試験頻出名詞

この結論けつろんには議論ぎろんの余地よちが残のこされている。

There is still room for debate about this conclusion.

Usage 〜の余地がある / ない. Set phrases worth memorising: 疑う余地がない for beyond doubt, 改善の余地, 検討の余地, 弁解の余地もない.

Remember it 余 (surplus) + 地 (ground) → ground left over and not yet built on.

手続てつづきの面めんで便宜べんぎを図はかっていただいた。

They accommodated me with the procedures.

Usage 便宜を図る — to accommodate someone, sometimes with a hint of improper favour. 便宜上 means for convenience's sake. Read べんぎ.

Remember it 便 (convenient) + 宜 (fitting) → arranged to be convenient and fitting.

その証言しょうげんの信憑しんぴょう性せいには疑問ぎもんが残のこる。

Doubts remain about the credibility of that testimony.

Usage 信憑性が高い / 低い / に欠ける. Used of testimony, reports and sources. Read しんぴょうせい. 信頼性 is reliability, used of machines and systems.

Remember it 信 (believe) + 憑 (rely on) + 性 (‑ness) → how far it can be leaned on and believed.

調査ちょうさ対象たいしょうに偏かたよりがあると結果けっかも歪ゆがむ。

If the survey sample is skewed, the results are distorted too.

Usage 偏りがある, 偏りをなくす, 栄養の偏り. The plain-Japanese noun from 偏る, and the everyday counterpart to the formal 偏向.

Remember it 偏 (lean to one side) → the noun for that leaning.

医療いりょう資源しげんが都市とし部ぶに偏在へんざいしている。

Medical resources are unevenly distributed, concentrated in urban areas.

Usage A classic trap: 遍在, pronounced the same, means the exact opposite — being present everywhere. 偏 leans one way; 遍 spreads through all.

Remember it 偏 (lean) + 在 (exist) → existing all on one side.

恣意しいによらない客観きゃっかん的てきな基準きじゅんが必要ひつようだ。

What is needed are objective standards that do not rest on arbitrary judgement.

Usage Rarely alone; usually 恣意的 — arbitrary — as in 恣意的な運用. Read しい. The point is decision by whim rather than by rule.

Remember it 恣 (let oneself go) + 意 (will) → letting your own will do as it pleases.

事態じたいの悪化あっかを深ふかく憂慮ゆうりょしている。

We are deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation.

Usage 〜を憂慮する, 憂慮すべき事態. The register of official statements and diplomacy — heavier than both 心配 and 懸念.

Remember it 憂 (grieve, worry) + 慮 (consider) → worrying it over in your mind.

副作用ふくさようへの懸念けねんから導入どうにゅうが見送みおくられた。

Introduction was shelved out of concern about side effects.

Usage 〜への懸念, 〜が懸念される. Read けねん, not けんねん — a standard reading question. Formal, and constant in news writing.

Remember it 懸 (hang suspended) + 念 (thought) → a thought left hanging, unsettled.

職人しょくにんとしての矜持きょうじが彼かれを支ささえていた。

His pride as a craftsman was what sustained him.

Usage 矜持を持つ. Read きょうじ, though きんじ is also heard. Literary and elevated — professional self-respect rather than ordinary 誇り, and never mere vanity.

Remember it 矜 (take pride in) + 持 (hold) → holding on to your own worth.

計画けいかくは資金しきん面めんで破綻はたんをきたした。

The plan broke down on the financial side.

Usage 破綻する, 破綻をきたす, 経営破綻 for business failure, 財政破綻. Also of arguments: 論理が破綻している. Read はたん.

Remember it 破 (tear) + 綻 (seams coming undone) → the seams split beyond mending.

偶然ぐうぜんの発見はっけんが研究けんきゅうの端緒たんしょとなった。

A chance discovery became the starting point of the research.

Usage 端緒となる, 端緒を開く. Read たんしょ, with たんちょ as a variant. More formal than きっかけ or 糸口, and often the first clue in an investigation.

Remember it 端 (the end, the tip) + 緒 (thread) → the loose end of the thread you pull first.

気候きこう変動へんどうは人類じんるいにとって深刻しんこくな脅威きょういだ。

Climate change is a serious threat to humanity.

Usage 脅威となる, 脅威にさらされる. Distinguish the homophone 驚異, meaning a wonder or marvel — 自然の驚異 is a wonder of nature, 自然の脅威 a danger from it.

Remember it 脅 (threaten) + 威 (power that overawes) → power that makes you afraid.

話はなしに脈絡みゃくらくがなく、何なにが言いいたいのか分わからない。

The talk has no coherence, and I cannot tell what he wants to say.

