動詞 III

最後さいごまで力ちからを尽つくして戦たたかった。

He fought to the end, giving everything he had.

Usage 力を尽くす, 手を尽くす, 人に尽くす for devoting yourself to someone. As an auxiliary, 〜し尽くす means doing something exhaustively — やり尽くす.

Remember it 尽 (exhaust, as in 無尽蔵) → used right up to the last of it.

話題わだいが尽つきることなく夜よるが更ふけた。

The night wore on without the conversation running dry.

Usage 話題が尽きる, 体力が尽きる. The intransitive partner of 尽くす. Also 〜に尽きる — it comes down to nothing but this: 感謝に尽きる.

Remember it 尽 (run out) with an intransitive ending → the supply reaching its end of itself.

一ひとつの道みちを極きわめた職人しょくにんの技わざは美うつくしい。

The skill of a craftsman who has mastered one path is beautiful.

Usage Two senses: 道を極める, mastering a discipline, and 困難を極める, being extreme in difficulty. Intransitive 極まる. Nouns: 究極, 極致.

Remember it 極 (the furthest point, as in 究極) → taken as far as it will go.

彼女かのじょは語学ごがくに秀ひいでている。

She excels at languages.

Usage 〜に秀でる — note the に. Formal and written; 優れる is the everyday equivalent. The same 秀 as in 優秀.

Remember it 秀 (outstanding, as in 優秀) → the ear of grain standing above the field.

老おいてなお学まなび続つづける姿勢しせいに頭あたまが下さがる。

I take my hat off to someone who keeps learning even in old age.

Usage Written and slightly elevated; 年を取る is the spoken phrase. 老いてなお — even in age, still — is a common literary turn. The noun is 老い.

Remember it 老 (aged) → the character of an old figure with a stick.

自分じぶんの無知むちを恥はじるばかりだ。

I can only feel ashamed of my own ignorance.

Usage 〜を恥じる, 恥じることはない for having nothing to be ashamed of, and 名に恥じない — living up to a name. The noun 恥 means shame.

Remember it 恥 sets 耳 (ear) beside 心 (heart) → the heart burning in your ears.

各紙かくしが一斉いっせいにこの問題もんだいを報ほうじた。

Every paper reported the problem at once.

Usage 〜を報じる, and the passive 〜と報じられる, which is how most news sentences are built. The subject is a news organisation. 報ずる is the same verb.

Remember it 報 (report, as in 報道) → carrying the news out.

再発さいはつを防ふせぐため、早急そうきゅうに対策たいさくを講こうじる必要ひつようがある。

To prevent a recurrence, measures must be taken quickly.

Usage 対策を講じる, 措置を講じる, 手段を講じる — the noun is almost always one of these three. A high-frequency exam collocation.

Remember it 講 (work out, expound, as in 講義) → thinking a remedy out and putting it in place.

この問題もんだいは感情かんじょう論ろんではなく事実じじつに基もとづいて論ろんじるべきだ。

This issue should be argued on the facts, not on feeling.

Usage 〜を論じる. Academic. 論じるまでもない means it goes without saying. 論ずる is the same verb.

Remember it 論 (argue, as in 議論) → setting it out as an argument.

困難こんなんの中なかにこそ意味いみを見出みいだすことができる。

It is precisely within hardship that meaning can be found.

Usage 意味を見出す, 価値を見出す, 活路を見出す. The object is abstract, which distinguishes it from 見つける. Read みいだす. The noun 見出し means a headline.

Remember it 見る (see) + 出す (bring out) → seeing it and drawing it out into view.

館内かんないでの撮影さつえいは固かたく禁きんじられている。

Photography inside the building is strictly forbidden.

Usage Usually passive on signage: 禁じられている. The N1 grammar point 〜を禁じ得ない — unable to suppress a feeling — uses the same verb.

Remember it 禁 (prohibit, as in 禁止) → shut off by rule.

人目ひとめを忍しのんで夜よる遅おそくに訪おとずれた。

He came late at night, avoiding people's eyes.

Usage 人目を忍ぶ, for keeping out of sight, and 恥を忍ぶ, swallowing humiliation. Its homophone 偲ぶ means something entirely different — the exam tests the pair.

