する動詞 IV

しばらくは静観せいかんするつもりだ。

I intend to stand back and watch for a while.

Usage 事態を静観する — watching quietly without acting. The crucial point: the inaction is deliberate, not helpless. Read せいかん.

Remember it 静 (still) + 観 (watch) → watching, and deliberately keeping still.

展示てんじ会かいは盛況せいきょうのうちに終おわった。

The exhibition ended on a successful note.

Usage 盛況のうちに終わる — closing in success and good attendance — is a set phrase. 大盛況 means packed out. Read せいきょう.

Remember it 盛 (flourishing) + 況 (state) → the state of a place that is doing well.

記者きしゃが現場げんばに潜入せんにゅうした。

A reporter infiltrated the site.

Usage 〜に潜入する — slipping in covertly. Note the に. 潜入取材 is undercover reporting. 潜 is to dive under. Read せんにゅう.

Remember it 潜 (dive under) + 入 (enter) → getting in under the surface.

年齢ねんれいに相応そうおうした振ふる舞まいをする。

Behaving in a way befitting one's age.

Usage 〜に相応する — corresponding to, befitting. Note the に. 身分相応 is keeping to one's station, 分相応 within one's means. Read そうおう.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 応 (answer) → the two answering to each other.

思おもわぬ事態じたいに遭遇そうぐうした。

I ran into an unexpected situation.

Usage 〜に遭遇する — encountering unexpectedly. Note the に. The object is usually something unwelcome or unforeseen. Read そうぐう.

Remember it 遭 (meet with) + 遇 (chance upon) → meeting it without having looked for it.

部品ぶひんに損傷そんしょうが見みつかった。

Damage was found on the part.

Usage 損傷を受ける, 損傷がある — sustaining damage. Used of objects and of the body. More formal than 傷. Read そんしょう.

Remember it 損 (loss) + 傷 (wound) → the wound and the loss it represents.

使つかわない機能きのうは退化たいかする。

Functions that go unused degenerate.

Usage 〜が退化する — degenerating, atrophying. INTRANSITIVE. Its direct opposite is 進化, and the two are often tested together. Read たいか.

Remember it 退 (retreat) + 化 (change) → change running backwards.

注意ちゅうい義務ぎむの懈怠けたいが問とわれた。

Negligence of the duty of care was at issue.

Usage 義務の懈怠 — neglect of a duty. Legal vocabulary, and very formal. Read けたい, also かいたい. Close to 怠慢.

Remember it 懈 (slack) + 怠 (idle) → the duty let go slack.

先方せんぽうに意向いこうを打診だしんした。

I sounded the other side out on their intentions.

Usage 〜に打診する — sounding someone out before making a formal approach. From percussion in medicine, tapping the chest to listen. Very common at work. Read だしん.

Remember it 打 (tap) + 診 (examine) → tapping to hear what is inside before you commit.

途中とちゅうで脱落だつらくする者ものが出でた。

Some dropped out along the way.

Usage 〜が脱落する — falling behind and dropping out; INTRANSITIVE. It also means an omission, a character missing from a text. Read だつらく.

Remember it 脱 (come off) + 落 (fall) → coming away and dropping out of the line.

原因げんいんの探索たんさくに時間じかんをかけた。

We spent time searching for the cause.

Usage 〜を探索する — searching systematically. Distinct from 捜索 (そうさく), searching for a missing person or conducting a search of premises. The two are easily confused. Read たんさく.

Remember it 探 (probe) + 索 (search) → probing about in order to find.

言論げんろんを弾圧だんあつする動うごきだ。

It is a move to suppress free speech.

Usage 〜を弾圧する — suppressing by force of power. Transitive. The agent is always a government or a stronger party. Read だんあつ.

Remember it 弾 (shoot) + 圧 (press down) → held down by force.

根ねも葉はもない中傷ちゅうしょうを受うけた。

I was subjected to baseless slander.

Usage 〜を中傷する — slandering. 誹謗中傷, vilification and slander, is a very common pairing. Distinct from 批判, criticism with grounds. Read ちゅうしょう.

Remember it 中 (strike, hit) + 傷 (wound) → a hit aimed to wound, not to argue.

部隊ぶたいが長期ちょうき間かん駐留ちゅうりゅうしている。

The unit has been stationed there for a long period.

Usage 〜に駐留する — being stationed. INTRANSITIVE. The subject is always a military force. 駐留軍 are stationed troops. Read ちゅうりゅう.

Remember it 駐 (halt, station) + 留 (stay) → halted there and staying.

内容ないようが重複ちょうふくしている。

The content overlaps.

Usage 〜が重複する — duplicating, overlapping. INTRANSITIVE. ちょうふく is the standard reading, though じゅうふく is now accepted. The reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 重 (layer) + 複 (double) → one laid on top of the other.

底そこに不純ふじゅん物ぶつが沈殿ちんでんする。

Impurities settle at the bottom.

Usage 〜が沈殿する — settling as sediment. INTRANSITIVE. Also written 沈澱. It works figuratively for feelings that accumulate. Read ちんでん.