Usage 脈絡がない, 脈絡を欠く — nearly always negative. 前後の脈絡 is the thread running through what came before and after. Literally the course of a blood vessel.

Remember it 脈 (vein, pulse) + 絡 (link) → the connected line running through, like a vein.

恩師おんしの訃報ふほうに接せっし、言葉ことばを失うしなった。

On hearing of my teacher's death, I was lost for words.

Usage 訃報に接する, 訃報が届く. Formal and confined to deaths. The character 訃 appears in almost nothing else, so the word is worth learning whole.

Remember it 訃 (report a death) + 報 (news) → the news that someone has died.

ご質問しつもんの趣旨しゅしを確認かくにんさせてください。

Let me confirm the purport of your question.

Usage 趣旨を理解する, 趣旨に沿う, 設立趣旨. Formal, standard in meetings and documents. Compare 意図, the speaker's intention, and 要旨, the summary.

Remember it 趣 (the direction a thing tends) + 旨 (the point) → the point it is tending toward.

部門ぶもん間かんの軋轢あつれきが組織そしきの足あしかせになっている。

Friction between departments has become a drag on the organisation.

Usage 軋轢が生じる, 軋轢を生む. Read あつれき. A hard word to write but common in N1 reading — discord between people or groups who must work together.

Remember it 軋 (creak, grind) + 轢 (run over) → the grinding of wheels against each other.

このような結果けっかとなったことは誠まことに遺憾いかんである。

It is truly regrettable that matters turned out this way.

Usage 遺憾である, 遺憾に思う. The diplomatic register — used to criticise without apologising, and endlessly parsed in the press. Note 遺憾なく発揮する, to show your ability to the full.

Remember it 遺 (left behind) + 憾 (regret) → regret left behind after the fact.

事件じけんの顛末てんまつを報告ほうこく書しょにまとめた。

They compiled the full circumstances of the incident into a report.

Usage 事の顛末, 顛末を報告する. The whole course of events from start to finish. Formal and written; also spelled 転末 in modern simplified text.

Remember it 顛 (the crown of the head) + 末 (the tip) → from the top of the head to the very tip.

両者りょうしゃの認識にんしきに齟齬そごが生しょうじていた。

A discrepancy had arisen between the two sides' understanding.

Usage 齟齬が生じる, 齟齬をきたす. Read そご. Both characters carry the 歯 tooth radical — the image is of teeth that fail to meet.

Remember it 齟 and 齬 both hold 歯 (tooth) → upper and lower teeth that do not bite together.

支払しはらいに一いっか月げつの猶予ゆうよが与あたえられた。

A month's grace was granted on the payment.

Usage 猶予を与える, 一刻の猶予もない for no time to lose, and 執行猶予 for a suspended sentence — the compound most learners meet first.

Remember it 猶 (still, yet) + 予 (in advance) → still some time given before it falls due.

各かく自治体じちたいが独自どくじの条例じょうれいを定さだめている。

Each local authority sets its own ordinances.

Usage 条例を定める, 条例違反. The hierarchy is worth holding: 憲法, then 法律 passed by the Diet, then 政令 from the cabinet, then 条例 made by local assemblies.

Remember it 条 (article, clause) + 例 (rule) → the articles a locality lays down.

提出ていしゅつされた資料しりょうを精査せいさした上うえで判断はんだんする。

We will judge after closely examining the material submitted.

Usage 〜を精査する. Administrative and audit language, stronger than 調べる or 検討 — going through something in fine detail before deciding.

Remember it 精 (fine, meticulous) + 査 (investigate) → investigating down to the fine grain.

両国りょうこくの間あいだに緩衝かんしょう地帯ちたいが設もうけられた。

A buffer zone was established between the two countries.

Usage 緩衝地帯, 緩衝材 for packing material. Read かんしょう — and distinguish the homophone 干渉, interference, which turns up in the same political contexts.

Remember it 緩 (soften) + 衝 (impact) → softening the impact between two things.

その発言はつげんには政治せいじ的てきな含意がんいがあると読よまれた。

The remark was read as carrying a political implication.

Usage 含意がある, 含意を読み取る. Academic and analytical. In logic it renders implication; in ordinary argument it is what a statement conveys without saying.

Remember it 含 (contain) + 意 (meaning) → the meaning held inside without being stated.

発言はつげんに一貫性いっかんせいがないと信頼しんらいを失うしなう。

Statements that lack consistency lose you trust.

Usage 一貫性がある / 欠ける. Consistency over time — saying the same thing today as yesterday. Its partner 整合性 is consistency between parts at the same moment.

Remember it 一 (one) + 貫 (run through) + 性 → the quality of one line running right through.

新しん制度せいどと既存きそん法ほうとの整合せいごう性せいが問とわれる。

The coherence of the new system with existing law is in question.

