性質・構成

この品種ひんしゅの特徴とくちょうは甘あまみが強つよいことです。

What sets this variety apart is its strong sweetness.

Usage 特徴 is a neutral distinguishing feature; 特長 (とくちょう) sounds identical but means a strong point specifically. 特徴的 = distinctive.

Remember it 特 (special) + 徴 (sign) → the sign that marks something out.

この学校がっこうの特色とくしょくは英語えいご教育きょういくに力ちからを入いれていることだ。

What makes this school distinctive is its focus on English education.

Usage 特色 is a distinctive quality, usually positive, of a place or organization: 地域の特色, 特色のある (distinctive). 特徴 is any distinguishing feature.

Remember it 特 (special) + 色 (color) → its own special color.

水みずは温度おんどによって性質せいしつが変かわる。

Water's properties change with temperature.

Usage 性質 is the nature of a person or thing, or a physical property: 性質が似ている, 物質の性質. 性格 is only for people's personality.

Remember it 性 (nature) + 質 (quality) → natural qualities.

年齢ねんれいや性別せいべつなどの属性ぞくせいで人ひとを判断はんだんすべきではない。

You shouldn't judge people by attributes such as age or gender.

Usage 属性 is an attribute or category something belongs to: 顧客の属性 (customer profile), ファイルの属性 (file properties). A technical and marketing word.

Remember it 属 (to belong to) + 性 (nature) → the nature of what you belong to.

問題もんだいの本質ほんしつを見みないまま議論ぎろんしても意味いみがありません。

Debating without seeing the essence of the problem is pointless.

Usage 本質 = the essence: 本質的 (essential, fundamental), 本質を見抜く (see through to the essence), a phrase worth recognizing in reading passages.

Remember it 本 (root) + 質 (substance) → the root substance of a thing.

値上ねあげはしていないが、量りょうが減へったので実質じっしつ値上ねあげだ。

They haven't raised the price, but the amount has shrunk, so it's a price rise in real terms.

Usage 実質 is substance or real terms: 実質的に (effectively), 実質賃金 (real wages), 実質無料 (effectively free). Its opposite is 名目 (nominal) or 形式.

Remember it 実 (real) + 質 (substance) → the real substance.

試験しけんは選択せんたく問題もんだいの形式けいしきで行おこなわれる。

The exam is in multiple-choice format.

Usage 形式 = form or format: 形式的 (for form's sake), 形式にこだわる (be hung up on form), 会話形式 (in dialogue form). Its opposite is 内容 or 実質.

Remember it 形 (shape) + 式 (style) → the shape and style.

契約書けいやくしょの内容ないようをよく確認かくにんしてからサインしてください。

Please check the contents of the contract carefully before signing.

Usage 内容 = content or contents: 内容が濃い (rich content), 仕事の内容 (job description), 内容を確認する. 中身 (なかみ) is the everyday word.

Remember it 内 (inside) + 容 (to contain) → what's contained inside.

建物たてものの構造こうぞうを調しらべてから改修かいしゅう工事こうじを始はじめた。

We examined the building's structure before starting renovation work.

Usage 構造 works for buildings, organizations and sentences alike: 文の構造 (sentence structure), 社会構造, 構造改革 (structural reform).

Remember it 構 (to construct) + 造 (to build) → how something is put together.

エンジンがどういう仕組しくみで動うごくのか知しりたい。

I want to know how an engine works.

Usage 仕組み is how something works, a mechanism or system: 機械の仕組み, 社会の仕組み, 仕組みを作る (set up a system). 構造 is its structure.

Remember it 仕 (to do) + 組む (to put together) → how it's put together to work.

成功せいこうには運うんも大おおきな要素ようそだと思おもいます。

I think luck is a big factor in success too.

Usage 要素 is a component part or factor; 要因 (よういん) is a contributing cause of an outcome. Close in meaning, different in emphasis.

Remember it 要 (essential) + 素 (element) → an essential element of the whole.

この化粧品けしょうひんには天然てんねんの成分せいぶんしか入はいっていない。

This cosmetic contains only natural ingredients.

Usage 成分 is a chemical component or ingredient: 成分表示 (ingredients list), 有効成分 (active ingredient). 材料 is a cooking ingredient.

Remember it 成 (to form) + 分 (part) → the parts it's formed from.

この料理りょうりは素材そざいの味あじを生いかしている。

This dish brings out the natural flavor of the ingredients.

Usage 素材 is raw material or ingredients, with a sense of natural quality: 素材の味, 天然素材, 素材を生かす (make the most of the materials). 材料 is more neutral.

