stop the bleeding). (2) To lower a price at the cost of taking a loss. Example: 「出血大サービス」 (a big loss-leader sale).
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N3首都しゅと
The town that is the center of a country. The town where a country's government is located. The similarly-starting word 「主題」 (theme) is a different word.
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N3状態じょうたい
condition. The state of a person or matter at a given time. Example: 「健康状態」 (health condition), 「よい状態を保つ」 (to maintain a good condition).
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N3真実しんじつ
The truth, with no lies in it.
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N3新鮮しんせん
Fish or vegetables being fresh. Also used to mean something novel and lively, as in 「新鮮な驚き」 (a fresh surprise).
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N3慎重しんちょう
The state of being careful and not acting rashly. Used in forms like 「慎重に検討する」「慎重な判断」, expressing the careful handling of matters to avoid failure.
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N3図ず
diagram. Something that shows the structure or relationships of things clearly using lines or drawings. Example: 「図で説明する」 (to explain with a diagram).
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N3数字すうじ
numeral. A character used to represent a number. 1, 2, 3, etc. Also used to mean things related to calculation or statistics, as in 「数字に強い」 (good with numbers).
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N3姿すがた
The overall visible form or appearance of a person or thing. Example: 「後ろ姿」 (a view from behind). Also used to mean being present somewhere, as in 「姿を消す」 (to disappear).
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N3空くすく
to become less crowded, to get hungry. For the people or things inside to decrease so that space opens up. It is used for a decrease in people, as in "電車が空く" (the train becomes less crowded), and also for becoming hungry as food in the stomach decreases, as in "おなかが空く". The same "空く" read as "あく" becomes a different word meaning that a seat or room becomes empty.
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N3過ごすすごす
To spend time living. Example: 「休日を家で過ごす」 (to spend a holiday at home). A person using time is 「過ごす」, while time passing by on its own is 「過ぎる」; they are used as in 「休日を過ごす」 versus 「休日が過ぎる」.
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N3勧めるすすめる
recommend. To tell someone that it would be good to do something. Example: 「入会を勧める」 (to recommend joining). When recommending a person or a book, it can also be written 「薦める」. Note the distinction from the homophone 「進める」 (to move forward).
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N2, N3進めるすすめる
To move something forward. Example: 「車を進める」 (to move a car forward). Also used to mean carrying something to a further stage, as in 「計画を進める」 (to advance a plan). A person moving something forward is 「進める」, while something moving forward on its own is 「進む」; they are used as in 「計画を進める」 versus 「計画が進む」. Note the distinction from the homophone 「勧める」 (to recommend to someone).
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N3頭痛ずつう
headache. Having a pain in one's head. Example: 「頭痛がする」 (to have a headache). There is also the expression 「頭痛の種」 (a source of worry).
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N3すっかりすっかり
completely. Entirely, with nothing left out. Example: 「すっかり忘れていた」 (had completely forgotten). Also used to mean a state having completely changed, as in 「すっかり秋になった」 (it has completely become autumn).
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N3既にすでに
already. A state in which something has already ended or begun by that time. Mostly used in written language; in spoken language, 「もう」 is normal.
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N3素直すなお
A personality or attitude that is straightforward and accepts what others say as it is. Example: 「素直に謝る」 (to apologize sincerely/without resistance).
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N3全てすべて
all. Every single one, with nothing left out. Example: 「全てを話す」 (to tell everything). Also often written in hiragana as 「すべて」.
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N3滑るすべる
For one's foot to slip on a slick surface and nearly fall. Example: 「みちがこおって滑る」 (the road is frozen and slippery).
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N2, N3済ますすます
To bring something to a finish. Example: 「用事を済ます」 (to finish an errand). Also used to mean making do with something simple, as in 「昼食はパンで済ます」 (to have just bread for lunch). The form 「済ませる」 is also commonly used with the same meaning. A person finishing something is 「済ます」, while a matter coming to an end is 「済む」; they are used as in 「用事を済ます」 versus 「用事が済む」.
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N3〜N5するする
To do a certain thing. Example: 「べんきょうする」 (to study), 「しごとをする」 (to work).
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N3ずるいずるい
A state of using an unfair method to benefit only oneself. Example: 「ずるい方法」 (an unfair method). Written with the kanji 「狡い」, but since this kanji is not used in daily life, it is written in hiragana.
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N3鋭いするどい
sharp. Having a fine, pointed edge that cuts well. Example: 「鋭い刃物」 (a sharp blade). Also used to mean having excellent mental or sensory ability, as in 「鋭い指摘」 (a sharp/incisive observation). The antonym is 「鈍い」 (dull).
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N2, N3性格せいかく
personality. Characteristics shown in how a person feels and acts. Example: 「明るい性格」 (a cheerful personality). Note the distinction from the homophone 「正確」 (accurate).
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N3正確せいかく
accurate. Being correct with no mistakes. Example: 「正確な情報」 (accurate information). Note the distinction from the homophone 「性格」 (personality).
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N3世紀せいき
century. A way of counting eras in units of 100 years. Example: 「21世紀」 (the 21st century).
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N3税金ぜいきん
tax. Money paid to the state or a municipality. Example: 「税金を払う」 (to pay taxes).
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N3制限せいげん
limit. To set a fixed range or amount as a boundary that should not be exceeded. Example: 「速度制限」 (speed limit), 「制限時間」 (time limit).
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N3成功せいこう
success. For something to go well as intended. Example: 「実験に成功する」 (to succeed in an experiment). The antonym is 「失敗」 (failure).
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N3性質せいしつ
A characteristic inherently possessed by a person or thing. For people, it is close to 「性格」 (personality), but 「性質」 can also be used for objects, as in 「水に溶けやすい性質」 (a property of dissolving easily in water).
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N3成人せいじん
adult. To become an adult. Also, a person who has become an adult. In Japan, one becomes an adult from age 18.
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N3成績せいせき
The result of study, work, a match, etc. Example: 「成績が上がる」 (grades/results improve).
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N3成長せいちょう
growth. For a person or living thing to grow and become bigger. Example: 「子どもの成長」 (a child's growth). Also used to mean an economy or company growing larger, as in 「経済成長」 (economic growth).
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N3青年せいねん
A young person around 20 years old. Especially often used for males. Example: 「青年時代」 (one's youth).
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N3政府せいふ
government. The organization that carries out the politics of a country. Example: 「日本政府」 (the Japanese government).
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N3制服せいふく
uniform. Clothing that is decided to be worn at a school, company, etc.
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N3生物せいぶつ
Living things overall, including animals and plants. When read 「なまもの」, it means food that has not been cooked.
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N3性別せいべつ
gender. The distinction between male and female. Example: 「性別を問わない」 (regardless of gender).
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N2, N3生命せいめい
Life. Often used in written language or set expressions such as 「生命保険」 (life insurance); in spoken language, 「命」 is normal.
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N2, N3整理せいり
To neatly tidy up things that are scattered around. Example: 「机の上を整理する」 (to tidy up a desk). Also used to mean organizing thoughts or information in an understandable way, as in 「問題点を整理する」 (to organize the problem points).
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N3背負うせおう
The act of carrying something on one's back. The act of taking on responsibility, burden, or fate. Used in forms like 「荷物を背負う」「責任を背負う」, in both physical and metaphorical senses.
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