Usage 整合性を取る, 整合性がない. Used of whether separate elements fit together — a new rule with old rules, a design with its specification. Compare 一貫性.

Remember it 整 (orderly) + 合 (fit) + 性 → the quality of the parts fitting in order.

評価ひょうか基準きじゅんの妥当だとう性せいを検証けんしょうする必要ひつようがある。

The validity of the assessment criteria needs to be verified.

Usage 妥当性を検証する, 妥当性に欠ける. In research it renders validity, paired with 信頼性 for reliability. From 妥当, meaning appropriate or reasonable.

Remember it 妥 (settled, apt) + 当 (fitting) + 性 → the quality of being apt and fitting.

意思いし決定けってい過程かていの透明とうめい性せいが求もとめられている。

Transparency in the decision-making process is being demanded.

Usage 透明性を高める, 透明性が低い. Governance vocabulary, and the adjective 不透明 is just as common — 不透明な経緯, murky circumstances.

Remember it 透 (see through) + 明 (clear) + 性 → the quality of being seen clear through.

新薬しんやくの有効ゆうこう性せいが臨床りんしょう試験しけんで確認かくにんされた。

The efficacy of the new drug was confirmed in clinical trials.

Usage 有効性を検証する. Medical and policy usage. In law, 有効 means legally valid — 契約の有効性. Its opposite is 無効.

Remember it 有 (have) + 効 (effect) + 性 → the quality of having the effect claimed.

責任せきにんの所在しょざいを明あきらかにすべきだ。

Where the responsibility lies should be made clear.

Usage 責任の所在 is the phrase to know, and a favourite in reading passages. Literally too: 所在が分からない for someone's whereabouts. 所在ない means at a loose end.

Remember it 所 (place) + 在 (be at) → the place where a thing — or a responsibility — actually sits.

議論ぎろんが核心かくしんに触ふれないまま終おわった。

The discussion ended without touching the heart of the matter.

Usage 核心に触れる, 核心を突く, 核心部分. Distinguish the homophone 確信, meaning conviction — 核心を確信する would use both, and the exam knows it.

Remember it 核 (nucleus) + 心 (centre) → the nucleus at the centre of the thing.

その主張しゅちょうを裏付うらづける根拠こんきょを示しめしてほしい。

I would like you to show the grounds backing that claim.

Usage 根拠に基づく, 根拠を示す, 根拠のない噂. The general word for grounds, where 論拠 specifically supports an argument and 証拠 is physical evidence.

Remember it 根 (root) + 拠 (support) → the root a claim rests on.

対症たいしょう療法りょうほうではなく根本こんぽん的てきな解決かいけつが必要ひつようだ。

What is needed is a fundamental solution, not treatment of symptoms.

Usage 根本的な解決, 根本原因, 根本から見直す. Read こんぽん in this sense; ねもと is the literal base of a tree or a pole.

Remember it 根 (root) + 本 (base) → the root and the base together.

設計せっけい上じょうの欠陥けっかんが事故じこの原因げんいんだった。

A design defect was the cause of the accident.

Usage 欠陥がある, 欠陥商品, 欠陥住宅. Serious and structural, unlike 欠点, a personal shortcoming. In law the near-equivalent is the formal 瑕疵.

Remember it 欠 (missing) + 陥 (a pit, a collapse) → a hole where solid ground should be.

報告ほうこく内容ないように疑義ぎぎが呈ていされた。

Doubts were raised about the content of the report.

Usage 疑義を呈する, 疑義が生じる. Formal and institutional — doubt raised on the record, as against everyday 疑問. Read ぎぎ.

Remember it 疑 (doubt) + 義 (meaning, rightness) → doubt about whether it is right.

議論ぎろんの焦点しょうてんは財源ざいげんをどう確保かくほするかだ。

The focus of the debate is how to secure the funding.

Usage 焦点を絞る, 焦点が定まらない, 焦点を当てる. Also optical — 焦点距離 is focal length. The metaphor from a lens burning paper is alive in the characters.

Remember it 焦 (scorch) + 点 (point) → the point where a lens gathers light enough to burn.

書類しょるいに不備ふびがあったため再さい提出ていしゅつを求もとめられた。

There were deficiencies in the documents, so resubmission was required.

Usage 不備がある, 不備を指摘する. Constant in administrative life — 書類の不備 is what sends your application back. From 備わる, to be furnished.

Remember it 不 (not) + 備 (fully provided) → not everything it should have been furnished with.

薬くすりの副作用ふくさようについて十分じゅうぶんな説明せつめいが必要ひつようだ。

Adequate explanation of a drug's side effects is necessary.