Remember it 忍 sets 刃 (blade) over 心 (heart) → holding steady with a blade over your heart.

故人こじんを偲しのぶ会かいが開ひらかれた。

A gathering was held to remember the deceased.

Usage 故人を偲ぶ, 往時を偲ぶ. Only for fond remembrance, usually of the dead. Do not confuse with 忍ぶ, which sounds identical.

Remember it 偲 sets 亻 (person) beside 思 (think) → thinking of a person who is gone.

当時とうじの判断はんだんを今いまも悔くいている。

I still regret the judgement I made at the time.

Usage 〜を悔いる. More formal than 後悔する. 悔いのない人生 — a life without regrets — is the phrase you will meet most. The noun is 悔い.

Remember it 悔 (regret, as in 後悔) on the heart radical 忄 → the heart turning back on itself.

理不尽りふじんな仕打しうちに激はげしく憤いきどおった。

He was fiercely indignant at the unreasonable treatment.

Usage 〜に憤る. Stronger than 怒る, and righteous rather than petty — the noun 義憤 is indignation on principle. Also 憤り, 憤慨.

Remember it 憤 (indignation) on the heart radical 忄 → the heart swelling with it.

人ひとを蔑さげすむような態度たいどは慎つつしむべきだ。

An attitude that looks down on people should be avoided.

Usage 人を蔑む. Harsher than 軽んじる: contempt, not mere underestimation. The noun 蔑み; relatives 軽蔑, 侮蔑.

Remember it 蔑 (despise, as in 軽蔑) → looking at someone as beneath notice.

同僚どうりょうの成功せいこうを妬ねたんでも何なにも変かわらない。

Being jealous of a colleague's success changes nothing.

Usage 人を妬む. Malicious, unlike 羨む, which merely wants the same thing. The pair is a standard exam contrast, as are the nouns 嫉妬 and 羨望.

Remember it 妬 carries the woman radical 女 beside 石 → the old character for a jealousy that hardens.

他人たにんを羨うらやむより自分じぶんを磨みがくほうがいい。

Better to polish yourself than to envy others.

Usage 人を羨む. Neutral to mild: wanting what another has, without ill will. The adjective 羨ましい is the everyday form.

Remember it 羨 (covet) → looking across at what someone else has.

協力きょうりょくを惜おしまないと約束やくそくしてくれた。

He promised to spare no cooperation.

Usage Most often negated: 協力を惜しまない, 労を惜しまない — sparing no effort. Also 別れを惜しむ, being reluctant to part. The adjective 惜しい means 'so close' or 'a waste'.

Remember it 惜 (regret losing) on the heart radical 忄 → the heart unwilling to let it go.

祖母そぼは草花くさばなを慈いつくしむように育そだてていた。

My grandmother raised the flowers as if cherishing them.

Usage 〜を慈しむ. Warm and slightly old-fashioned, used of children, living things, life itself. The noun 慈しみ; relatives 慈悲, 慈善.

Remember it 慈 (compassion, as in 慈悲) over the heart radical 心 → tenderness held in the heart.

開催かいさい自体じたいを危あやぶむ声こえも出でている。

Voices are being raised doubting whether it can be held at all.

Usage 〜を危ぶむ, and very often passive: 開催が危ぶまれる, the event is in doubt. Journalistic.

Remember it 危 (danger) → seeing the danger in whether it can be done.

誰だれにも怪あやしまれないように行動こうどうした。

I acted so as not to arouse anyone's suspicion.

Usage Frequently passive: 怪しまれる. Distinguish 疑う, doubting a specific claim; 怪しむ is the sense that something is off. The adjective is 怪しい.

Remember it 怪 (strange, as in 怪奇) on the heart radical 忄 → the heart finding it odd.

意見いけんが合あわないからと人ひとを疎うとんじるべきではない。

You should not shun people merely because their views differ.

Usage 人を疎んじる. Keeping someone at a cold distance. Read うとんじる. Relatives: 疎外, 疎遠; the adjective 疎い means unfamiliar with a subject.

Remember it 疎 (distant, sparse, as in 疎外) → letting the space between you widen.

この地域ちいきは変化へんかに富とんだ地形ちけいで知しられる。

The region is known for terrain rich in variety.

