名詞 VIII

先人せんじんの亜流ありゅうにすぎない。

He is no more than an imitator of his predecessors.

Usage 〜の亜流 — a derivative follower, second-rate beside the original. Always disparaging. 亜 means second in rank. Read ありゅう.

Remember it 亜 (second) + 流 (school, current) → a lesser current running off the main one.

交渉こうしょうに暗雲あんうんが立たち込こめている。

Dark clouds hang over the negotiations.

Usage 暗雲が立ち込める — ominous clouds gathering — is a set phrase. It is always figurative, of a situation turning bad. Read あんうん.

Remember it 暗 (dark) + 雲 (cloud) → the dark cloud that comes before the storm.

新人しんじんの中なかで異彩いさいを放はなっている。

He stands out among the newcomers.

Usage 異彩を放つ — shining with a distinctive brilliance; it always takes 放つ. Complimentary. Read いさい — do not confuse 委細 (いさい), details.

Remember it 異 (different) + 彩 (colour) → shining a different colour from all the rest.

両りょう者しゃの間あいだに遺恨いこんが残のこった。

A grudge remained between the two.

Usage 遺恨が残る, 遺恨試合 — a grudge remaining, a grudge match. 遺 is what is left behind and 恨 is resentment. Read いこん.

Remember it 遺 (left behind) + 恨 (resentment) → the resentment that outlasts the quarrel.

意匠いしょうを凝こらした包装ほうそうだ。

It is packaging with a carefully worked design.

Usage 意匠を凝らす — lavishing care on the design. Also a legal term: 意匠権 is a design right. Read いしょう.

Remember it 意 (idea) + 匠 (artisan) → the artisan's idea made visible in the thing.

新しん技術ぎじゅつの威力いりょくを見みせつけた。

They demonstrated the power of the new technology.

Usage 威力を発揮する, 威力がある — showing or having power. It refers to the overwhelming force of a thing or a method. Read いりょく.

Remember it 威 (might) + 力 (force) → force great enough to overawe.

社長しゃちょうの英断えいだんが会社かいしゃを救すくった。

The president's bold decision saved the company.

Usage 英断を下す — making a wise and courageous decision. Always complimentary. 英 is excellence and 断 decision. Read えいだん.

Remember it 英 (excellent) + 断 (decision) → the decision that took both judgement and nerve.

公金こうきん横領おうりょうの罪つみに問とわれた。

He was charged with embezzling public funds.

Usage 〜を横領する, 公金横領 — embezzling money entrusted to one. Criminal-law vocabulary. The same 横 as 横暴 and 横行. Read おうりょう.

Remember it 横 (crosswise, improper) + 領 (take possession) → taking possession sideways, of what was not yours.

専門せんもん家かのお墨付すみつきをもらった。

We got the experts' seal of approval.

Usage お墨付きをもらう — receiving authoritative endorsement. From a document bearing a lord's inked seal. Close to 折り紙付き. Read おすみつき.

Remember it 墨 (ink) + 付き (bearing) → bearing the lord's ink, and therefore vouched for.

経歴けいれきに汚点おてんを残のこした。

It left a blot on his record.

Usage 汚点を残す — leaving a stain; it always takes 残す. Figurative, about honour and one's record. The same 汚 as 汚名. Read おてん.

Remember it 汚 (stain) + 点 (spot) → the spot that will not come out.

部長ぶちょうの音頭おんどで乾杯かんぱいした。

We drank a toast led by the department head.

Usage 音頭を取る — taking the lead, or proposing a toast. Read おんど. From the person who sets the pitch for the group to sing to.

Remember it 音 (sound) + 頭 (head) → the one who gives the first note for everyone to follow.

計画けいかくの概略がいりゃくを説明せつめいする。

Explaining the outline of the plan.

Usage 概略を説明する — giving an outline. The same 概 as 概観 and 概して. Close to 概要. Read がいりゃく.

Remember it 概 (in outline) + 略 (abbreviated) → the outline with the detail left off.

