名詞 III

創意そうい工夫くふうを凝こらした作品さくひんだ。

It is a work full of original ideas.

Usage 創意工夫 — originality and ingenuity — is the four-character compound in which the word usually appears. Read そうい.

Remember it 創 (create) + 意 (idea) → an idea nobody handed you.

夏なつは値上ねあがりするのが相場そうばだ。

Prices going up in summer is what everyone expects.

Usage Market price, 相場が上がる; and the N1 sense 〜が相場だ, meaning 'that is what is taken for granted'. The second is the tested one. Read そうば.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 場 (the floor) → what the floor collectively reckons a thing is worth.

即座そくざの判断はんだんが命いのちを救すくった。

An instant decision saved his life.

Usage 即座に / 即座の — on the spot. As a noun it takes の. The same root as the adverb そくざに. Read そくざ.

Remember it 即 (immediate) + 座 (the seat) → without leaving the seat you are in.

彼かれの研究けんきゅうが今日こんにちの医学いがくの礎いしずえとなった。

His research became the cornerstone of today's medicine.

Usage 〜の礎となる, 礎を築く — becoming or laying the foundation. Literally the stone a pillar rests on. Formal written style. Read いしずえ.

Remember it 礎 (plinth stone) → the stone the pillar stands on.

労働ろうどうに見合みあう対価たいかを求もとめる。

Seeking payment commensurate with the labour.

Usage 対価を払う, 対価を得る — paying or receiving what corresponds. Economic and legal vocabulary, more neutral than 報酬. Read たいか.

Remember it 対 (corresponding) + 価 (value) → the value set against what was given.

打算ださんのない付つき合あいは貴重きちょうだ。

A friendship free of calculation is precious.

Usage 打算的な, 打算のない — calculating, or free of calculation. Calling someone 打算的 is always a criticism. Read ださん.

Remember it 打 (strike) + 算 (reckon) → working out what is in it for you.

社会しゃかいの秩序ちつじょが保たもたれている。

Social order is being maintained.

Usage 秩序を保つ, 秩序が乱れる — keeping or disturbing order. Opposites: 混乱, 無秩序. Read ちつじょ.

Remember it 秩 (order of rank) + 序 (sequence) → everything in its rank and its turn.

組織そしきの中枢ちゅうすうを担になっている。

He occupies a central role in the organisation.

Usage 中枢を担う, 中枢神経 — playing a central role, the central nervous system. 枢 is the pivot of a door. Read ちゅうすう.

Remember it 中 (centre) + 枢 (door pivot) → the pivot everything else turns on.

回復かいふくの兆候ちょうこうが見みえ始はじめた。

Signs of recovery have begun to appear.

Usage 兆候が見える, 兆候が現れる — signs appearing. Used of illness and of the economy. Also written 徴候. The same root as 兆す. Read ちょうこう.

Remember it 兆 (omen) + 候 (sign) → the sign that comes before the thing.

陳腐ちんぷな表現ひょうげんは避さけたい。

I want to avoid hackneyed expressions.

Usage 陳腐な表現, 陳腐な発想 — stale from overuse. Critical. 陳 is old and 腐 is rotten. Read ちんぷ.

Remember it 陳 (stale) + 腐 (rotten) → left out so long it has gone off.

主力しゅりょく選手せんしゅの離脱りだつは大おおきな痛手いたでだ。

Losing the key player is a serious blow.

Usage 痛手を受ける, 大きな痛手 — taking a heavy blow. Read いたで — note that this is the native reading, not つうしゅ.

Remember it 痛 (pain) + 手 (blow) → the blow that leaves you hurt.

それが交渉こうしょうの定石じょうせきだ。

That is the textbook move in a negotiation.

Usage 定石通り, 定石を外す — going by the book, or departing from it. From the standard opening sequences in go. Read じょうせき, not ていせき.

Remember it 定 (fixed) + 石 (stone) → the stone placement the books have settled on.