Usage 〜に富む — note the に. 変化に富む, 経験に富む. More formal than 多い, and the quality is always desirable.

Remember it 富 (wealth) → well supplied with it.

久ひさしぶりの再会さいかいで話はなしが弾はずんだ。

Meeting again after so long, the conversation grew lively.

Usage Literally a ball bouncing. The exam senses are 話が弾む, a conversation taking off, and 息が弾む, being out of breath. Also 弾んだ声, an excited voice.

Remember it 弾 (spring, shoot, as in 弾力) → springing back up with energy.

雨上あめあがりの空気くうきが澄すんでいて気持きもちがいい。

The air after the rain is clear and it feels good.

Usage 空気が澄む, 澄んだ目. Its exact opposite 濁る is taught alongside it. In phonetics, 澄む describes an unvoiced sound.

Remember it 澄 carries the water radical 氵 → water settled until you can see the bottom.

大雨おおあめで川かわの水みずが濁にごってしまった。

Heavy rain made the river water muddy.

Usage Literally 水が濁る. In phonetics, a voiced sound — 濁音, marked by the 濁点. And the idiom 言葉を濁す, to be deliberately vague. Opposite of 澄む.

Remember it 濁 carries the water radical 氵 → water stirred until nothing can be seen through it.

同種どうしゅの事故じこが相次あいついで発生はっせいしている。

Accidents of the same kind are occurring one after another.

Usage 相次いで is the form you will meet most. The subject is usually a string of unwelcome events. Journalistic register.

Remember it 相 (one another) + 次ぐ (follow) → each one following on the last.

政府せいふは新あらたな経済けいざい政策せいさくを打うち出だした。

The government put forward a new economic policy.

Usage 政策を打ち出す, 方針を打ち出す. Announcing a stance clearly and publicly. Political and business journalism.

Remember it 打つ (strike) + 出す (put out) → struck out clearly, like a coin from a die.

目標もくひょうの前まえに大おおきな壁かべが立たちはだかっている。

A great wall stands in the way of the goal.

Usage 〜の前に立ちはだかる. The subject is an obstacle — 壁, 課題 — or a rival blocking your path. Vivid and written.

Remember it 立つ (stand) + はだかる (spread yourself across) → planted with arms wide across the path.

被害ひがいは十じゅう県けんにも及およんだ。

The damage extended to as many as ten prefectures.

Usage 〜に及ぶ for reaching a scale, and two N1 patterns: 〜に及ばない, not a match for, and 言うに及ばず, needless to say.

Remember it 及 (reach, as in 波及) → stretching out as far as that.

気候きこう変動へんどうは農業のうぎょうに深刻しんこくな影響えいきょうを及およぼす。

Climate change exerts a serious effect on agriculture.

Usage 影響を及ぼす is the collocation to know; also 被害を及ぼす. The transitive partner of 及ぶ.

Remember it 及 (reach) made transitive → making it reach that far.

かつて栄さかえた文明ぶんめいも、やがて滅ほろびていった。

Even civilisations that once flourished eventually perished.

Usage 文明が滅びる, 種が滅びる. Transitive 滅ぼす. Its counterpart in this vocabulary set is 栄える, and the two are often taught as a pair.

Remember it 滅 (extinguish, as in 滅亡) → put out like a flame.

欲よくが身みを滅ほろぼすこともある。

Greed can be a person's ruin.

Usage 国を滅ぼす, and 身を滅ぼす — bringing ruin on yourself — the phrase most often tested. The intransitive partner is 滅びる.

Remember it 滅 (extinguish) made transitive → putting it out.

この港町みなとまちは貿易ぼうえきで大おおいに栄さかえた。

This port town flourished greatly on trade.

Usage 町が栄える, 文化が栄える. Read さかえる; do not confuse 映える (はえる), to stand out or look striking. Nouns: 繁栄, 栄華.

Remember it 栄 (flourish, glory, as in 繁栄) → in full leaf.

年としとともに体力たいりょくが衰おとろえてきた。

My strength has declined with age.

Usage 体力が衰える, 記憶力が衰える, 勢いが衰える. The opposite of 栄える and of 盛んになる. Nouns: 衰退, 老衰.