Remember it 沈 (sink) + 殿 (settle at the rear) → sinking and coming to rest at the bottom.

責任せきにんを厳きびしく追及ついきゅうした。

Responsibility was pressed home severely.

Usage 責任を追及する — pressing someone to account. One of three ついきゅう homophones with 追究 and 追求; the object tells you which kanji. A classic trap.

Remember it 追 (pursue) + 及 (reach) → pursuing until you catch up with them.

真理しんりの追究ついきゅうが学問がくもんの本分ほんぶんだ。

The pursuit of truth is the proper business of scholarship.

Usage The three ついきゅう: 追及 pursues responsibility, 追究 pursues truth in order to understand, 追求 pursues profit or happiness. Frequently tested.

Remember it 追 (pursue) + 究 (get to the bottom) → pursuing it down to the bottom of the question.

新あたらしい習慣しゅうかんが定着ていちゃくした。

The new custom has taken root.

Usage 〜が定着する — becoming established. INTRANSITIVE. Subjects: 習慣, 制度, 言葉. Read ていちゃく.

Remember it 定 (fix) + 着 (adhere) → settled in place and sticking.

不正ふせい取引とりひきが摘発てきはつされた。

The fraudulent transactions were exposed.

Usage 〜を摘発する — uncovering and acting on wrongdoing. Transitive, often passive. The agent is an enforcement body. Read てきはつ.

Remember it 摘 (pick out) + 発 (bring to light) → picked out and brought into the open.

内閣ないかくが総そう退陣たいじんした。

The cabinet resigned en masse.

Usage 〜が退陣する — stepping down from office. INTRANSITIVE. 陣 is a military position. 総退陣 is a collective resignation. Read たいじん.

Remember it 退 (withdraw) + 陣 (the position held) → withdrawing from the position you held.

二に位いから五ご位いに転落てんらくした。

They dropped from second place to fifth.

Usage Falling physically; and 〜に転落する, sliding down in rank or fortune — INTRANSITIVE. The second is the tested sense. Read てんらく.

Remember it 転 (tumble) + 落 (fall) → tumbling down from where you stood.

自分じぶんの世界せかいに陶酔とうすいしている。

He is lost in a world of his own.

Usage 〜に陶酔する — being intoxicated with. Note the に. 自己陶酔, self-absorption, is common and critical. Read とうすい.

Remember it 陶 (elated) + 酔 (drunk) → drunk on it, without the drink.

大臣だいじんが国会こっかいで答弁とうべんした。

The minister answered in the Diet.

Usage 答弁する, 答弁に立つ — replying to questioning. Used almost only of parliament and the courts. Read とうべん.

Remember it 答 (answer) + 弁 (argue) → answering the case put to you.

会員かいいん数すうが一万いちまん人にんを突破とっぱした。

Membership passed ten thousand.

Usage 〜を突破する — passing a numerical mark; and breaking through a barrier. 難関を突破する is to get past a tough hurdle. Read とっぱ.

Remember it 突 (thrust) + 破 (break) → thrust through and broken past.

態度たいどが次第しだいに軟化なんかした。

His attitude gradually softened.

Usage 〜が軟化する — a stance softening. INTRANSITIVE. Its direct opposite is 硬化, and the two are often tested together. Read なんか.

Remember it 軟 (soft) + 化 (become) → hardening giving way to give.

問題もんだいの深刻しんこくさを認識にんしきした。

I recognised how serious the problem was.

Usage 〜を認識する — recognising, becoming aware. Transitive. 認識が甘い, meaning a naive grasp of the situation, is a common phrase. Read にんしき.

Remember it 認 (acknowledge) + 識 (know) → knowing it and acknowledging it.

契約けいやくを一方いっぽう的てきに破棄はきされた。

The contract was unilaterally scrapped.

Usage 〜を破棄する — annulling a contract, destroying documents. Transitive. Also a court term: quashing a lower ruling. Read はき.

Remember it 破 (break) + 棄 (discard) → broken up and thrown away.

資格しかくを剥奪はくだつされた。

He was stripped of his qualification.

Usage 〜を剥奪する — depriving of a right or a status. Transitive, often passive. 剥 is to peel off. The object is always abstract. Read はくだつ.

Remember it 剥 (peel off) + 奪 (seize) → peeled off you and taken away.

新あたらしい委員いいん会かいが発足ほっそくした。

A new committee was inaugurated.

Usage 〜が発足する — starting up officially. INTRANSITIVE. Read ほっそく, not はっそく — the reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 発 (set out) + 足 (foot) → the first foot put forward.

答こたえの出でない問題もんだいに煩悶はんもんした。

I agonised over a question with no answer.

Usage 〜に煩悶する — tormenting oneself inwardly. Archaic written style. 煩 is vexation and 悶 is stifled anguish. Read はんもん.

Remember it 煩 (vexed) + 悶 (stifled anguish) → the trouble turning over inside with no way out.