Remember it 素 (raw, plain) + 材 (material) → raw material.

この机つくえは材質ざいしつがよく、長ながく使つかえる。

This desk is made of good material and will last a long time.

Usage 材質 is the quality or type of material something is made from: 材質が硬い, 材質を選ぶ. 素材 is the material itself.

Remember it 材 (material) + 質 (quality) → the quality of the material.

本物ほんものの革かわのような質感しつかんのバッグだ。

The bag has a texture like real leather.

Usage 質感 is the texture or feel of a material, often visual: 質感がある, 高級な質感 (a luxurious feel), 質感を出す (bring out the texture, in art or design).

Remember it 質 (quality) + 感 (feeling) → how the quality feels.

今回こんかいの地震じしんは過去かこ最大さいだい規模きぼだった。

This earthquake was the largest on record.

Usage 規模 = scale or scope: 大規模 (large-scale), 小規模 (small-scale), 規模を拡大する (expand the scale), 世界規模 (worldwide).

Remember it 規 (measure) + 模 (pattern) → the measured pattern: how big it is.

試験しけんの範囲はんいは教科書きょうかしょの三章さんしょうまでだ。

The exam covers up to chapter three of the textbook.

Usage 範囲 = range or scope: 試験範囲 (what the test covers), 範囲内 (within range), 広範囲 (a wide area), できる範囲で (as far as I can).

Remember it 範 (boundary) + 囲 (to enclose) → what's enclosed within the boundary.

人工じんこう知能ちのうは医療いりょうの領域りょういきでも使つかわれている。

Artificial intelligence is being used in the medical field too.

Usage 領域 is a domain or territory, physical or academic: 研究領域, 未知の領域 (uncharted territory), 領域を侵す (encroach). 分野 is a field of study.

Remember it 領 (to govern) + 域 (area) → an area under someone's rule.

彼かれは経済けいざいの分野ぶんやで有名ゆうめいな学者がくしゃだ。

He is a famous scholar in the field of economics.

Usage 分野 = field or discipline: 専門分野 (your specialty), 得意分野 (a strong area), 新しい分野. 領域 is a similar, more formal word.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 野 (field) → a divided-off field.

この店みせには百ひゃく種類しゅるい以上いじょうのパンがある。

This shop has more than a hundred kinds of bread.

Usage 種類 = kind or type, often counted: 三種類, いろいろな種類, 種類が多い. タイプ is the loanword.

Remember it 種 (seed, species) + 類 (kind) → kinds and species.

この病院びょういんは大学だいがく系統けいとうの病院びょういんだ。

This hospital is affiliated with a university.

Usage 系統 is a system, lineage or line: 系統的に (systematically), 神経系統 (nervous system), 電気系統 (electrical system), 同じ系統の色 (colors of the same family).

Remember it 系 (lineage) + 統 (to unify) → a unified line.

彼かれは典型てんけい的てきな日本にほんのサラリーマンだ。

He's a typical Japanese office worker.

Usage 典型 = a typical example or archetype, usually as 典型的 (typical, classic): 典型的な例, 典型的なパターン.

Remember it 典 (model, standard) + 型 (type) → the standard type.

この寺てらは中国ちゅうごくの建築けんちく様式ようしきを取とり入いれている。

This temple incorporates Chinese architectural style.

Usage 様式 is a style or form: 建築様式 (architectural style), 生活様式 (way of life), 書類の様式 (a set document format).

Remember it 様 (manner) + 式 (form) → a manner and form.

新あたらしい支払しはらい方式ほうしきが導入どうにゅうされた。

A new payment method was introduced.

Usage 方式 is a method or system: 支払い方式, 選挙方式, トーナメント方式 (tournament format). 方法 (ほうほう) is a method in general.

Remember it 方 (way) + 式 (formula) → a formula for doing things.

この映画えいがは新あたらしい撮影さつえい手法しゅほうで話題わだいになった。

This film attracted attention for its new filming technique.

Usage 手法 is a technique or approach, often in art, research or business: 新しい手法, 分析手法, 表現手法. 手段 is a means to an end.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 法 (method) → the method your hands use.

目的もくてきのためには手段しゅだんを選えらばない人ひともいる。

Some people will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Usage 手段 = a means: 交通手段 (means of transport), 最後の手段 (last resort), 手段を選ばない (by any means necessary).

Remember it 手 (hand) + 段 (step) → the steps your hands take.

安定あんていした生活せいかつの基盤きばんを作つくりたい。

I want to build a foundation for a stable life.

