試験頻出語 I

提案ていあんは検討けんとうされることもなく一蹴いっしゅうされた。

The proposal was dismissed out of hand without even being considered.

Usage 〜を一蹴する. Curt and cold — rejecting something without deigning to examine it. In sport it also means beating an opponent easily.

Remember it 一 (one) + 蹴 (kick, as in 蹴球) → gone with a single kick.

制度せいどと実態じったいの乖離かいりが問題もんだいとなっている。

The divergence between the system and reality has become a problem.

Usage AとBの乖離 is the pattern — a gap between two things that ought to match. Formal, common in economics and policy writing. Plainer: 隔たり, ずれ.

Remember it 乖 (turn against) + 離 (part) → turning away from each other and drifting apart.

我々われわれは技術ぎじゅつ進歩しんぽの恩恵おんけいを享受きょうじゅしている。

We enjoy the benefits of technological progress.

Usage 恩恵を享受する, 自由を享受する. Formal and positive: receiving a benefit and having the good of it. 楽しむ is enjoying an experience; 享受 is enjoying an advantage.

Remember it 享 (receive, partake of) + 受 (accept) → taking a benefit and having the use of it.

問題もんだいを傍観ぼうかんしているだけでは何なにも変かわらない。

Merely standing by and watching the problem changes nothing.

Usage 傍観する, 傍観者, 傍観者効果 for the bystander effect. Always critical — it names the failure to act. Related: 対岸の火事, treating a crisis as someone else's fire.

Remember it 傍 (at the side) + 観 (watch) → watching from the side and doing nothing.

諸般しょはんの事情じじょうを勘案かんあんして判断はんだんする。

We judge after taking all the various circumstances into account.

Usage 諸般の事情を勘案する. Bureaucratic and formal. Where 考慮 weighs a factor, 勘案 gathers several together before deciding — which is why official documents favour it.

Remember it 勘 (judge, intuit) + 案 (consider a plan) → weighing several things up at once.

この事件じけんは社会しゃかいの関心かんしんを喚起かんきした。

The incident aroused public interest.

Usage 注意喚起 is the noun you will see on signs and notices; 関心を喚起する, 世論を喚起する. The object is always awareness or attention, never a physical thing.

Remember it 喚 (call out) + 起 (rouse) → calling something awake.

政府せいふは従来じゅうらいの方針ほうしんを堅持けんじする構かまえだ。

The government looks set to adhere firmly to its existing policy.

Usage 方針を堅持する, 立場を堅持する. Common in political news. Stronger than 維持, which merely keeps something going — 堅持 refuses to be moved.

Remember it 堅 (firm) + 持 (hold) → holding firm and not letting go.

蚊かが媒介ばいかいする感染かんせん症しょうに注意ちゅういが必要ひつようだ。

Care is needed with infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

Usage Two uses: biologically 蚊が媒介する, and abstractly 言語を媒介として, by means of language. The related 媒体 means a medium — including 記録媒体 for storage media.

Remember it 媒 (matchmaker) + 介 (come between) → the go-between that carries one thing to another.

法案ほうあんは来週らいしゅうから国会こっかいで審議しんぎされる。

The bill will be deliberated in the Diet from next week.

Usage 法案を審議する, 審議会 for an advisory council, 審議未了 for a bill left unfinished when the session ends. Parliamentary and administrative register.

Remember it 審 (examine closely) + 議 (deliberate) → examining it closely in debate.

一度いちど生うまれた不信ふしん感かんを払拭ふっしょくするのは容易よういではない。

Once distrust has arisen, dispelling it is not easy.

Usage 不安を払拭する, イメージを払拭する, 疑念を払拭する. The object is always a negative impression or feeling — you cannot 払拭 a physical stain.

Remember it 払 (brush off) + 拭 (wipe) → brushed off and wiped clean away.

条約じょうやくは国会こっかいの批准ひじゅんを経へて発効はっこうする。

The treaty takes effect after ratification by the Diet.

