名詞 IV

交渉こうしょうは暗礁あんしょうに乗のり上あげた。

The negotiations have run aground.

Usage 暗礁に乗り上げる — running onto a hidden reef, i.e. hitting a snag — is a set phrase and effectively the only use. Read あんしょう.

Remember it 暗 (unseen) + 礁 (reef) → the rock under the water you never saw coming.

家族かぞくの安否あんぴを気遣きづかう。

Worrying about the safety of one's family.

Usage 安否を気遣う, 安否を確認する — being concerned for, or confirming, someone's safety. 安 is safe and 否 is not: whether safe or not. Read あんぴ.

Remember it 安 (safe) + 否 (or not) → whether they are safe or they are not.

この提案ていあんに異論いろんはない。

I have no objection to this proposal.

Usage 異論はない, 異論を唱える — raising no objection, voicing a dissenting view. More formal than 反対. Read いろん.

Remember it 異 (different) + 論 (argument) → an argument running the other way.

組織そしきの威信いしんにかかわる問題もんだいだ。

It is a matter touching the organisation's prestige.

Usage 威信にかかわる, 威信を失う — bearing on or losing prestige. Unlike 信用, personal trust, 威信 is an institution's standing. Read いしん.

Remember it 威 (authority) + 信 (trust) → the authority that rests on being trusted.

氷山ひょうざんの一角いっかくにすぎない。

It is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Usage 氷山の一角 — the tip of the iceberg — is a very common set phrase. It also works literally: 街の一角, a corner of the town. Read いっかく.

Remember it 一 (one) + 角 (corner) → one corner of something much larger.

責任せきにんの一端いったんは私わたしにもある。

Part of the responsibility is mine too.

Usage 〜の一端を担う, 一端が見える — shouldering part of it, catching a glimpse of part. Read いったん — the same sound as 一旦, for the time being, but quite different.

Remember it 一 (one) + 端 (end) → one end of a thing with two.

先生せんせいが生徒せいとを引率いんそつした。

The teacher led the pupils.

Usage 〜を引率する — leading a group. Transitive. 引率者 is the person in charge of a party. Read いんそつ, not いんりつ.

Remember it 引 (draw along) + 率 (lead) → drawing the whole party along behind you.

費用ひようの内訳うちわけを示しめしてほしい。

I would like the breakdown of the costs.

Usage 内訳を示す — setting out the itemised detail. Read うちわけ — here 訳 is read わけ, not やく, and the reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 内 (inside) + 訳 (the division) → how the total divides up inside.

人ひとの上うえに立たつ器量きりょうがある。

He has the calibre to lead others.

Usage 器量がある, 器量が大きい — having ability and character. Literally the capacity of a vessel. It can also refer to good looks. Read きりょう.

Remember it 器 (vessel) + 量 (capacity) → how much the vessel will hold.

会心かいしんの出来できだと胸むねを張はった。

He declared proudly that it was his best work.

Usage 会心の出来, 会心の笑み — a piece one is satisfied with, a smile of satisfaction. It always precedes a noun with の. Read かいしん.

Remember it 会 (meet) + 心 (heart) → the result that meets what the heart wanted.

この界隈かいわいは昔むかしながらの店みせが多おおい。

This neighbourhood has many long-established shops.

Usage この界隈 — the area hereabouts. It has also acquired a modern sense: 〜界隈, the online circle or community around a topic. Read かいわい.

Remember it 界 (boundary) + 隈 (nook) → the nooks inside one boundary.

設備せつびの拡充かくじゅうを進すすめる。

Pressing ahead with expanding the facilities.

Usage 〜を拡充する — expanding and filling out at once. 拡 is to widen, 充 to fill. Distinct from 拡大, which is only enlargement. Read かくじゅう.

Remember it 拡 (widen) + 充 (fill) → made wider and then filled up.

片言かたことの日本語にほんごで道みちを尋たずねた。

I asked the way in broken Japanese.

Usage 片言の〜 — halting, not yet joined into sentences. Read かたこと; do not confuse 一言 (ひとこと), a single remark. Descriptive rather than critical.