Usage 基盤 is a foundation or base: 生活基盤, 経済基盤, 基盤を固める (strengthen the foundation). In electronics, 基板 (same reading) is a circuit board.

Remember it 基 (foundation) + 盤 (base, board) → the base board everything rests on.

何なにを学まなぶにも基礎きそが大切たいせつだ。

Whatever you're learning, the basics are important.

Usage 基礎 = the basics or foundation: 基礎知識 (basic knowledge), 基礎から学ぶ (learn from scratch), 建物の基礎 (a building's foundation). Its pair is 応用 (application).

Remember it 基 (foundation) + 礎 (cornerstone) → the foundation stones.

問題もんだいを根本こんぽんから見直みなおす必要ひつようがある。

We need to rethink the problem from the ground up.

Usage 根本 = the root or fundamentals: 根本的に (fundamentally), 根本的な原因 (the root cause). Read ねもと, it means the literal base of a tree.

Remember it 根 (root) + 本 (origin) → the root origin.

彼女かのじょはチームの中核ちゅうかくとして活躍かつやくしている。

She's playing an active role as the core of the team.

Usage 中核 is the core or central part: 中核を担う (play a central role), 中核事業 (core business), 中核都市 (a core city).

Remember it 中 (center) + 核 (nucleus) → the central nucleus.

日本にほんの主要しゅような都市としを旅行りょこうした。

I traveled around Japan's major cities.

Usage 主要 = main, principal: 主要な, 主要国 (major countries), 主要駅 (main stations). 主な (おもな) is the everyday word.

Remember it 主 (main) + 要 (important) → main and important.

先さきほどの説明せつめいに少すこし補足ほそくします。

Let me add a little to the explanation I gave earlier.

Usage 補足 is supplementary information: 補足する, 補足説明, 補足資料. It is a handy phrase in meetings: 補足させていただきます (let me add something).

Remember it 補 (to supplement) + 足 (to add, enough) → adding what's missing.

この大学だいがくには付属ふぞくの病院びょういんがある。

This university has an affiliated hospital.

Usage 付属 means attached or affiliated: 付属品 (accessories), 付属高校 (an affiliated high school), 付属する. 付き is the everyday suffix: 保証付き.

Remember it 付 (to attach) + 属 (to belong) → attached and belonging.

送料そうりょうは別途べっと必要ひつようです。

Shipping costs are charged separately.

Usage 別途 means separately, in addition, common in prices and business emails: 別途料金 (an extra charge), 別途ご連絡します (I'll contact you separately).

Remember it 別 (separate) + 途 (route) → a separate route.

この会社かいしゃは独自どくじの技術ぎじゅつで製品せいひんを作つくっている。

This company makes its products with its own original technology.

Usage 独自 means one's own, original: 独自の技術, 独自に開発する (develop independently), 独自性 (originality). 独特 (どくとく) means unique or peculiar.

Remember it 独 (alone) + 自 (self) → one's own, alone.

私わたしたちには音楽おんがくという共通きょうつうの趣味しゅみがある。

We share a common hobby: music.

Usage 共通 = common, shared: 共通点 (something in common), 共通語 (a common language), 共通の友人 (a mutual friend).

Remember it 共 (together) + 通 (to pass through) → passing through both together.

国くにと国くにの相互そうご理解りかいを深ふかめることが大切たいせつだ。

It's important to deepen mutual understanding between countries.

Usage 相互 = mutual: 相互理解 (mutual understanding), 相互作用 (interaction), 相互に (mutually). お互い (おたがい) is the everyday word.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 互 (each other) → each other, both ways.

この店みせの商品しょうひんは全品ぜんぴん百円ひゃくえん均一きんいつだ。

Everything in this shop costs a flat 100 yen.

Usage 均一 means uniform or all the same: 百円均一 (100-yen shops, shortened to 百均), 均一な品質 (consistent quality).

Remember it 均 (even) + 一 (one) → evenly one.

次つぎの条件じょうけんに該当がいとうする方かたはお申もうし込こみください。

If the following conditions apply to you, please apply.

Usage 該当 means falling under a category: 〜に該当する, 該当者 (applicable person), 該当なし (not applicable). Common on forms.

Remember it 該 (the said, relevant) + 当 (to match) → matching the relevant item.

就職しゅうしょく試験しけんで適性てきせい検査けんさを受うけた。

I took an aptitude test as part of the job application.

Usage 適性 is aptitude or suitability for something: 適性がある, 適性検査 (aptitude test). 適切 means appropriate.

Remember it 適 (to suit) + 性 (nature) → a nature that suits.