Usage 条約を批准する — the object is practically always a treaty. A legal term: the formal act by which a state binds itself. 承認 is approval in general.

Remember it 批 (judge) + 准 (approve) → judged and approved at the highest level.

再発さいはつ防止ぼうしのため必要ひつような措置そちを講こうじた。

We took the measures necessary to prevent a recurrence.

Usage 措置を取る and the more formal 措置を講じる. Common compounds: 緊急措置, 暫定措置, 行政措置. 対策 is a countermeasure to a problem; a 措置 is any step formally taken.

Remember it 措 (place, set) + 置 (put) → putting a step in place.

制度せいどの不備ふびを是正ぜせいする必要ひつようがある。

The shortcomings of the system need correcting.

Usage 格差を是正する, 不均衡を是正する. The object is a systemic wrong — an imbalance or an inequity, not a typo. Formal, common in policy language.

Remember it 是 (right, correct) + 正 (straighten) → straightening it back to what is right.

その行為こういを是認ぜにんするわけにはいかない。

We cannot approve of that conduct.

Usage 〜を是認する. Often met in the negative, as here, to condemn something. Its opposite is 否認. Accepting something as right, rather than merely permitting it.

Remember it 是 (right) + 認 (acknowledge) → acknowledging it as right.

数字すうじを都合つごうよく並ならべただけの欺瞞ぎまん的てきな報告ほうこくだ。

It is a deceptive report, no more than figures arranged to suit.

Usage 欺瞞的な, 欺瞞に満ちた, 自己欺瞞 for self-deception. A heavy word of condemnation, at home in argument and political writing.

Remember it 欺 (deceive) + 瞞 (hoodwink) → deceiving and pulling the wool over their eyes.

発言はつげんの一部いちぶだけを切きり取とるのは事実じじつの歪曲わいきょくだ。

Quoting only part of a remark is a distortion of the facts.

Usage 事実を歪曲する, 歴史歪曲. Always negative. Read わいきょく — the 歪 here is not the ゆがみ of 歪む, a common misreading.

Remember it 歪 (warped) + 曲 (bent) → warped and bent out of true.

一社いっしゃの不祥事ふしょうじが業界ぎょうかい全体ぜんたいに波及はきゅうした。

One company's scandal spread through the whole industry.

Usage 〜に波及する, 波及効果 for a ripple effect. The subject is an event or an influence, never a physical object — influence spreading outward like a wave.

Remember it 波 (wave) + 及 (reach) → the wave reaching further out.

この問題もんだいは看過かんかできない重大じゅうだいな欠陥けっかんを含ふくんでいる。

This problem contains a serious defect that cannot be overlooked.

Usage Nearly always negated: 看過できない, 看過しがたい. Formal and argumentative — seeing something and letting it pass anyway.

Remember it 看 (look at) + 過 (let pass) → seeing it and letting it go by.

規制きせいが緩和かんわされ、参入さんにゅうが容易よういになった。

Regulations were eased, making entry to the market simpler.

Usage 規制緩和 for deregulation is the compound to know; also 痛みを緩和する, 緊張緩和. More formal than 和らげる, and standard in policy and medicine alike.

Remember it 緩 (loosen) + 和 (soften) → loosened and softened.

厳きびしすぎる管理かんりは現場げんばの創造そうぞう性せいを萎縮いしゅくさせる。

Management that is too strict makes the people on the ground shrink from being creative.

Usage Two senses: medically, muscles or organs atrophying; psychologically — the exam's favourite — people becoming cowed. Often causative: 萎縮させる.

Remember it 萎 (wither) + 縮 (shrink) → withered and pulled in on itself.

条件じょうけんに該当がいとうする方かたは申請しんせいしてください。

Those who meet the conditions should apply.

Usage 〜に該当する, 該当者, 該当なし on a form for 'none applicable'. Everywhere in official documents and applications.

Remember it 該 (that very one) + 当 (hit the mark) → landing exactly on the case described.

負担ふたんを軽減けいげんするための制度せいどが導入どうにゅうされた。

A system was introduced to lighten the burden.