売うり上あげは微増びぞうにとどまった。

Sales rose only slightly.

Usage 微増する, 微増にとどまる — a slight increase. The prefix 微〜 means slight. Same family: 微減, 急増. Read びぞう.

Remember it 微 (slight) + 増 (increase) → an increase barely worth the name.

一世いっせいを風靡ふうびした歌手かしゅだ。

He was a singer who dominated his era.

Usage 一世を風靡する — sweeping an entire age — is effectively the only use. 靡 is to bend before the wind, the same character as 靡く. Read ふうび.

Remember it 風 (wind) + 靡 (bend before) → everyone bending the way this wind blows.

権力けんりょくに屈従くつじゅうしたくない。

I do not want to submit abjectly to power.

Usage 〜に屈従する — submitting in a humiliating way. Note the に. Heavier than 服従, with shame attached. The same 屈 as 屈折. Read くつじゅう.

Remember it 屈 (bend) + 従 (obey) → bending the knee and obeying.

議論ぎろんが紛糾ふんきゅうして結論けつろんが出でない。

The discussion is in turmoil and reaches no conclusion.

Usage 〜が紛糾する — becoming tangled and bogged down. INTRANSITIVE. Subjects: 議論, 会議, 事態. 糾 is to twist together. Read ふんきゅう.

Remember it 紛 (confused) + 糾 (twisted together) → knotted up past untangling.

街まちは十じゅう年ねんで大おおきく変貌へんぼうした。

The town has changed greatly in ten years.

Usage 〜が変貌する — being transformed in appearance. INTRANSITIVE. 貌 is the features, so the word stresses the outward change. Read へんぼう.

Remember it 変 (change) + 貌 (features) → the face of it quite altered.

株価かぶかが一気いっきに崩落ほうらくした。

Share prices slumped at a stroke.

Usage 崖が崩落する, a cliff collapsing; and 株価が崩落する, prices slumping. INTRANSITIVE. The second is common in economic news. Read ほうらく.

Remember it 崩 (crumble) + 落 (fall) → the whole face giving way at once.

運命うんめいに翻弄ほんろうされた人生じんせいだ。

It is a life tossed about by fate.

Usage 〜に翻弄される — being toyed with or tossed about. ALMOST ALWAYS passive, with に. 翻 is to flip and 弄 to toy with. Read ほんろう.

Remember it 翻 (flip over) + 弄 (play with) → flipped over and played with like a toy.

日々ひびの雑務ざつむに埋没まいぼつしてしまった。

I let myself be buried in daily chores.

Usage Being buried in the ground; and 〜に埋没する, sinking out of sight and losing yourself in something. The second is the tested sense. Read まいぼつ.

Remember it 埋 (bury) + 没 (sink) → buried, and sunk out of sight with it.

上層じょうそう部ぶが黙認もくにんしていたらしい。

It seems senior management turned a blind eye.

Usage 〜を黙認する — tacitly allowing something you know about. Transitive. 黙 is silence and 認 acknowledgement. Read もくにん.

Remember it 黙 (silent) + 認 (accept) → accepting it by saying nothing.

工場こうじょうの誘致ゆうちに成功せいこうした。

They succeeded in attracting the factory.

Usage 〜を誘致する — attracting investment or events to a locality. Objects: 企業, 工場, 大会. The language of local government. Read ゆうち.

Remember it 誘 (entice) + 致 (bring about) → enticing it to come to you.

政治せいじと業界ぎょうかいの癒着ゆちゃくが疑うたがわれた。

Collusion between politics and the industry was suspected.

Usage Medically, tissue adhering after surgery; and the N1 sense 〜との癒着, improper collusion. The second is the tested one, and always negative. Read ゆちゃく.

Remember it 癒 (heal over) + 着 (stick) → two things grown together where they should have stayed apart.

後継こうけい者しゃの養成ようせいが急務きゅうむだ。

Training successors is an urgent task.

Usage 〜を養成する — training up personnel. Transitive. 養成所 is a training school. Read ようせい.

Remember it 養 (nurture) + 成 (bring to completion) → nurtured until they are made.

船員せんいんが長期ちょうき間かん抑留よくりゅうされた。

The crew were interned for a long period.

Usage 〜を抑留する — detaining foreign nationals or vessels. Often passive. A term from international law. Read よくりゅう.

Remember it 抑 (hold down) + 留 (keep) → held and not allowed to leave.

事実じじつの羅列られつでは論文ろんぶんにならない。

A mere list of facts does not make a paper.

Usage 〜の羅列 — things set out at length with no order. Critical, unlike 列挙, which enumerates with purpose. Read られつ.

Remember it 羅 (spread out) + 列 (in rows) → spread out in rows and left at that.

当時とうじの文化ぶんかは隆盛りゅうせいを極きわめた。

The culture of the time flourished at its height.

Usage 隆盛を極める — flourishing at its peak — is the commonest phrase. Opposites: 衰退, 凋落. Read りゅうせい.

Remember it 隆 (rise high) + 盛 (flourish) → risen high and in full flourish.