Remember it 片 (fragment) + 言 (speech) → speech still coming in fragments.

今いまはまさに過渡かと期きにある。

We are in a transitional period right now.

Usage 過渡期にある — being in a period of transition. 渡 is to cross over. It implies the unsettled state of being midway. Read かとき.

Remember it 過 (pass) + 渡 (cross) + 期 (period) → the period spent crossing from one side to the other.

現場げんばの意見いけんも加味かみして決きめた。

We decided after also taking the views on the ground into account.

Usage 〜を加味する — factoring something additional in. Literally adding seasoning. Transitive. Read かみ.

Remember it 加 (add) + 味 (flavour) → another flavour added to the mix.

為替かわせ相場そうばが大おおきく動うごいた。

The exchange market moved sharply.

Usage 為替相場, 為替レート — the exchange rate. Read かわせ — an irregular reading that cannot be worked out from the characters. A frequent exam item.

Remember it 為 (do) + 替 (exchange) → the doing of exchange, one currency for another.

勘定かんじょうを済すませて店みせを出でた。

I settled the bill and left the restaurant.

Usage 勘定を済ませる, settling the bill; and 〜を勘定に入れる, taking something into account. The second is the tested sense. Read かんじょう.

Remember it 勘 (reckon) + 定 (settle) → reckoned up and settled.

肝心かんじんなことを言いい忘わすれた。

I forgot to mention the crucial thing.

Usage 肝心な, 肝心の — the essential point. 肝 is the liver and 心 the heart, two organs you cannot do without. Also written 肝腎. Read かんじん.

Remember it 肝 (liver) + 心 (heart) → the organs you cannot live without.

事件じけんへの関与かんよを否定ひていした。

He denied any involvement in the case.

Usage 〜に関与する — being involved in. Note the に. Common in investigative contexts, so it often carries a negative implication. Read かんよ.

Remember it 関 (connection) + 与 (take part) → connected with it and having a hand in it.

母校ぼこうに図書としょを寄贈きぞうした。

I donated books to my old school.

Usage 〜に〜を寄贈する — donating goods. Distinct from 寄付, which is donating money. Read きぞう, also きそう.

Remember it 寄 (send toward) + 贈 (give) → sent along as a gift.

これまでの軌跡きせきを振ふり返かえる。

Looking back over the path travelled so far.

Usage 〜の軌跡をたどる, 軌跡を振り返る — tracing or looking back over a course. Read きせき — do not confuse 奇跡 (きせき), a miracle. A frequent trap.

Remember it 軌 (wheel rut) + 跡 (trace) → the track the wheels have left behind.

気迫きはくのこもった演技えんぎだった。

It was a performance charged with intensity.

Usage 気迫がある, 気迫のこもった — full of driving spirit. Unlike 覇気, which is ambition, 気迫 is the force shown in the doing. Read きはく.

Remember it 気 (spirit) + 迫 (press) → spirit pressing out of the person as they work.

人ひとの心こころの機微きびに触ふれる作品さくひんだ。

It is a work that touches the subtleties of the human heart.

Usage 心の機微 — the fine movements of the heart — is the commonest phrase. Written register. Read きび.

Remember it 機 (workings) + 微 (minute) → the small workings you only notice if you look.

戦後せんごの窮乏きゅうぼう生活せいかつを語かたった。

He spoke of the destitution of the post-war years.

Usage 窮乏する, 窮乏生活 — extreme want. More formal than 貧乏. The same 窮 as 窮地 and 窮屈. Read きゅうぼう.

Remember it 窮 (at the end of resources) + 乏 (lacking) → at the end of what there is.

業績ぎょうせきが大幅おおはばに伸のびた。

Results have grown substantially.

Usage Business performance, 業績が伸びる / 悪化する; and academic accomplishment, 研究業績. Read ぎょうせき.

Remember it 業 (work) + 績 (achievement) → what the work has actually produced.

厳きびしい局面きょくめんを迎むかえている。

We are entering a difficult phase.