Usage 負担を軽減する, 税負担の軽減, 軽減税率 for a reduced tax rate. The object is usually a burden or a load; its opposite is 加重.

Remember it 軽 (light) + 減 (reduce) → reduced until it weighs less.

投入とうにゅう量りょうを増ふやしても効果こうかは逓減ていげんしていく。

Even as you increase the input, the effect diminishes step by step.

Usage 収穫逓減の法則 — the law of diminishing returns — is where most learners meet it. Its opposite is 逓増. Economic and technical register.

Remember it 逓 (in successive stages) + 減 (decrease) → decreasing by stages rather than at once.

決断けつだんを迫せまられ、しばし逡巡しゅんじゅんした。

Pressed for a decision, he hesitated for a while.

Usage 逡巡する. Highly formal and literary; ためらう and 迷う are the everyday words. Note the reading しゅんじゅん.

Remember it 逡 (draw back) + 巡 (go round) → stepping back and circling instead of going forward.

議論ぎろんが本来ほんらいの目的もくてきから逸脱いつだつしている。

The discussion has strayed from its original purpose.

Usage 〜から逸脱する, and the noun 逸脱行為. Common objects: 本題, 常識, 職務, 規範. More formal than 逸れる.

Remember it 逸 (slip away) + 脱 (come off) → slipping out of the frame it belonged in.

与あたえられた任務にんむを確実かくじつに遂行すいこうした。

He carried out the assigned mission reliably.

Usage 任務を遂行する, 職務遂行. Read すいこう. Related: 完遂 for seeing something right through, 未遂 for an attempted crime.

Remember it 遂 (accomplish) + 行 (carry out) → carrying it out all the way to completion.

この規定きていは過去かこの契約けいやくにまで遡及そきゅうして適用てきようされる。

The provision applies retroactively, even to past contracts.

Usage 遡及して適用する, 遡及効, 遡及処罰の禁止 — the constitutional ban on retroactive punishment. The native verb is 遡る (さかのぼる).

Remember it 遡 (go upstream) + 及 (reach) → reaching back up the current of time.

全すべての社員しゃいんに法令ほうれいの遵守じゅんしゅが求もとめられる。

All employees are required to comply with the law.

Usage 法令遵守 renders compliance, and コンプライアンス now competes with it. Also written 順守, especially in newspapers. Objects: 法令, 規則, 期限.

Remember it 遵 (follow) + 守 (keep) → following the rule and keeping to it.

障害しょうがいのある方かたへの配慮はいりょが欠かけていた。

Consideration for people with disabilities was lacking.

Usage 〜に配慮する, 合理的配慮 for reasonable accommodation, ご配慮いただき in polite correspondence. Positive and courteous throughout.

Remember it 配 (arrange, allot) + 慮 (think of) → arranging things with someone else in mind.

情報じょうほうが錯綜さくそうしていて事実じじつ関係かんけいがつかめない。

Information is tangled and the facts cannot be made out.

Usage 情報が錯綜する, 利害が錯綜する. Typically used of conflicting reports in the early hours of an incident — a newsroom word.

Remember it 錯 (mixed up) + 綜 (threads woven) → threads crossed into a knot.

過度かどな規制きせいは技術ぎじゅつ革新かくしんを阻害そがいする。

Excessive regulation obstructs technological innovation.

Usage 成長を阻害する, 阻害要因 for an inhibiting factor. In biochemistry it is inhibition. More formal than 邪魔する, and the object is usually a process.

Remember it 阻 (block) + 害 (harm) → blocking it and doing harm in the process.

事故じこの隠蔽いんぺいが発覚はっかくし、信頼しんらいは地ちに落おちた。

The cover-up of the accident came to light, and trust collapsed.

Usage 事実を隠蔽する, 隠蔽工作, 組織的隠蔽. Heavy and accusatory: deliberate, usually institutional concealment. 隠す is the neutral verb.

Remember it 隠 (hide) + 蔽 (cover over) → hidden and then covered over.