部署ぶしょの垣根かきねを取とり払はらう。

Doing away with the barriers between departments.

Usage An actual fence; and the N1 sense 垣根を取り払う, 垣根を越える, removing or crossing invisible barriers. The second is the tested one. Read かきね.

Remember it 垣 (fence) + 根 (root) → the fence rooted in the ground between two plots.

架空かくうの人物じんぶつを主人しゅじん公こうにした。

He made a fictitious character the protagonist.

Usage 架空の〜, 架空請求 — fictitious, a bogus invoice. 架 is to suspend and 空 is empty: hanging in the air with nothing under it. Read かくう.

Remember it 架 (suspend) + 空 (air) → built in the air, with nothing holding it up.

反省はんせいのかけらもない。

There is not a shred of remorse in him.

Usage 〜のかけらもない — not so much as a fragment of — is the form the exam likes. Also written 欠片. Literally a broken-off piece.

Remember it 欠片 (a broken-off piece) → not even a chip of it left.

親切しんせつに見みえて下心したごころがある。

It looks like kindness, but there is an ulterior motive.

Usage 下心がある — having a hidden agenda. Always negative. 下 is beneath: the real intention kept under the visible one. Read したごころ.

Remember it 下 (below) + 心 (heart) → the heart underneath the one on show.

社内しゃないでの彼かれの株かぶが上あがった。

His standing in the company has risen.

Usage Shares, 株を買う; and the N1 sense 株が上がる / 下がる, one's personal stock rising or falling. The second is the tested one. Read かぶ.

Remember it 株 (a share, a stump) → your holding in other people's esteem, quoted like a share price.

他人たにんのことなど眼中がんちゅうにない。

Other people simply do not enter into his thinking.

Usage 眼中にない — not even considered — is almost the only form, and it is negative. Read がんちゅう.

Remember it 眼 (eye) + 中 (inside) → what is inside your field of view, or in this case is not.

初はじめての場所ばしょなのに既視感きしかんがあった。

It was my first time there, yet it felt familiar.

Usage 既視感がある — having a sense of déjà vu. It is the translation of デジャヴ. 既 is already and 視 is seen. Read きしかん.

Remember it 既 (already) + 視 (seen) + 感 (feeling) → the feeling of having already seen it.

気骨きこつのある若者わかものだ。

He is a young man with backbone.

Usage 気骨がある — having spirit and not bending. Read きこつ; read きぼね, 気骨が折れる means being worn out by having to be tactful. The reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 気 (spirit) + 骨 (bone) → the bone inside the spirit.

机上きじょうの空論くうろんにすぎない。

It is nothing but armchair theory.

Usage 机上の空論 — theory that works only on paper — is a set phrase and the commonest use. 机 is a desk. Read きじょう.

Remember it 机 (desk) + 上 (on) → true on the desk, and nowhere else.

吉報きっぽうを心待こころまちにしている。

I am eagerly awaiting good news.

Usage 吉報を待つ, 吉報が届く — awaiting or receiving good news. Opposites: 悲報, 訃報. Formal. Read きっぽう.

Remember it 吉 (auspicious) + 報 (news) → the news you were hoping for.

それは詭弁きべんにすぎない。

That is mere sophistry.

Usage 詭弁を弄する — resorting to sophistry. It means an argument that sounds sound but is not. Close in flavour to もっともらしい. Read きべん.

Remember it 詭 (deceptive) + 弁 (argument) → an argument built to deceive.

その歌詞かしが琴線きんせんに触ふれた。

Those lyrics touched a chord in me.

Usage 琴線に触れる — touching the heartstrings — is a set phrase. NOTE: it does not mean angering someone, though many Japanese speakers also get this wrong. Read きんせん.

Remember it 琴 (koto) + 線 (string) → the string of the instrument inside you that the words set ringing.

あれは愚策ぐさくだったと言いわざるを得えない。

One can only say it was a foolish plan.

