What a person does. Behavior. Example: 「違法行為」 (an illegal act). The homophone 「好意」 is a different word.
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N3幸運こううん
good luck. Being fortunate. Example: 「幸運にめぐまれる」 (to be blessed with good luck), 「幸運を祈る」 (to wish someone good luck). The antonym is 「不運」 (bad luck).
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N3効果こうか
effect. A good result that appears from doing something. Example: 「薬の効果」 (the effect of medicine), 「効果がある」 (to be effective). 「逆効果」 (a counterproductive/opposite effect) is also commonly used.
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N3高価こうか
expensive. Being high in price. Example: 「高価な宝石」 (an expensive jewel). The antonym is 「安価」 (cheap). Written differently from the homophones 「効果」 (effect) and 「硬貨」 (a coin).
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N3豪華ごうか
luxurious. A lavish, splendid state. Example: 「豪華な食事」 (a luxurious meal), 「豪華なホテル」 (a luxurious hotel).
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N3合格ごうかく
To pass an exam or inspection. Example: 「大学に合格する」 (to pass a university entrance exam), 「合格発表」 (announcement of exam results). The antonym is 「不合格」 (failure).
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N3交換こうかん
exchange. To swap one thing for another. Example: 「プレゼントを交換する」 (to exchange gifts), 「部品を交換する」 (to replace a part), 「名刺交換」 (exchanging business cards).
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N3航空こうくう
Flying through the sky by airplane. It is rarely used on its own; it is combined with other words, as in 「航空会社」 (an airline), 「航空券」 (an airline ticket), 「航空便」 (airmail, an air service), 「航空機」 (an aircraft), 「航空写真」 (an aerial photograph).
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N3合計ごうけい
total. The number or amount when everything is added together. Example: 「合計金額」 (the total amount), 「合計する」 (to total up).
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N3攻撃こうげき
attack. To assault an enemy. Example: 「攻撃をしかける」 (to launch an attack). Also used to mean strongly criticizing something, as in 「発言を攻撃する」 (to attack someone's statement). The antonyms are 「守備」 (defense) and 「防御」 (defense).
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N3広告こうこく
advertisement. To widely inform people about a product or service. The text or footage used to do so. Example: 「新聞広告」 (a newspaper advertisement), 「広告を出す」 (to place an ad).
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N3交際こうさい
dating. To be in a relationship with someone. Especially, being in a romantic relationship with someone. Example: 「交際を始める」 (to start dating), 「交際範囲が広い」 (to have a wide circle of acquaintances).
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N3高速こうそく
high speed. Being very fast in speed. Example: 「高速で移動する」 (to move at high speed). Also commonly used as a shortened form of 「高速道路」 (expressway), as in 「高速に乗る」 (to get on the expressway).
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N3行動こうどう
action. To actually move one's body and do something. Example: 「行動を起こす」 (to take action), 「行動力」 (the ability to take action).
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N3強盗ごうとう
robbery. To threaten someone and steal their money or belongings. The person who commits this crime. Example: 「銀行強盗」 (a bank robbery), 「強盗に入られる」 (to be robbed by an intruder).
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N3購入こうにゅう
To buy something. A slightly more formal way of saying 「買う」 (to buy).
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N3幸福こうふく
happiness. Being fulfilled and happy. Example: 「幸福な家庭」 (a happy family). A more formal word than 「幸せ」. The antonym is 「不幸」 (unhappiness).
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N3興奮こうふん
A state in which one's feelings are heightened and the heart cannot settle down.
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N3効率こうりつ
The ratio of results achieved relative to the time or effort spent. 「効率がいい」 means little is wasted.
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N3越えるこえる
To go over to the other side of a mountain, river, border, etc. Example: 「国境を越える」 (to cross a border), 「峠を越える」 (to go over a mountain pass). The homophone 「超える」 refers to a quantity or limit being exceeded, as in 「1万人を超える」 (to exceed 10,000 people), and is written differently.
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N3凍るこおる
freeze. For water, etc., to cool and solidify. Example: 「湖が凍る」 (a lake freezes), 「道路が凍る」 (a road freezes over).
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N3誤解ごかい
misunderstanding. To mistakenly take in the meaning or feeling of something. Example: 「誤解を招く」 (to invite misunderstanding), 「誤解を解く」 (to clear up a misunderstanding).
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N3語学ごがく
To study a foreign language. Example: 「語学が得意だ」 (good at languages), 「語学学校」 (a language school).
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N3呼吸こきゅう
breathing. To breathe in and out. Example: 「深く呼吸する」 (to breathe deeply). Also used to mean being in sync with someone, as in 「呼吸が合う」 (to be in rhythm with each other).
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N3国籍こくせき
nationality. The status of which country a person is a citizen of. Example: 「日本国籍」 (Japanese nationality), 「国籍を取得する」 (to acquire nationality).
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N3国立こくりつ
Being built with the nation's money and run by the nation. It is most often attached to the name of a facility, as in 「国立大学」 (a national university), 「国立公園」 (a national park), 「国立博物館」 (a national museum), 「国立図書館」 (a national library), 「国立競技場」 (a national stadium). It is also used alone, as in 「この大学は国立だ」. Used in contrast with 「私立」 (private), 「県立」 (prefectural), and 「市立」 (municipal).