Remember it 衰 (decline) → the shape of a garment worn thin.

写真しゃしんを見みると当時とうじの記憶きおくが鮮あざやかに蘇よみがえる。

Looking at the photograph, memories of the time come vividly back.

Usage 記憶が蘇る, 伝統が蘇る. Also written 甦る. The subject is usually a memory, a tradition or a hope returning to life.

Remember it 蘇 (revive) under the grass radical → growth returning where it had died back.

会場かいじょうには熱気ねっきが漲みなぎっていた。

The hall was brimming with excitement.

Usage 力が漲る, 自信が漲る, 熱気が漲る. The subject is abstract energy. Powerful and written; the rare character is often left in kana.

Remember it 漲 carries the water radical 氵 beside 張 (stretch) → water swelling until it strains the banks.

不用意ふよういな発言はつげんが物議ぶつぎを醸かもした。

A careless remark gave rise to controversy.

Usage 物議を醸す — to stir up controversy — is nearly fixed and a favourite in exam questions. Also 雰囲気を醸し出す. From brewing sake.

Remember it 醸 carries the 酉 radical for fermented liquor → brewed slowly until something rises out of it.

二人ふたりの間あいだに信頼しんらい関係かんけいが芽生めばえた。

A relationship of trust sprang up between the two.

Usage 愛情が芽生える, 自覚が芽生える. The subject is abstract and the development positive and early. The noun is 芽生え.

Remember it 芽 (bud) + 生える (sprout) → the first shoot breaking the soil.

犠牲ぎせい者しゃを弔とむらう式典しきてんが営いとなまれた。

A ceremony was held to mourn the victims.

Usage 故人を弔う, 霊を弔う. Formal, and only for the dead. The noun 弔い; relatives 弔問, 弔辞, 弔電.

Remember it 弔 (condole) → the old character of a person bound with a bow, in mourning.

格別かくべつのご高配こうはいを賜たまわり厚あつく御礼おれい申もうし上あげます。

We thank you sincerely for the special consideration you have extended to us.

Usage The highest humble form of もらう, confined to formal letters and speeches: ご高配を賜り, ご指導を賜る. Recognise it rather than reach for it.

Remember it 賜 (bestow from above) with the shell radical 貝 → a gift handed down from a superior.

彼かれは三代さんだいにわたってこの家いえに仕つかえてきた。

He has served this household for three generations.

Usage 〜に仕える — note the に. Serving a master, a deity or an institution. Distinguish 使える, meaning usable, which sounds identical.

Remember it 仕 (serve, as in 仕事) → standing in service to someone.

最初さいしょから仕組しくまれた罠わなだったと後あとで分わかった。

It turned out later that the trap had been set from the start.

Usage Usually passive: 仕組まれた罠, a set-up. Negative when it refers to people, though the noun 仕組み simply means a mechanism or structure.

Remember it 仕 (do) + 組む (assemble) → put together in advance so it would happen.

数名すうめいが組織そしき的てきな不正ふせいを企くわだてていた。

Several people were plotting organised fraud.

Usage 〜を企てる. The object is either wrongdoing or something daring — 反乱を企てる, 脱出を企てる. The noun is 企て; the neutral relatives are 企画 and 企業.

Remember it 企 (plan, stand on tiptoe) → craning ahead at what you mean to bring off.

関係かんけい各社かくしゃと連携れんけいを図はかっていく方針ほうしんだ。

The policy is to work toward closer cooperation with the companies concerned.

Usage 解決を図る, 改善を図る, 連携を図る. One of three homophones: 図る aims at something, 諮る consults a body, 謀る plots. The exam tests the trio.

Remember it 図 (plan, as in 意図, 企図) → setting your aim on it.

この件けんは審議しんぎ会かいに諮はかることになっている。

This matter is to be referred to the advisory council.

Usage 委員会に諮る, 審議会に諮る. Only for putting a question to a formal body. The noun is 諮問. One of the three はかる verbs, with 図る and 謀る.

Remember it 諮 (consult) on the speech radical 言 → putting the question to a body for its view.

政権せいけんの転覆てんぷくを謀はかったとして逮捕たいほされた。

He was arrested for plotting to overthrow the government.