Usage 局面を迎える, 局面を打開する — entering or breaking open a phase. Literally the state of the board in a game. Read きょくめん.

Remember it 局 (the board, the game) + 面 (face) → how the board looks at this point in the game.

職人しょくにん技わざの極致きょくちと言いえる。

It can be called the acme of the craftsman's art.

Usage 〜の極致 — the very highest point of. It always takes の. Close to 極み. Read きょくち — do not confuse 局地 (きょくち), localised.

Remember it 極 (the limit) + 致 (reach) → having reached the limit of it.

判断はんだんの拠より所どころとなる資料しりょうだ。

It is material that will serve as the basis for a judgement.

Usage 〜の拠り所となる — serving as grounds or as support. Used both of evidential grounds and of emotional support. Read よりどころ.

Remember it 拠る (rely on) + 所 (place) → the place you put your weight on.

均整きんせいのとれた体からだつきだ。

He has a well-proportioned build.

Usage 均整のとれた — well-proportioned; it is used almost only in this shape. Do not confuse 均衡 (きんこう), a balance of forces. Read きんせい.

Remember it 均 (even) + 整 (ordered) → evenly ordered, part against part.

彼かれは苦境くきょうに立たたされている。

He has been placed in a difficult position.

Usage 苦境に立たされる, 苦境に陥る — falling into hard straits. Close to 窮地, but 苦境 stresses drawn-out suffering. Read くきょう.

Remember it 苦 (hardship) + 境 (circumstance) → the circumstances that are hard to live in.

病気びょうきを口実こうじつに欠席けっせきした。

He used illness as an excuse for staying away.

Usage 〜を口実に — on the pretext of. It always implies the real reason lies elsewhere. The verb 託ける (かこつける) carries the same idea. Read こうじつ.

Remember it 口 (mouth) + 実 (substance) → the substance offered by the mouth, not the real one.

長年ながねんの功績こうせきが認みとめられた。

His long service was recognised.

Usage 功績が認められる, 功績を残す — merit recognised, a record of service left behind. Formal. Read こうせき; do not confuse 業績.

Remember it 功 (merit) + 績 (record) → the record of merit earned.

戦火せんかで国土こくどが荒廃こうはいした。

The country was laid waste by the fires of war.

Usage 〜が荒廃する — falling into ruin. INTRANSITIVE. Used of land and of the spirit alike: 心の荒廃. Read こうはい.

Remember it 荒 (wild, waste) + 廃 (abandoned) → gone wild because nobody tends it.

巧拙こうせつを問とわず参加さんかできる。

Anyone may take part, skilled or not.

Usage 巧拙を問わず — regardless of skill — is the commonest phrase. 巧 is deft and 拙 clumsy: one word covering both ends. Read こうせつ.

Remember it 巧 (skilful) + 拙 (clumsy) → the whole scale from one end to the other.

両者りょうしゃの力ちからは互角ごかくだ。

The two are evenly matched in strength.

Usage 互角の勝負, 互角に戦う — neck and neck. From two animals whose horns are of equal length. Read ごかく.

Remember it 互 (mutual) + 角 (horn) → two beasts whose horns measure the same.

あれから何なんの沙汰さたもない。

There has been no word since.

Usage 音沙汰がない, not a word from someone; and 〜の沙汰, an affair or a ruling — 地獄の沙汰も金次第, even hell's judgements go by money. Same root as 取り沙汰. Read さた.

Remember it 沙 (sand) + 汰 (sift) → sifting the sand for what is worth reporting.

契約けいやくの細目さいもくを詰つめる。

Nailing down the details of the contract.

Usage 細目を詰める, 細目にわたる — settling or extending to the fine particulars. Read さいもく; read ほそめ it means narrowed eyes instead.

Remember it 細 (fine) + 目 (item) → the fine items, one by one.

雑念ざつねんを払はらって集中しゅうちゅうする。

Clearing away distractions and concentrating.

Usage 雑念を払う, 雑念が入る — clearing or being invaded by stray thoughts. Common in meditation and in competition. Read ざつねん.