手際てぎわよく片付かたづけてくれた。

She cleared it away deftly.

Usage 手際がいい, 手際よく — deft, well handled. It describes how the work is done rather than the result. Read てぎわ.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 際 (the edge, the manner) → the manner the hands go about it.

あの出会であいが人生じんせいの転機てんきになった。

That meeting became the turning point of my life.

Usage 転機となる, 転機を迎える — becoming or reaching a turning point. Read てんき — the same sound as 天気, the weather, so read by context.

Remember it 転 (turn) + 機 (the moment) → the moment at which things turn.

人生じんせいの岐路きろに立たっている。

I am standing at a crossroads in my life.

Usage 岐路に立つ — standing at a fork — is all but fixed. 岐 is a forking road. More formal than 転機, and it stresses having to choose. Read きろ.

Remember it 岐 (a fork in the road) + 路 (road) → the point where the road splits and you must pick one.

独断どくだんで決きめたことが問題もんだいになった。

Deciding it on his own authority caused trouble.

Usage 独断で決める, 独断と偏見 — deciding alone, or 'my own prejudiced view'. Always critical. Read どくだん.

Remember it 独 (alone) + 断 (decide) → the decision made without asking anyone.

土壇場どたんばで気きが変かわった。

He changed his mind at the eleventh hour.

Usage 土壇場で — at the very last moment, with no way back. The origin is grim: the earthen platform used for executions. Read どたんば.

Remember it 土 (earth) + 壇 (platform) + 場 (place) → the execution mound, where there is no further to go.

価格かかくが高たかいのが難点なんてんだ。

The drawback is that it is expensive.

Usage 〜が難点だ — the sticking point. Lighter than 欠点, since it names one specific difficulty. Read なんてん.

Remember it 難 (difficulty) + 点 (point) → the one point where the difficulty lies.

前任ぜんにん者しゃの二にの舞まいを演えんじたくない。

I do not want to repeat my predecessor's mistake.

Usage 二の舞を演じる — repeating another's error; it always takes 演じる. From a clumsy imitative dance. Read にのまい.

Remember it 二 (second) + 舞 (dance) → dancing the same steps that went wrong the first time.

入念にゅうねんな下した調しらべが欠かかせない。

Careful preliminary research is indispensable.

Usage 入念な, 入念に — thorough at every stage. Close to 丹念, but 入念 stresses preparation beforehand. Read にゅうねん.

Remember it 入 (put in) + 念 (attention) → attention put into it before the work starts.

常つねに安全あんぜんを念頭ねんとうに置おいている。

I keep safety in mind at all times.

Usage 念頭に置く — bearing in mind — is a set phrase. 念頭にない means it never occurred to one. Read ねんとう.

Remember it 念 (thought) + 頭 (head) → kept at the front of the head.

最近さいきんの彼かれには覇気はきがない。

He has had no drive about him lately.

Usage 覇気がある / ない — having, or lacking, ambition. It is usually the negative that is said. The same 覇 as in 制覇. Read はき.

Remember it 覇 (supremacy) + 気 (spirit) → the spirit that wants to win.

勝利しょうりが弾はずみとなって連勝れんしょうした。

The victory gave them momentum and they won again.

Usage 弾みがつく, gaining momentum; and 弾みで言ってしまった, blurting something out on impulse. Same root as 弾む. Read はずみ.

Remember it 弾む (bounce) → the bounce that carries you on, or the one that makes the words jump out.

破格はかくの条件じょうけんで迎むかえられた。

He was taken on at exceptional terms.

Usage 破格の待遇, 破格の値段 — terms or prices outside the normal frame. Usually a surprise in your favour. Read はかく.

Remember it 破 (break) + 格 (the standard) → breaking out of the standard bracket.

便利べんりな反面はんめん、危険きけんも伴ともなう。

It is convenient, but on the other hand it carries risks.