現場げんばの事情じじょうを顧慮こりょせずに決きめられた方針ほうしんだ。

It is a policy decided without any regard for conditions on the ground.

Usage 〜を顧慮する, frequently negated: 顧慮しない, 顧慮に入れない. Very formal, faintly archaic. 考慮 is the everyday equivalent.

Remember it 顧 (look back at) + 慮 (consider) → turning to look back at something before deciding.

責任せきにんを忌避きひする姿勢しせいが批判ひはんを招まねいた。

An attitude of shirking responsibility drew criticism.

Usage 〜を忌避する, 兵役忌避 for draft evasion, and in law 忌避申立て for a motion to recuse a judge. Stronger than 避ける — avoidance out of aversion.

Remember it 忌 (shun as taboo) + 避 (avoid) → keeping well clear of what you cannot stand.

緊張きんちょう状態じょうたいが続つづいた後あと、組織そしきに弛緩しかんが見みられた。

After a long period of tension, a slackening was visible in the organisation.

Usage Medically, muscles relaxing: 筋弛緩剤. Figuratively, discipline going slack: 気の弛緩. Read しかん — ちかん is a common error and a different word entirely.

Remember it 弛 (go slack) + 緩 (loosen) → the string gone slack and loose.

記者きしゃ会見かいけんで経緯けいいについて弁明べんめいした。

He explained the circumstances at the press conference.

Usage 弁明する, 弁明の余地がない for having no excuse. Neutral where 弁解 sounds like making excuses; 釈明 is clarifying to dispel misunderstanding.

Remember it 弁 (argue) + 明 (make clear) → arguing your side until it is clear.

両者りょうしゃの間あいだには複雑ふくざつな利害りがい関係かんけいが介在かいざいしている。

A complex web of interests lies between the two parties.

Usage 〜が介在する. The subject is usually abstract — 利害, 思惑, 第三者. Formal, at home in analysis and argument.

Remember it 介 (come between) + 在 (exist) → existing in the space between them.

災害さいがいに便乗びんじょうした悪質あくしつな商法しょうほうが問題もんだいになった。

Unscrupulous sales practices taking advantage of the disaster became a problem.

Usage 〜に便乗する, 便乗値上げ for opportunistic price rises. Negative. The literal sense — catching a ride in someone's car — survives but is rarer.

Remember it 便 (convenient) + 乗 (ride) → hopping on because it happens to be going your way.

地域ちいき経済けいざいの活性かっせい化かを促進そくしんする施策しさくだ。

It is a policy to promote the revitalisation of the regional economy.

Usage 〜を促進する, 販売促進 clipped to 販促. Its opposites are 阻害 and 抑制. Standard in policy and business writing.

Remember it 促 (urge on) + 進 (advance) → pushing it along faster.

学歴がくれき偏重へんちょうの採用さいよう基準きじゅんが見直みなおされている。

Recruitment criteria that overvalue academic background are being reconsidered.

Usage 学歴偏重, 成果偏重, 〜を偏重する. Always critical — it names a distortion, valuing one thing so highly that others are neglected.

Remember it 偏 (lean) + 重 (weigh heavily) → putting all the weight on one side.

幾多いくたの困難こんなんを克服こくふくして目標もくひょうを達成たっせいした。

He overcame any number of difficulties and reached his goal.

Usage 困難を克服する, 弱点を克服する, トラウマを克服する. Positive. The object is an obstacle or a weakness, and you win through effort.

Remember it 克 (prevail over) + 服 (make submit) → beating it and bringing it to heel.

安易あんいな報道ほうどうが偏見へんけんを助長じょちょうする恐おそれがある。

Careless reporting risks fostering prejudice.

Usage An exam trap: despite the helpful-sounding characters, 助長 almost always takes something bad — 偏見, 不安, 対立 — and means making it worse. From the parable of the farmer who pulled his seedlings to help them grow.

Remember it 助 (help) + 長 (grow) → helping it grow, which is only ever said of what should not.