Remember it 雑 (miscellaneous) + 念 (thought) → the odd thoughts that crowd in uninvited.

計画けいかくに深ふかく参与さんよしている。

He is deeply involved in the project.

Usage 〜に参与する, taking part in; and as a job title, 参与, a senior advisor. More formal than 参加. Read さんよ.

Remember it 参 (take part) + 与 (contribute) → taking part and putting something in.

事故じこ車しゃの残骸ざんがいが残のこっていた。

The wreckage of the crashed car was still there.

Usage 〜の残骸 — the wreckage left behind. 骸 means mortal remains, which gives the word its bleakness. Read ざんがい.

Remember it 残 (remaining) + 骸 (bones) → the bones of the thing, left where it fell.

私腹しふくを肥こやしていたことが発覚はっかくした。

It came out that he had been lining his own pockets.

Usage 私腹を肥やす — fattening one's own belly, i.e. enriching oneself corruptly — is a set phrase and effectively the only use. Read しふく.

Remember it 私 (private) + 腹 (belly) → filling your own belly out of the common pot.

視野しやを広ひろげるために留学りゅうがくした。

I studied abroad to broaden my outlook.

Usage 視野が広い / 狭い, a broad or narrow outlook; and 〜を視野に入れる, taking something into consideration. Both are tested. Read しや.

Remember it 視 (sight) + 野 (field) → the field your sight covers.

自堕落じだらくな生活せいかつを改あらためたい。

I want to reform my dissolute way of living.

Usage 自堕落な生活 — a slovenly, undisciplined life. Both a noun and a な-adjective. Critical. Read じだらく.

Remember it 自 (self) + 堕落 (degeneration) → having let yourself go.

判決はんけつが執行しっこうされた。

The sentence was carried out.

Usage 〜を執行する — carrying out a sentence, a budget or a ceremony. 執行猶予 is a suspended sentence. Read しっこう, not しゅうこう.

Remember it 執 (take in hand) + 行 (carry out) → taking it in hand and doing it.

自分じぶんで始末しまつをつけなさい。

Sort it out yourself.

Usage 始末をつける, settling a matter; and 〜する始末だ, 'it got to the point where' — a bad outcome. The second is the tested sense. Read しまつ.

Remember it 始 (beginning) + 末 (end) → seeing it through from one end to the other.

弱冠じゃっかん二十はたちで優勝ゆうしょうした。

He won the title at the tender age of twenty.

Usage 弱冠〜歳で — at the young age of. From the coming-of-age cap worn at twenty in ancient China. Used only of the young. Read じゃっかん.

Remember it 弱 (young) + 冠 (the cap of manhood) → newly old enough to wear the cap.

修羅場しゅらばをくぐり抜ぬけてきた。

He has come through scenes of carnage.

Usage 修羅場をくぐる — surviving an ordeal. From Buddhism: the battlefield of the ashura. It is also used of a furious domestic confrontation. Read しゅらば.

Remember it 修羅 (the warring ashura) + 場 (place) → the field where the demons fight.

首尾しゅびよく契約けいやくがまとまった。

The contract came together successfully.

Usage 首尾よく — successfully, without a hitch. 首尾一貫 means consistent throughout. 首 is the head and 尾 the tail: from end to end. Read しゅび.

Remember it 首 (head) + 尾 (tail) → from the head of it to the tail.

趣向しゅこうを凝こらした演出えんしゅつだった。

It was a production with an ingenious touch to it.

Usage 趣向を凝らす — lavishing ingenuity on something — is a set phrase. Read しゅこう — do not confuse 嗜好 (しこう), personal taste.

Remember it 趣 (interest, flavour) + 向 (direction) → the direction the flavour of it has been taken in.

長年ながねんの研究けんきゅうの所産しょさんだ。

It is the fruit of many years of research.

Usage 〜の所産 — the product of. It always takes の. Formal written style. Read しょさん.

Remember it 所 (that which) + 産 (produced) → that which the work produced.