expansion. To spread something out and make it bigger. To become bigger. Example: 「写真を拡大する」 (to enlarge a photo), 「感染が拡大する」 (infection spreads). The word with the opposite meaning is 「縮小」 (reduction).
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N3隠れるかくれる
To hide oneself so that others cannot find you. Example: 「木の陰に隠れる」 (to hide in the shade of a tree). Also used to mean not known to the world, as in 「隠れた名店」 (a hidden gem restaurant). 「隠れる」 is used when one becomes unseen oneself, and 「隠す」 when someone makes a person or thing unseen: 「子どもが隠れる」 versus 「子どもを隠す」.
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N3影かげ
shadow. A dark shape that forms behind an object when light hits it. Example: 「影ができる」 (a shadow forms), 「影ふみ」 (a shadow-tag game). There is also the expression 「影が薄い」 (to not stand out). The homophone 「陰」 refers to a place light does not reach, and is written differently.
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N3陰かげ
A place where light or one's gaze does not reach. Example: 「木の陰で休む」 (to rest in the shade of a tree), 「ドアの陰にかくれる」 (to hide behind a door). Also used to mean somewhere out of a person's sight, as in 「陰で悪口を言う」 (to badmouth someone behind their back). The homophone 「影」 refers to a dark shape cast by light, and is written differently.
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N1かけがえのないかけがえのない
「かけがえ」 is 「掛け替え」, originally meaning something to substitute. 「かけがえのない」 means that it 「ない」 (does not exist), that is, the quality of being so precious that nothing else can replace it. Used in expressions like 「かけがえのない家族」 or 「かけがえのない時間」, expressing a unique and precious existence.
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N3欠けるかける
For part of something to break off and be missing. Example: 「茶わんが欠ける」 (a chip breaks off a rice bowl). Also used to mean lacking something necessary, as in 「常識に欠ける」 (to lack common sense), 「メンバーが一人欠ける」 (one member is missing).
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N4掛けるかける
To hang or place something somewhere. Example: 「かべに絵を掛ける」 (to hang a picture on a wall). Also has various other uses, such as making a phone call or sitting in a chair.
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N3過去かこ
past. Time that has already passed. Example: 「過去をふり返る」 (to look back on the past), 「過去の失敗」 (past failures). The antonyms are 「未来」 (future) and 「現在」 (present).
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N3籠かご
A container made by weaving bamboo, wire, etc. Example: 「買い物籠」 (a shopping basket), 「鳥籠」 (a birdcage).
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N1かこつけるかこつける
It refers to hiding the true reason and using something else as a pretext. Used in expressions like 「病気にかこつけて休む」 or 「忙しさにかこつける」, in situations of using something as an excuse to hide one's true intent.
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N3囲むかこむ
surround. To encircle something. Example: 「テーブルを囲む」 (to sit around a table), 「山に囲まれた町」 (a town surrounded by mountains). The noun form is 「囲い」.
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N5傘かさ
umbrella. A tool held up to block rain or sunlight. Example: 「傘をさす」 (to hold up an umbrella).
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N3火災かさい
fire. A disaster in which a building, etc., burns. Example: 「火災報知器」 (fire alarm), 「火災が発生する」 (a fire breaks out). A more formal way of saying 「火事」, used in news and documents.
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N1寡作かさく
「寡」 means few, and 「作」 means works; together they mean having few works. It refers to a writer or artist who produces only a small number of works in their lifetime. Used in expressions like 「寡作の作家」. The opposite is 「多作」. It is a word seen in contexts speaking of the volume of creative output.
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N3重なるかさなる
For objects to be piled one on top of another in the same place. Example: 「本が重なる」 (books are stacked). Also used to mean things concentrating at the same time, as in 「予定が重なる」 (schedules overlap), 「不幸が重なる」 (misfortunes pile up).
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N3重ねるかさねる
To place things on top of each other and stack them. Example: 「皿を重ねる」 (to stack plates). Also used to mean repeating something continuously, as in 「努力を重ねる」 (to make repeated efforts), 「年を重ねる」 (to grow older). 「重ねる」 is used when someone piles things up, and 「重なる」 when things end up piled up: 「皿を重ねる」 versus 「皿が重なる」.
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N1かさばるかさばる
It refers to an object having a large volume and taking up space. Used in expressions like 「冬物がかさばる」 or 「荷物がかさばる」, in situations where it is the size of the volume, not the weight, that is the issue.
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N1かさむかさむ
It refers to an amount or quantity increasing and becoming large. Used in expressions like 「経費がかさむ」 or 「出費がかさむ」, mainly in situations where money or quantity of goods increases more than expected.
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N3飾りかざり
decoration. Something attached to make a thing look beautiful. Example: 「クリスマスの飾り」 (Christmas decorations), 「首飾り」 (a necklace).
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N3飾るかざる
decorate. To place or attach things so they look beautiful. Example: 「花を飾る」 (to decorate with flowers), 「部屋を飾る」 (to decorate a room). Also used to mean making something appear better than it really is, as in 「言葉を飾る」 (to embellish one's words).
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N3火山かざん
volcano. A mountain formed by magma erupting from underground. Example: 「火山が噴火する」 (a volcano erupts), 「活火山」 (an active volcano).
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N3歌手かしゅ
singer. A person whose job is singing songs. Example: 「人気歌手」 (a popular singer).
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N1寡少かしょう
「寡」 means few, and 「少」 means few; the word combines two synonymous characters. It refers to a number or amount that is extremely small. Used in expressions like 「寡少な資源」, it is a formal word used in contexts that emphasize being limited.
