chain. Metal rings linked together to form something like a rope. Example: 「犬を鎖でつなぐ」 (to tie a dog with a chain).
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N3腐るくさる
rot. For food, etc., to go bad from age. Example: 「魚が腐る」 (fish rots). Also used to mean losing motivation, as in 「気持ちが腐る」 (to become dispirited).
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N3癖くせ
habit. A behavior peculiar to a person that they do unconsciously; often used for undesirable behaviors. Example: 「爪をかむ癖」 (a habit of biting one's nails), 「口癖」 (a pet phrase). While 「習慣」 can also be used for groups, 「癖」 is used for individuals, including animals. Also used to mean a trait different from the ordinary, as in 「癖のある字」 (handwriting with quirks).
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N3管くだ
tube. A long, thin pipe through which water or air, etc., passes. Example: 「ゴムの管」 (a rubber tube). Read as 「かん」 in words like 「血管」 (blood vessel) and 「水道管」 (water pipe).
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N3砕くくだく
crush. To break a hard object into small pieces. Example: 「氷を砕く」 (to crush ice). There is also the expression 「心を砕く」 (to take great pains over something). 「砕く」 is used when someone applies force to break something, and 「砕ける」 when it breaks apart of its own accord: 「氷を砕く」 versus 「氷が砕ける」.
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N3下りくだり
Heading from a high place to a low place. Example: 「下り坂」 (a downhill slope), 「下りの電車」 (a train heading away from the city center). The antonym is 「上り」 (going up).
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N3唇くちびる
lips. The soft part around the mouth. There is also the expression 「唇をかむ」 (to bite one's lip, i.e., to hold back frustration).
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N3配るくばる
distribute. To divide something up and give it to many people. Example: 「プリントを配る」 (to hand out worksheets). Also used to mean paying close attention to something, as in 「気を配る」 (to be attentive).
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N3組合くみあい
union. An organization formed by people who share the same purpose. Example: 「労働組合」 (labor union), 「組合に入る」 (to join a union).
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N3組むくむ
To combine separate things into one. Also used when cooperating with a person or making a plan, as in 「腕を組む」 (to fold one's arms), 「予算を組む」 (to put together a budget).
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N3悔しいくやしい
A frustrated, angry feeling that comes from losing or failing and being unable to accept it. Example: 「試合に負けて悔しい」 (frustrated at losing the match), 「悔しい思いをする」 (to feel frustration).
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N3悔やむくやむ
regret. To feel sorry, thinking one should have done otherwise at that time. Example: 「失敗を悔やむ」 (to regret a failure). 「悔いる」 is a formal word with the same meaning.
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N1, N3, N5暗いくらい
dark. Having little light, so things are hard to see. Example: 「暗いへや」 (a dark room). The antonym is 「明るい」 (bright).
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N3暮らすくらす
To live and spend one's days. Example: 「一人で暮らす」 (to live alone), 「幸せに暮らす」 (to live happily). The noun form is 「暮らし」 (life/living).
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N3繰り返すくりかえす
repeat. To do the same thing many times. Example: 「失敗を繰り返す」 (to repeat a mistake), 「同じ説明を繰り返す」 (to repeat the same explanation).
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N3狂うくるう
To go out of a normal state. Used to mean something not working correctly or not going as planned, as in 「時計が狂う」 (a clock goes out of order), 「計画が狂う」 (a plan goes awry).
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N3苦しいくるしい
A state in which the body or mind is in distress. Example: 「息が苦しい」 (it's hard to breathe), 「生活が苦しい」 (life is hard, i.e., not enough money), 「苦しい言い訳」 (a strained/unconvincing excuse).
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N3くるむくるむ
To wrap something entirely. Example: 「赤ちゃんを毛布でくるむ」 (to wrap a baby in a blanket). Nearly the same as 「包む」, but used when wrapping something soft around an object like winding it.
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N3暮れくれ
The time toward the end of a day, season, or year. Example: 「年の暮れ」 (the end of the year), 「日の暮れ」 (evening/dusk). The verb form is 「暮れる」.
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N3苦労くろう
hardship. To struggle through difficulty for something to work out well. Example: 「苦労して育てる」 (to raise something/someone through hard effort), 「ご苦労さま」 (thank you for your hard work).
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N3加えるくわえる
add. To add something further to what already exists. Example: 「塩を加える」 (to add salt), 「メンバーに加える」 (to add to the members). Also used as in 「熱を加える」 (to apply heat), 「力を加える」 (to apply force). 「加える」 is used when someone adds something, and 「加わる」 when something joins in: 「メンバーに加える」 versus 「メンバーに加わる」.
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N3詳しいくわしい
detailed. A state of being clearly understood down to fine points. Example: 「詳しい説明」 (a detailed explanation). Also used to mean knowing a lot about something, as in 「歴史に詳しい」 (knowledgeable about history).
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N3訓練くんれん
training. To have someone practice repeatedly so they can do something well. Example: 「避難訓練」 (an evacuation drill), 「犬を訓練する」 (to train a dog).