Usage Medically, side effects. Figuratively — the exam sense — the unintended consequence of a policy: 改革の副作用. Related: 反動 for a backlash.

Remember it 副 (secondary) + 作用 (effect) → the effect that comes along beside the one you wanted.

今後こんごの業界ぎょうかいの展望てんぼうについて語かたってもらった。

We asked him to talk about the outlook for the industry.

Usage 今後の展望, 展望が開ける. Also literal — 展望台 is an observation deck. Broader and longer-range than 見通し, which is a nearer forecast.

Remember it 展 (spread out) + 望 (look into the distance) → the view when the horizon opens out.

その業界ぎょうかいには暗黙あんもくの了解りょうかいがある。

That industry has its tacit understandings.

Usage 暗黙の了解, 暗黙のルール, 暗黙知 for tacit knowledge. Nearly always in these fixed combinations, and central to how Japanese organisations are described.

Remember it 暗 (dark) + 黙 (silent) → understood in the dark, without a word said.

その議論ぎろんは前提ぜんてい自体じたいが間違まちがっている。

The premise of that argument is itself mistaken.

Usage 〜を前提とする, 前提に立つ, 大前提. Essential in argument and reading passages, where exposing a hidden 前提 is often the writer's move.

Remember it 前 (before) + 提 (put forward) → what is put forward before the argument starts.

測定そくていには多少たしょうの誤差ごさが生しょうじる。

Some margin of error arises in measurement.

Usage 誤差が生じる, 誤差の範囲内 — within the margin of error, the phrase used when discussing polls. Scientific and statistical.

Remember it 誤 (error) + 差 (difference) → the difference that is error rather than fact.

データの裏付うらづけがあると説得せっとく力りょくが増ます。

Backed by data, an argument gains persuasiveness.

Usage 説得力がある / 欠ける / 増す. Used to judge arguments, articles and speeches — and exactly what an N1 essay question asks you to produce.

Remember it 説得 (persuade) + 力 (power) → the power a case has to persuade.

制度せいどが現場げんばの実情じつじょうに合あっていない。

The system does not match the actual situation on the ground.

Usage 実情に合う, 実情を知る. The reality as opposed to the official version or the rule. Distinguish 実態, which is the actual state of something investigated.

Remember it 実 (actual) + 情 (circumstances) → how things actually stand.

急きゅうな方針ほうしん転換てんかんに現場げんばは戸惑とまどいを隠かくせなかった。

The sudden change of policy left the front line unable to hide its bewilderment.

Usage 戸惑いを覚える, 戸惑いを隠せない, and the verb 戸惑う. Milder than 混乱: not knowing how to react rather than everything falling apart.

Remember it 戸 (door) + 惑う (be at a loss) → standing among doors, not knowing which to go through.

抑揚よくようのない話はなし方かたは聞きき手てを退屈たいくつさせる。

A flat way of speaking bores the listener.

Usage 抑揚がある / ない, 抑揚をつける. Only of the voice and of music — using it for objects is the error the usage section tests.

Remember it 抑 (press down) + 揚 (lift up) → the voice pressed down and lifted again.

制度せいどの公平こうへい性せいをどう担保たんぽするかが課題かだいだ。

How to guarantee the fairness of the system is the challenge.

Usage Financially, collateral: 担保に入れる. Increasingly — and the sense the exam favours — 〜を担保する for guaranteeing quality, fairness or safety.

Remember it 担 (shoulder) + 保 (keep safe) → shouldering the risk so the thing is kept safe.

見通みとおしの甘あまさが今回こんかいの失敗しっぱいを招まねいた。

A rosy view of the prospects is what led to this failure.

Usage Beyond sweetness, N1 uses the second sense of 甘い: 見通しの甘さ, 認識の甘さ, 詰めの甘さ — being too easy on yourself or the situation. Always a criticism.

Remember it 甘い (sweet) extends to soft or lax — tasting the world as sweeter than it is.

一社いっしゃの倒産とうさんが連鎖れんさ的てきに影響えいきょうを広ひろげた。

One company's bankruptcy spread its effects in a chain.

Usage 連鎖する, 連鎖的に, 負の連鎖 for a vicious circle, 連鎖反応 for a chain reaction. Also biology: 食物連鎖, the food chain.

Remember it 連 (link) + 鎖 (chain) → links joined into a chain.

災害さいがい時じは回線かいせんが輻輳ふくそうしてつながりにくくなる。

During a disaster, lines become congested and hard to get through.

Usage 回線が輻輳する. Telecommunications and traffic. The characters are hard enough that ふくそう is usually written in kana. Read ふくそう.

Remember it 輻 (spokes of a wheel) + 輳 (converge) → every spoke crowding in on the hub.