Usage 〜な反面、〜 — used to set two opposed aspects of the same thing side by side. Read はんめん.

Remember it 反 (reverse) + 面 (side) → the other side of the same thing.

契約けいやく書しょの控ひかえを保管ほかんしている。

I keep a copy of the contract.

Usage A duplicate kept on file, 控えを取る; and a reserve, 控えの選手, a substitute. Read ひかえ.

Remember it 控える (hold back) → the one held back in reserve, whether a paper or a player.

このままでは赤字あかじは必至ひっしだ。

At this rate a deficit is inevitable.

Usage 〜は必至だ — bound to happen. Read ひっし — do not confuse 必死 (ひっし), desperate. Same sound, quite different meaning.

Remember it 必 (certainly) + 至 (arrive) → it is certain to arrive.

世間せけんの非難ひなんを浴あびた。

He came in for public censure.

Usage 非難を浴びる, 非難する — being criticised, censuring. Read ひなん — do not confuse 避難 (ひなん), evacuation. A frequent trap.

Remember it 非 (wrong) + 難 (blame) → naming what is wrong and blaming for it.

長生ながいきの秘訣ひけつを尋たずねた。

I asked the secret of his long life.

Usage 〜の秘訣 — the secret to something. It always takes の. 訣 is a secret handed down. Lighter than 秘密, a thing kept hidden. Read ひけつ.

Remember it 秘 (secret) + 訣 (the handed-down knack) → the trick that is not written down.

学者がくしゃらしい風貌ふうぼうの人ひとだった。

He was a man with the look of a scholar about him.

Usage 〜らしい風貌 — having the appearance of. It refers to the whole bearing, not only the face. Written register. Read ふうぼう.

Remember it 風 (air, manner) + 貌 (features) → the air a person's features give off.

不意ふいを突つかれて返事へんじに困こまった。

Caught off guard, I was at a loss for a reply.

Usage 不意を突く, 不意に — catching unawares, suddenly. This is the noun behind the adverb ふいに. Read ふい.

Remember it 不 (not) + 意 (expectation) → outside what you were expecting.

覆面ふくめん調査ちょうさで接客せっきゃくを確たしかめる。

They check the service with mystery shoppers.

Usage 覆面調査, a mystery-shopper survey; 覆面パトカー, an unmarked police car. Literally a covered face. Read ふくめん.

Remember it 覆 (cover) + 面 (face) → the face covered so you cannot be identified.

その発言はつげんは物議ぶつぎを醸かもした。

The remark caused public controversy.

Usage 物議を醸す — stirring up controversy; it always takes 醸す. Read ぶつぎ, not ものぎ. The reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 物 (the world at large) + 議 (argument) → argument all over the place.

ここが今後こんごを左右さゆうする分岐ぶんき点てんだ。

This is the watershed that will decide what comes next.

Usage 分岐点に立つ, 分岐点となる — standing at or becoming a branching point. Close to 岐路, but 分岐点 is neutral and works for actual roads. Read ぶんきてん.

Remember it 分 (divide) + 岐 (fork) + 点 (point) → the point at which it divides.

才能さいのうの片鱗へんりんをのぞかせた。

He let a glimpse of his talent show.

Usage 片鱗をのぞかせる, 片鱗を見せる — showing a fragment of one's ability; a set phrase. 鱗 is a fish scale: one scale of the whole creature. Read へんりん.

Remember it 片 (a piece) + 鱗 (scale) → one scale, from which you guess the size of the fish.

この財団ざいだんを母体ぼたいとして設立せつりつされた。

It was founded with this foundation as its parent body.

Usage 〜を母体として — taking something as the parent organisation or base. It also has the medical sense of the mother's body. Read ぼたい.

Remember it 母 (mother) + 体 (body) → the body the new thing was born out of.

身みの丈たけに合あった生活せいかつをしている。

I live within my means.

Usage 身の丈に合った — suited to one's own size or means. Literally one's height. Close to 分相応. Read みのたけ.