Usage 愚策だ — a foolish policy. Opposites: 良策, 上策. The prefix 愚〜 is also used in modesty: 愚見, my humble opinion. Read ぐさく.

Remember it 愚 (foolish) + 策 (plan) → the plan that should never have been made.

下馬評げばひょうを覆くつがえして勝かった。

They won against all expectations.

Usage 下馬評を覆す, 下馬評では — overturning or going by public speculation. From the gossip of servants waiting where riders dismount. Read げばひょう.

Remember it 下馬 (dismounting) + 評 (talk) → the talk of those left waiting at the gate.

原形げんけいをとどめないほど壊こわれていた。

It was smashed beyond recognition.

Usage 原形をとどめない — not retaining its original shape — is the commonest phrase. Read げんけい — do not confuse 原型 (げんけい), a prototype or mould.

Remember it 原 (original) + 形 (shape) → the shape it had before.

言質げんちを取とられないよう慎重しんちょうに答こたえた。

I answered carefully so as not to be held to anything.

Usage 言質を取る / 取られる — extracting a commitment from someone, or being pinned to one. Read げんち, not げんしつ — the reading is a frequent exam item.

Remember it 言 (word) + 質 (pledge) → your word held as a pledge against you.

後継こうけい者しゃが見みつからない。

No successor can be found.

Usage 後継者, 後継ぎ — a successor. Read こうけい in the Sino-Japanese form, but 後継ぎ is あとつぎ. The same 継 as 継承.

Remember it 後 (after) + 継 (continue) → the one who continues after you.

巧言こうげん令色れいしょく鮮すくなし仁じん。

Fine words and a fine face seldom go with goodness.

Usage 巧言令色 — smooth words and an ingratiating face — is the famous line from the Analects, implying such people are seldom sincere. Read こうげん.

Remember it 巧 (skilful) + 言 (words) → words worked too smooth to trust.

実現じつげんする公算こうさんが大おおきい。

The likelihood of it coming off is high.

Usage 公算が大きい, 公算が高い — a strong probability. Written, common in news. More formal than 可能性. Read こうさん.

Remember it 公 (public) + 算 (reckoning) → the odds as they would generally be reckoned.

今いま謝あやまっては沽券こけんに関かかわる。

To apologise now would be beneath my dignity.

Usage 沽券に関わる — touching one's honour — is a set phrase and effectively the only use. From a deed of sale for land. Read こけん.

Remember it 沽 (sell) + 券 (deed) → the deed that states what you are worth.

改革かいかくは腰砕こしくだけに終おわった。

The reform fizzled out halfway.

Usage 腰砕けに終わる — starting boldly and collapsing partway. From sumo: the hips give and the wrestler falls unaided. Read こしくだけ.

Remember it 腰 (hips) + 砕け (breaking) → the hips going, and the whole stance with them.

御膳立おぜんだては整ととのっている。

Everything has been made ready.

Usage お膳立てをする, お膳立てが整う — laying everything on so the other person need only act. Literally setting out the dinner tray. Read おぜんだて.

Remember it 膳 (the meal tray) + 立て (setting out) → the tray set and the meal ready to be eaten.

この価格かかくでは採算さいさんが取とれない。

At this price it does not pay.

Usage 採算が取れる, 採算が合う — being profitable, breaking even or better. Business vocabulary. 採算度外視 means disregarding profitability. Read さいさん.

Remember it 採 (take) + 算 (reckoning) → reckoning up what is taken against what is spent.

この分野ぶんやの先駆さきがけとなった。

He became the pioneer in this field.

Usage 〜の先駆けとなる — becoming the forerunner. The verb is 先駆ける. Read さきがけ; the Sino-Japanese 先駆 is read せんく.

Remember it 先 (ahead) + 駆け (riding) → the rider who goes out ahead of the column.

自分じぶんの座標ざひょうを見失みうしなっていた。

I had lost sight of where I stood.

Usage Coordinates in mathematics; and figuratively one's position within a larger whole. The second is literary in flavour. Read ざひょう.