Usage 〜を謀る, always of something bad — 暗殺を謀る. The passive 〜に謀られる means to be taken in. Nouns: 陰謀, 謀略, 首謀者.

Remember it 謀 (scheme) on the speech radical 言 → words put together behind closed doors.

短期たんき間かんで大おおきく儲もうけようとするのは危険きけんだ。

Trying to make big money in a short time is dangerous.

Usage 金を儲ける, 儲かる for a business being profitable. Colloquial next to 利益を得る. Its homophone 設ける is a different character and a different verb — the exam tests the pair.

Remember it 儲 sets 亻 (person) beside 諸 → the person who ends up with the goods.

相談そうだんの窓口まどぐちを新あらたに設もうけた。

A new consultation desk was established.

Usage 窓口を設ける, 機会を設ける, 基準を設ける. Formal. Keep it apart from 儲ける, which sounds identical but means making money.

Remember it 設 (establish, as in 設立, 設置) → set up and put in place.

恩師おんしが授さずけてくれた教おしえを今いまも胸むねに刻きざんでいる。

I still hold in my heart the teaching my mentor imparted.

Usage 知識を授ける, 称号を授ける. Given from a higher position to a lower. Its intransitive partner 授かる means to be granted — 子を授かる, to be blessed with a child.

Remember it 授 (confer, as in 授業, 授与) → handed down from above.

古ふるい建物たてものに丁寧ていねいな修復しゅうふくを施ほどこした。

Careful restoration was applied to the old building.

Usage 処置を施す, 加工を施す, 修復を施す — applying a treatment to something. Also 恵みを施す, giving alms. Nouns: 実施, 施行, 施設.

Remember it 施 (carry out, apply) → laying the treatment onto the thing.

人ひとの話はなしに割わり込こむのは失礼しつれいだ。

Cutting into someone's conversation is rude.

Usage 列に割り込む for queue-jumping, 話に割り込む for interrupting. Also financial: 株価が千円を割り込む, falling below a threshold — the sense you meet in the news.

Remember it 割る (split) + 込む (into) → forcing a gap and getting in.

各かく部署ぶしょに予算よさんを公平こうへいに割わり当あてた。

The budget was allocated fairly to each department.

Usage 予算を割り当てる, 仕事を割り当てる. The noun 割り当て means a quota or allocation. More formal than 分ける.

Remember it 割る (divide) + 当てる (assign) → divided up and each share assigned.

情報じょうほうの真偽しんぎを見極みきわめることが重要じゅうようだ。

It is important to ascertain whether information is true.

Usage 真偽を見極める, 本質を見極める, 状況を見極める. Stronger than 見分ける — watching until you are certain, not merely telling two things apart.

Remember it 見る (see) + 極める (to the limit) → looking at it right through to the end.

十じゅう年ねん先さきを見据みすえた投資とうしが必要ひつようだ。

Investment that looks ten years ahead is needed.

Usage 将来を見据える, 現実を見据える, and especially 〜を見据えて — with an eye on. Business and policy writing.

Remember it 見る (see) + 据える (fix in place) → fixing your gaze and not looking away.

赤字あかじが続つづき、ついに値上ねあげに踏ふみ切きった。

With losses continuing, they finally took the plunge and raised prices.

Usage 〜に踏み切る — note the に. Deciding on a hard step after long hesitation: 値上げに踏み切る, 決行に踏み切る. As a noun, 踏切 is a level crossing.

Remember it 踏む (step) + 切る (cut through) → the jumper's last step before leaving the ground.

証拠しょうこを突つき付つけられて、彼かれは黙だまり込こんだ。

Confronted with the evidence, he fell silent.

Usage 証拠を突き付ける, 要求を突き付ける, often passive. Confrontational: putting something in front of someone so they cannot evade it.

Remember it 突く (thrust) + 付ける (put against) → held right up to their face.

住民じゅうみんは行政ぎょうせいに改善かいぜんを働はたらきかけた。

Residents lobbied the authorities for improvements.

Usage 〜に働きかける — note the に. Approaching someone to get them to act. The noun is 働きかけ. Neutral to positive.

Remember it 働く (act) + かける (direct at) → directing your action at someone else to move them.