Environment & Society

高度こうど経済けいざい成長期せいちょうきには深刻しんこくな公害こうがいが発生はっせいしました。

Severe industrial pollution arose during the period of rapid economic growth.

Usage 公害 is industrial pollution harming the public; 汚染 is contamination generally. 公害病 refers to the pollution diseases of 1960s Japan, a common reading topic.

Remember it 公 (public) + 害 (harm). Harm done to the public.

夏なつの水不足みずぶそくに備そなえて節水せっすいを心こころがけています。

I try to save water in case of summer shortages.

Usage 節 marks conserving: 節水, 節電, 節約. Watch the small tsu — せっすい, not せつすい.

Remember it 節 (to economise) + 水 (water). Economising on water.

国籍こくせきや性別せいべつによる差別さべつは許ゆるされません。

Discrimination on grounds of nationality or gender cannot be allowed.

Usage 差別 is always pejorative; 区別 (くべつ) is a neutral distinction between two things. Confusing them causes real offence.

Remember it 差 (difference) + 別 (to separate). Treating people as separate on the basis of difference.

ゴミを分別ぶんべつして捨てるすてるのは市民しみんの義務ぎむです。

Sorting rubbish before throwing it out is a citizen's duty.

Usage Japan sorts household waste strictly: 燃えるゴミ (burnable), 燃えないゴミ (non-burnable), 資源ゴミ (recyclable), each with its own collection day.

Remember it Written 塵 in kanji but almost always ゴミ in katakana, even though it is a native Japanese word.

被災地ひさいちへの支援しえん活動かつどうに参加さんかしました。

I took part in support activities for the disaster-hit area.

Usage 支援 is organised support at scale; 手伝う is lending a hand with something small. 支援金 = relief funds.

Remember it 支 (to support) + 援 (to aid). Both halves mean lending strength.

省エネしょうえねのために、使わないつかわない電気でんきは消してけしてください。

To save energy, please turn off lights you aren't using.

Usage Clipped from 省エネルギー — note it fuses a kanji word with a chopped loanword, a very Japanese kind of compound. 省く (はぶく) = to economise on.

Remember it 省 (to save, to omit) + エネ (from エネルギー). Saving energy.

地球ちきゅう温暖化おんだんかを防ぐふせぐために、CO2削減さくげんが急務きゅうむです。

To prevent global warming, cutting CO2 is an urgent task.

Usage 化 (か) turns a noun into a process: 温暖化, 高齢化, 国際化, デジタル化. 防ぐ (ふせぐ) = to prevent, 削減 (さくげん) = reduction.

Remember it 温暖 (mild, warm) + 化 (becoming). The world becoming warm.

森林しんりん伐採ばっさいが進むすすむと、生態系せいたいけいに悪影響あくえいきょうを与えますあたえます。

As deforestation advances, it has a bad effect on the ecosystem.

Usage 森林 is forest as a resource or environmental term; 森 (もり) is the forest you walk in. 影響を与える = to have an effect on, a key N3 collocation.

Remember it 森 (three trees) + 林 (two trees). Five trees' worth of forest.

この国くにの医療いりょう制度せいどは世界せかいでも評価ひょうかが高たかいです。

This country's healthcare system is well regarded around the world.

Usage 制度 is a system established by society: 教育制度, 保険制度, 年金制度. It differs from 規則, which is a specific rule.

Remember it 制 (to establish, to regulate) + 度 (a measure). An established measure — an institution.

多くのおおくの野生やせい動物どうぶつが絶滅ぜつめつの危機ききにさらされてさらされています。

Many wild animals are facing the threat of extinction.

Usage 絶滅危惧種 (ぜつめつきぐしゅ) = an endangered species, the standard term. 危機にさらされる = to be exposed to danger, 野生 (やせい) = wild.

Remember it 絶 (to cut off, to sever) + 滅 (to perish). Cut off and gone.

祖父そふの世代せだいと私わたしたちでは考かんがえ方かたがかなり違ちがいます。

My grandfather's generation and ours think quite differently.

Usage 世代交代 = generational change, 若い世代 = the younger generation. 次の世代 turns up in every reading passage about tradition.

Remember it 世 (an age) + 代 (a era). One turn of the ages — a generation.

この地域ちいきには珍しいめずらしい植物しょくぶつが多くおおくあります。

There are many rare plants in this region.

Usage 植物 pairs with 動物: things planted versus things that move. 植物園 = botanical garden, 植える (うえる) = to plant. 珍しい (めずらしい) = rare, unusual.

Remember it 植 (to plant) + 物 (thing). Things that are planted and stay put.