Remember it 身 (body) + 丈 (height) → cut to the height you actually stand.

一いち点てん差さでの敗退はいたいは無念むねんだ。

Going out by a single point is bitterly disappointing.

Usage 無念だ, 無念の涙 — bitter regret at falling short. Far stronger than 残念, with mortification in it. Read むねん.

Remember it 無 (without) + 念 (the wish fulfilled) → the wish left with nothing to show for it.

研修けんしゅうという名目めいもくで集あつめられた。

They were gathered on the pretext of training.

Usage 〜という名目で — under the name of, implying the real reason is other. Its counterpart is 実質. Read めいもく.

Remember it 名 (name) + 目 (heading) → the heading it is filed under, whatever it really is.

これで面目めんぼくが立たった。

This has saved my face.

Usage 面目が立つ, 面目を失う — saving or losing face. Read めんぼく or めんもく. 面目躍如 means living up to one's reputation.

Remember it 面 (face) + 目 (eye) → the face you show and the eyes that see it.

そこが制度せいどの盲点もうてんだった。

That was the blind spot in the system.

Usage 盲点を突く, 盲点だった — exploiting a loophole, or realising one existed. From the blind spot of the eye. Read もうてん.

Remember it 盲 (blind) + 点 (spot) → the spot the eye cannot see even while looking.

後輩こうはいの模範もはんとなる行動こうどうだ。

It is conduct that sets an example for juniors.

Usage 模範となる, 模範的な — serving as a model. 模範解答 is a model answer. Complimentary. Read もはん.

Remember it 模 (pattern) + 範 (mould) → the pattern and mould the rest are cast from.

出でかけようとした矢先やさきに電話でんわが鳴なった。

Just as I was about to go out, the phone rang.

Usage 〜しようとした矢先に — at the very moment one was about to. It is used only in this shape. Literally the arrowhead. Read やさき.

Remember it 矢 (arrow) + 先 (point) → the instant the arrow's point leaves the bow.

名人めいじんと呼よばれる由縁ゆえんがここにある。

Here lies the reason he is called a master.

Usage 〜と呼ばれる由縁 — the reason he is so called. Also written 所以. Formal written style. Read ゆえん.

Remember it 由 (reason) + 縁 (connection) → the thread of reason connecting the two.

失敗しっぱいの要因よういんを分析ぶんせきした。

We analysed the factors behind the failure.

Usage 要因を分析する — analysing the factors. Unlike 原因, the direct cause, 要因 is one contributing factor among several. Read よういん.

Remember it 要 (principal) + 因 (cause) → one of the principal causes, not necessarily the only one.

名作めいさくの余韻よいんに浸ひたっていた。

I was steeped in the afterglow of a masterpiece.

Usage 余韻に浸る, 余韻が残る — basking in, or being left with, a lingering resonance. Literally the ring of a bell after it is struck. Read よいん.

Remember it 余 (remaining) + 韻 (resonance) → the sound still hanging after the bell has stopped.

両者りょうしゃの利害りがいが一致いっちした。

The interests of the two sides coincided.

Usage 利害が一致する, 利害関係 — interests coinciding, a stake in something. 利 is gain and 害 is loss: what stands to be won and lost. Read りがい.

Remember it 利 (gain) + 害 (loss) → what there is to gain and to lose.

良識りょうしきある判断はんだんが求もとめられる。

Sound judgement is what is called for.

Usage 良識ある〜 — showing good sense. Unlike 知識, which is knowledge, 良識 is the capacity to judge right from wrong. Read りょうしき.

Remember it 良 (good) + 識 (discernment) → knowing not merely the facts but what is right.

その類たぐいの話はなしは信しんじない。

I do not believe stories of that kind.

Usage 〜の類い — that sort of thing. 類いまれな means rare beyond compare. Read たぐい.

Remember it 類 (kind, category) → the bin that sort of thing belongs in.