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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N3風ふう
manner, style. The way something is done or appears. Expresses that something is in such a manner or style, as in "そんな風に言わないで" (don't say it like that), "日本風の部屋" (a Japanese-style room), or "昔風の建物" (an old-style building). The same "風" read as "かぜ" is a different word meaning moving air.
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N3風景ふうけい
scenery. The natural or town scenery visible to the eye. Example: 「美しい風景」 (beautiful scenery). Nearly synonymous with 「景色」.
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N3夫婦ふうふ
A married couple, one man and one woman. Example: 「夫婦げんか」 (a couple's quarrel).
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N3拭くふく
wipe. To remove dirt or moisture using cloth or paper. Example: 「机を拭く」 (to wipe a desk), 「汗を拭く」 (to wipe off sweat).
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N3複数ふくすう
Being two or more. Example: 「複数の意見」 (multiple opinions). The antonym is 「単数」 (singular).
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N3含むふくむ
To hold something inside, including it. Example: 「税金を含んだ値段」 (a price including tax). Also used to mean putting something in one's mouth, as in 「口に含む」 (to hold in one's mouth).
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N3無事ぶじ
Being safe, with no accident or illness. Example: 「無事に着いた」 (arrived safely).
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N3不思議ふしぎ
mysterious. Something puzzling that cannot normally be explained. Example: 「不思議な出来事」 (a mysterious event).
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N2, N3不自由ふじゆう
Lacking necessary things or freedom, and being troubled by it. Example: 「お金に不自由しない」 (not lacking money). Also used for the body not moving as one wishes, as in 「目が不自由だ」 (visually impaired).
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N3防ぐふせぐ
prevent. To keep a bad thing from happening. Example: 「事故を防ぐ」 (to prevent an accident). Also used for blocking an enemy or wind and rain, as in 「寒さを防ぐ」 (to keep out the cold).
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N3不足ふそく
shortage. Not being enough. Example: 「睡眠不足」 (lack of sleep), 「人手不足」 (labor shortage).
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N2, N3舞台ぶたい
stage. A raised platform for presenting plays, dances, etc. Example: 「舞台に立つ」 (to stand on stage). Also used to mean the setting/background of a story, as in 「京都を舞台にした小説」 (a novel set in Kyoto).
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N3双子ふたご
twins. Two children born from the same mother at the same time.
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N3再びふたたび
again. Once more. Example: 「再び会う」 (to meet again). This is a literary word; in spoken language, 「また」 is normal.
To collide with force. Example: 「車が壁にぶつかる」 (a car crashes into a wall). Also used when opinions conflict or schedules overlap, as in 「意見がぶつかる」 (opinions clash), 「日程がぶつかる」 (schedules conflict). 「ぶつかる」 is used when something strikes against something else, while 「ぶつける」 is used when a person makes something strike: compare 「車が壁にぶつかる」 with 「車を壁にぶつける」.
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N3筆ふで
A tool for writing characters or painting, made by bundling hair together. Example: 「筆で書く」 (to write with a brush). 「筆が速い」 is also used as a metaphor for writing quickly.
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N3部品ぶひん
Each individual piece that makes up a machine, etc. Example: 「車の部品」 (car parts).
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N3部分ぶぶん
part. A section within a whole. Example: 「壊れた部分」 (the broken part). The antonym is 「全体」 (the whole).
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N3不満ふまん
Not being satisfied. Example: 「給料に不満がある」 (dissatisfied with one's salary). The antonym is 「満足」 (satisfaction).
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N2, N3振るふる
To shake or swing something. Example: 「手を振る」 (to wave a hand), 「首を振る」 (to shake one's head). Also used to mean rejecting a romantic partner, as in 「彼女に振られる」 (to be dumped by one's girlfriend).
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N2, N3, N5古いふるい
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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