Remember it 座 (position) + 標 (mark) → the mark showing where you sit on the grid.

強つよい光ひかりの残像ざんぞうが残のこった。

The afterimage of the bright light lingered.

Usage 残像が残る — an afterimage remaining. Used both optically and of a lingering impression. Read ざんぞう.

Remember it 残 (remaining) + 像 (image) → the image left on the eye after the thing has gone.

時勢じせいを読よむ目めが必要ひつようだ。

An eye for the trend of the times is needed.

Usage 時勢を読む, 時勢に乗る — reading the times, moving with them. Read じせい — do not confuse 辞世 (じせい), a death poem.

Remember it 時 (the times) + 勢 (momentum) → which way the times are moving.

自業じごう自得じとくだと言いうほかない。

One can only say he brought it on himself.

Usage 自業自得だ — reaping what one has sown. A four-character compound of Buddhist origin, used when someone suffers the consequence of their own act. Read じごうじとく.

Remember it 自業 (one's own deeds) + 自得 (getting it oneself) → your own deeds coming back to you.

自分じぶんの尺度しゃくどで人ひとを測はかるな。

Do not judge people by your own yardstick.

Usage 〜の尺度で測る — measuring by a given standard. 尺 is a measuring rule. Figuratively, a criterion of judgement. Read しゃくど.

Remember it 尺 (measuring rule) + 度 (degree) → the rule you hold things up against.

重責じゅうせきを担になうことになった。

I have been given a heavy responsibility.

Usage 重責を担う, 重責を果たす — shouldering or discharging a heavy responsibility. Formal. Related: 大役, 任務. Read じゅうせき.

Remember it 重 (heavy) + 責 (responsibility) → responsibility with weight in it.

人前ひとまえで醜態しゅうたいをさらした。

He made a disgraceful exhibition of himself in public.

Usage 醜態をさらす — exposing oneself in a shameful state; it always takes さらす. Usually about drunkenness or loss of self-control. Read しゅうたい.

Remember it 醜 (ugly) + 態 (state) → the ugly state you let yourself be seen in.

事件じけんの首謀しゅぼう者しゃが判明はんめいした。

The ringleader of the affair was identified.

Usage 首謀者 — the ringleader — is virtually the only form. 首 is the head and 謀 the scheming. Read しゅぼう.

Remember it 首 (head) + 謀 (plot) → the head the plot was hatched in.

年頭ねんとうの所感しょかんを述のべた。

He gave his thoughts at the start of the year.

Usage 所感を述べる, 年頭所感 — giving one's impressions, a new year address. Formal, used on ceremonial occasions. Read しょかん.

Remember it 所 (that which) + 感 (is felt) → what was felt about it.

規制きせい強化きょうかは諸刃もろはの剣つるぎだ。

Tightening the regulations is a double-edged sword.

Usage 諸刃の剣 — a double-edged sword — is a set phrase and effectively the only use. Also written 両刃. Read もろは.

Remember it 諸 (both) + 刃 (blade) → a blade that cuts on the side facing you too.

ここからが彼かれの真骨頂しんこっちょうだ。

This is where he really comes into his own.

Usage 真骨頂を発揮する — showing one's true mettle. Always positive: the ability that was there all along finally showing. Read しんこっちょう.

Remember it 真 (true) + 骨頂 (the very top) → the true height of what a person has in them.

一いっ点てん差さで辛勝しんしょうした。

They scraped a win by a single point.

Usage 辛勝する — winning narrowly. Related: 楽勝, an easy win; 惜敗, a narrow loss; 完勝, a complete victory. Read しんしょう.

Remember it 辛 (hard, bitter) + 勝 (win) → a win that was hard going.

図星ずぼしを指さされて黙だまり込こんだ。

Hit squarely on the mark, he fell silent.

Usage 図星を指す, 図星だ — hitting on exactly what someone was hiding. From the black centre of an archery target. Read ずぼし.

Remember it 図 (diagram) + 星 (the spot) → the black spot at the centre of the target.