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N3景気けいき
economy. The state of the movement of money and business in society. Example: 「景気がいい」 (the economy is good), 「景気が回復する」 (the economy recovers).
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N3敬語けいご
A way of speaking that expresses respect for the other person. Includes honorific, humble, and polite language. Example: 「敬語を使う」 (to use honorific language).
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N3傾向けいこう
tendency. A tendency for something to lean in a certain direction. Example: 「増える傾向にある」 (there is a tendency to increase), 「若者の傾向」 (a tendency among young people).
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N3警告けいこく
warning. To give strong advance notice so a dangerous thing does not happen. Example: 「警告を受ける」 (to receive a warning), 「警告を無視する」 (to ignore a warning).
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N3芸術げいじゅつ
art. An activity that expresses beauty, such as painting, music, and literature. Example: 「芸術作品」 (a work of art), 「芸術家」 (an artist).
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N3契約けいやく
contract. To formally exchange a promise related to buying and selling, lending and borrowing, etc. Example: 「契約を結ぶ」 (to conclude a contract), 「契約書」 (a contract document).
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N3経由けいゆ
To pass through a certain place on the way to a destination. Example: 「香港経由でベトナムへ行く」 (to go to Vietnam via Hong Kong), 「経由地」 (a stopover point).
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N3経歴けいれき
The history of a person's past study or work.
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N3劇げき
drama. Something presented on a stage where actors play roles to tell a story. Example: 「劇を見る」 (to watch a play), 「学芸会で劇をする」 (to perform a play at a school event).
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N3劇場げきじょう
theater. A building for showing plays, movies, etc. Often refers to a building with a stage, more so than 「映画館」 (movie theater).
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N3化粧けしょう
makeup. To apply powder and rouge, etc., to make one's face look beautiful. Example: 「化粧をする」 (to put on makeup), 「化粧品」 (cosmetics).
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N3けちけち
Being stingy with money or things. A person who is like that. Example: 「けちな人」 (a stingy person). There is also the expression 「けちをつける」 (to deliberately point out a flaw).
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N3結果けっか
result. The final state that occurs because a certain thing was the cause. Example: 「試験の結果」 (exam results), 「努力の結果」 (the result of effort). The antonym is 「原因」 (cause).
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N3結局けっきょく
After various things happened, in the end. Example: 「結局、行かなかった」 (in the end, I didn't go), 「結局は同じことだ」 (it comes down to the same thing in the end).
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N3決心けっしん
determination. To firmly resolve in one's mind to do something. Example: 「留学を決心する」 (to resolve to study abroad), 「決心がつかない」 (unable to make up one's mind).
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N3欠席けっせき
absence. Not attending school or a meeting. Example: 「会議を欠席する」 (to be absent from a meeting), 「欠席者」 (an absentee). The antonym is 「出席」 (attendance).
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N3決定けってい
decision. To decide something clearly. For something to be decided. Example: 「方針を決定する」 (to decide on a policy), 「優勝が決定した」 (the championship has been decided). A more formal word than 「決める」.
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N3欠点けってん
fault. A bad point. A shortcoming. Example: 「欠点を直す」 (to fix a fault). The antonym is 「長所」 (a strong point). Nearly the same as 「短所」.
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N3結論けつろん
conclusion. The final summary of a discussion or line of thought. Example: 「結論を出す」 (to reach a conclusion), 「結論から言うと」 (to state the conclusion first).
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N3煙けむり
smoke. Gray or white gas that comes out when something burns. Example: 「たばこの煙」 (cigarette smoke), 「煙が出る」 (smoke rises).
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N2, N3険しいけわしい
steep. A state in which a mountain or slope's incline is sharp and difficult to climb. Example: 「険しい山道」 (a steep mountain path). Also used to mean a harsh, sharp look, as in 「険しい表情」 (a stern expression).
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N3券けん
ticket. Paper that serves as proof of payment. Example: 「乗車券」 (a train ticket), 「入場券」 (an admission ticket), 「商品券」 (a gift certificate).
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N2, N3現金げんきん
cash. Money in the form of bills and coins that can be used on the spot. Example: 「現金で払う」 (to pay in cash). There is also the expression 「現金な人」 (a person who quickly changes their attitude based on gain or loss).
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N3言語げんご
language. A system of words that people use to convey their thoughts. Example: 「言語を学ぶ」 (to learn a language), 「プログラミング言語」 (a programming language). A more formal word than 「言葉」.
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N3健康けんこう
health. A state in which the body and mind have nothing wrong and are in good condition. Example: 「健康な体」 (a healthy body), 「健康に気をつける」 (to take care of one's health).
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N3検査けんさ
inspection. To check whether there is something wrong or a mistake. Example: 「健康診断で血液を検査する」 (to test blood at a medical checkup), 「持ち物検査」 (a belongings check).
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N3現在げんざい
present. Now. The current point in time. Example: 「現在の状況」 (the current situation), 「現在も続いている」 (still continuing at present). The antonyms are 「過去」 (past) and 「未来」 (future).
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