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N3数かず
number. Something that shows how many of something there are. Example: 「数が多い」 (a large number). The reading changes to 「かぞ(える)」 and 「すう」 in words like 「数える」 (to count) and 「数字」 (a numeral/figure).
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N3, N5貸すかす
lend. To let someone use one's own thing for a certain time. The opposite, using someone else's thing, is 「かりる」 (to borrow).
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N1霞むかすむ
It refers to distant scenery looking blurry due to mist or haze. Used in expressions like 「山が霞む」 or 「目が霞む」, it expresses a state in which vision is not clear. By metaphor it is also used in the sense of becoming inconspicuous, as in 「主役が霞む」.
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N1かすめるかすめる
It refers to passing by very close to the side of something, or lightly touching it. Used in expressions like 「鳥が水面をかすめる」 or 「ボールが頬をかすめる」, in situations of light contact.
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N5風かぜ
wind. Moving air. Example: 「風がふく」 (the wind blows). The same 「風」 read as 「ふう」 becomes a different word expressing a manner or style, as in 「そんな風に」 or 「日本風」.
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N5風邪かぜ
An illness that causes fever, sore throat, or runny nose. Used with the verb 「風邪をひく」 (to catch a cold). Same reading as 「風」 (wind).
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N3稼ぐかせぐ
earn. To obtain money by working. Example: 「生活費を稼ぐ」 (to earn living expenses). Also used to mean gaining a favorable state, as in 「時間を稼ぐ」 (to buy time).
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N1寡占かせん
「寡」 means few, and 「占」 means to occupy; together they mean a few occupying things in a dominant manner. It refers to a state in which a small number of companies control most of a market. It is a specialized term used in economic articles in forms like 「寡占市場」 or 「寡占状態」. It refers to a situation with more participating companies than 「独占」(monopoly).
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N3数えるかぞえる
count. To check how many there are of something. Example: 「人数を数える」 (to count the number of people), 「指を折って数える」 (to count on one's fingers).
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N5家族かぞく
family. The people who live together, such as father, mother, and children.
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N3肩かた
shoulder. The part of the body at the base of the arm, beside the neck. Example: 「肩をたたく」 (to tap someone's shoulder), 「肩がこる」 (to have stiff shoulders). There is also the expression 「肩を持つ」 (to take someone's side).
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N5方かた
A polite way of saying 「人」 (person). Example: 「あの方はどなたですか」 (who is that person?). Read as 「ほう」, it becomes a word for comparing two things, as in 「こちらの方が高い」 (this one is more expensive).
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N4堅いかたい
A state where the content is solid and dependable. Also used for a serious way of thinking or personality. Example:「堅いしごと」(a steady job). Distinguished in writing from the homophones「硬い(かたい)」(strong to the touch) and「固い(かたい)」(strongly bound).
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N4硬いかたい
A state where something is strong and not easily broken or dented. Example:「硬い石」(a hard stone). Also used for a stiff body or expression. Distinguished in writing from the homophones「堅い(かたい)」(solid in content) and「固い(かたい)」(strongly bound).
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N1頑なかたくな
A manner of not changing one's own views and not accepting others' opinions. Used in expressions like 「頑なに拒む」 or 「頑なな態度」, in situations of closing one's heart and not yielding. It often carries a slightly negative evaluation.
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N1固唾かたず
It refers to saliva that gathers in the mouth when one tenses up and holds one's breath. It is mostly used in the form 「固唾を呑む」 as a set phrase expressing the manner of watching tensely with concern over the outcome.
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N3刀かたな
sword. A long, thin blade used by samurai in the past. Example: 「日本刀」 (a Japanese sword).
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N1語り継ぐかたりつぐ
It refers to continuing to tell and pass on a story or experience to later generations. Used in expressions like 「先人の知恵を語り継ぐ」 or 「地域の伝統を語り継ぐ」, in situations of passing things down orally across generations.
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N3語るかたる
To tell a story to someone by speaking. Example: 「体験を語る」 (to talk about one's experience), 「夢を語る」 (to talk about one's dreams). More formal than 「話す」, used when conveying a coherent story carefully.
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N1傍らかたわら
Right beside, the area at the side. It also refers to doing another thing simultaneously while engaged in some activity. Used in expressions like 「母の傍らに座る」 or 「仕事の傍ら執筆する」.
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N1荷担かたん
The character 「荷」 means luggage and 「担」 means to carry on the shoulder; the original meaning is to help someone carry their load. From this, the word came to express joining in and assisting with an action. Used in expressions like 「犯罪に荷担する」 or 「不正に荷担する」, it is mostly applied to involvement in undesirable acts.
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N3価値かち
value. The worth or importance a thing has. Example: 「価値がある」 (to have value), 「読む価値のある本」 (a book worth reading). 「価値観」 (values/one's sense of what matters) is also commonly used.
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N3活気かっき
liveliness. A vibrant, energetic feeling. Example: 「活気のある市場」 (a lively market), 「活気にあふれる」 (overflowing with vitality).
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N3学期がっき
semester. A period into which a school's year is divided. Example: 「新学期」 (a new semester), 「学期末テスト」 (an end-of-term exam).
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N1活況かっきょう
「活」 means lively, and 「況」 means state; together they refer to a lively state. It refers to a state in which business or markets are bustling and energetic. Used in expressions like 「市場が活況を呈する」 or 「活況を示す」, in economic articles describing favorable conditions.
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N5学校がっこう
school. A place where children or students study.
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N1喝采かっさい
A word expressing praise through applause or cheers. Used in scenes depicting audience acclaim, as in「喝采を浴びる」「拍手喝采」.
This word has different meanings and uses at each level
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