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N3焦げるこげる
burn. To become blackened from being overcooked. Example: 「パンが焦げる」 (bread burns), 「焦げたにおい」 (a burnt smell). Something turning black on its own is 「焦げる」, while a person making it turn black by overcooking it is 「焦がす」; they are used as in 「ごはんが焦げる」 versus 「ごはんを焦がす」.
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N3凍えるこごえる
For the body to lose sensation from cold. Example: 「手が凍える」 (one's hands go numb from cold), 「凍えるような寒さ」 (bone-chilling cold).
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N3試みこころみ
attempt. To try doing something. Example: 「新しい試み」 (a new attempt/initiative). The verb form is 「試みる」.
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N3腰こし
waist. The bendable part of the body below the back. Example: 「腰が痛い」 (one's lower back hurts). There are also the expressions 「腰が低い」 (having a humble/polite manner) and 「腰を下ろす」 (to sit down).
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N3個人こじん
individual. Each single person, as opposed to a group. Example: 「個人の意見」 (an individual's opinion), 「個人的な問題」 (a personal matter), 「個人情報」 (personal information).
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N3越すこす
To pass a place or time and go to the other side. Example: 「年を越す」 (to see out the year/into the new year), 「冬を越す」 (to get through the winter), 「引っ越す」 (to move house). In the form 「お越しください」, it also serves as an honorific way of saying 「来る」 (to come).
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N3国家こっか
nation. A country. A unified entity that has territory, people, and a government. Example: 「国家試験」 (a national examination). More formal than 「国」, used when discussing politics and law.
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N3国会こっかい
The most important assembly, which decides a nation's laws and budget. Example: 「国会議員」 (a member of parliament), 「国会で審議する」 (to deliberate in the National Diet).
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N3固定こてい
To firmly fix something in one place or state so it does not move. Example: 「固定給」 (a fixed salary).
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N3, N5子供こども
child. A young person. The opposite of an adult. Also used to mean one's own son or daughter. Often written as 「子ども」.
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N3好むこのむ
To like something and choose it oneself. A slightly more formal way of saying 「好き」 (to like).
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N3こぼすこぼす
It refers to inadvertently letting liquid or powder out. It also means to let out one's dissatisfaction or complaints. Used in expressions like 「水をこぼす」 or 「愚痴をこぼす」, it expresses the act of unintentionally letting something out.
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N3ごまかすごまかす
It refers to concealing by means of lies or makeshift measures, hiding the truth. Used in expressions like 「年齢をごまかす」 or 「答えをごまかす」, it is a verb that critically expresses the act of deceiving others.
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N3栽培さいばい
To plant and grow plants. Used for growing crops or plants by human hand, as in 「野菜を栽培する」 (to grow vegetables), 「促成栽培」 (forced/accelerated cultivation).
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N3境さかい
border. The dividing line between one thing and another, or one place and another. Example: 「県の境」 (a prefectural border), 「生死の境」 (the boundary between life and death). There is also the expression 「これを境に」 (taking this event as a turning point).
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N3, N5先さき
Ahead of oneself; earlier in time. Example: 「この先」 (from here on), 「先に行く」 (to go ahead).
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N3叫ぶさけぶ
To make a loud sound with one's voice. Also used to mean strongly asserting something, as in 「自由を叫ぶ」 (to call for freedom).
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N3支えるささえる
support. To hold something so it does not fall over or drop. Example: 「柱が屋根を支える」 (a pillar supports the roof). Also used to mean helping something function, as in 「家族を支える」 (to support one's family), 「生活を支える」 (to support a livelihood).
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N3指すさす
To point to a direction or object with a finger, etc. Example: 「地図を指す」 (to point at a map), 「時計の針が3時を指す」 (the clock's hands point to 3 o'clock). The homophone 「刺す」 means to pierce something with a sharp point, and 「差す」 is used as in 「傘を差す」 (to hold up an umbrella), 「日が差す」 (sunlight shines in); all are written differently.
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N3刺すさす
To pierce something with a sharp point. Example: 「針を刺す」 (to prick with a needle), 「蚊に刺される」 (to be bitten by a mosquito). The homophone 「指す」 means to indicate a direction, and 「差す」 is used as in 「傘を差す」 (to hold up an umbrella); all are written differently.
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N3誘うさそう
invite. To ask someone to do something together. Example: 「食事に誘う」 (to invite someone to a meal), 「映画に誘う」 (to invite someone to a movie). Also used to mean bringing about a certain state, as in 「眠りを誘う」 (to induce sleep), 「涙を誘う」 (to bring tears).
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N3札さつ
bill. Paper money. Example: 「千円札」 (a 1,000 yen bill), 「お札」 (a bill/banknote). When read 「ふだ」, it means a small paper or wooden tag with a name or price written on it.
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N3雑貨ざっか
Various small items and daily necessities other than food, used in everyday life. Includes stationery, kitchen items, and interior accessories. Used in forms like 「雑貨店」「雑貨コーナー」.
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N3作家さっか
writer. A person whose job is writing works such as novels. Example: 「人気作家」 (a popular writer), 「推理作家」 (a mystery writer).
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