海洋かいよう汚染おせんは海うみの生態系せいたいけいに深刻しんこくな影響えいきょうを与えますあたえます。

Marine pollution has a serious effect on the ocean ecosystem.

Usage 系 (けい) marks a system or lineage: 生態系, 太陽系 (solar system), 体系. 深刻な (しんこく) = serious or grave, used for problems rather than people.

Remember it 生態 (mode of life, ecology) + 系 (a system). The system living things form.

石油せきゆなどの化石かせき燃料ねんりょうは限りあるかぎりある資源しげんです。

Fossil fuels such as oil are finite resources.

Usage 限りある = finite, limited — literally 'having a limit'. Japan imports almost all its energy, so 資源 carries real weight in Japanese public debate.

Remember it 資 (funds, materials) + 源 (a source). The source you draw on.

水資源すいしげんの枯渇こかつは世界せかい的な問題もんだいになっています。

The depletion of water resources has become a global problem.

Usage 世界的な = global, where 的な turns a noun into an adjective: 経済的, 歴史的, 一般的. 枯渇 (こかつ) = depletion, running dry.

Remember it 水 (water) + 資源 (resources). Water counted as a resource.

再生可能さいせいかのうエネルギーへの転換てんかんが急速きゅうそくに進んですすんでいます。

The shift to renewable energy is progressing rapidly.

Usage This one came from German Energie, not English — which is why it is エネルギー and not エナジー, and why the clipped form is 省エネ.

Remember it German Energie. Japanese took a great deal of its scientific vocabulary from German in the Meiji era.

太陽光たいようこうや風力ふうりょくなどの再生可能さいせいかのうエネルギーが注目ちゅうもくされています。

Renewable energy such as solar and wind is attracting attention.

Usage 可能 (かのう) = possible, and attaches freely: 再生可能, 使用可能, 実現可能. 注目される = to attract attention, in the passive.

Remember it 再生 (to regenerate) + 可能 (possible). Capable of being regenerated.

この地区ちくでは太陽光たいようこう発電はつでんパネルを設置せっちする家庭かていが増えてふえています。

In this district, more households are installing solar panels.

Usage 発電 (はつでん) = electricity generation, so 太陽光発電 = solar power generation. 設置する = to install, 家庭 (かてい) = a household.

Remember it 太陽 (the sun) + 光 (light). Sunlight, put to work.

洋上ようじょう風力ふうりょく発電はつでんは環境かんきょうへの負担ふたんが少ないすくないエネルギーです。

Offshore wind power is an energy source with little environmental burden.

Usage 力 (りょく) marks a kind of power: 風力, 水力, 電力, 体力. 洋上 (ようじょう) = offshore, 負担 (ふたん) = a burden.

Remember it 風 (wind) + 力 (power). The power of the wind.

誰もがだれもが暮らしくらしやすい社会しゃかいを作るつくることが目標もくひょうです。

The goal is to build a society where everyone can live comfortably.

Usage Reverse the kanji and you get 会社 (company) from the work lesson — same two characters, entirely different word. 誰もが = everyone, 暮らす = to live day to day.

Remember it 社 (a community, a shrine) + 会 (to gather). People gathered into a community.

この地域ちいきでは昔むかしからの祭まつりが今いまも続つづいています。

In this area, festivals dating back centuries still carry on today.

Usage 地域 is an area or community in the administrative sense; 地方 (ちほう) means the regions as opposed to the big cities.

Remember it 地 (land) + 域 (a bounded zone). A bounded stretch of land.

多おおくの若者わかものが仕事しごとを求もとめて都市としへ出でていきます。

Many young people leave for the cities in search of work.

Usage 都市 is the city in the planning or sociological sense; 町 and 市 are administrative units. 都市化 = urbanisation.

Remember it 都 (capital) + 市 (market town). The two words for a settlement, stacked.

毎日まいにち運動うんどうする習慣しゅうかんを身みにつけることが健康けんこうの秘訣ひけつです。

Building a habit of exercising daily is the secret to good health.

Usage 習慣 is a personal habit or a social custom. 身につける = to acquire, the same phrase used with 知識 in the school lesson. 秘訣 (ひけつ) = the secret to something.

Remember it 習 (to learn) + 慣 (to grow accustomed). Learned until it became second nature.

法律ほうりつを守るまもることは、市民しみんの義務ぎむです。

Obeying the law is a citizen's duty.

Usage 守る covers keeping laws, promises and people safe alike — 法律を守る, 約束を守る, 環境を守る. 法律家 = a legal professional.

Remember it 法 (law, method) + 律 (a rule, a regulation). Two rule words together.

学校がっこうの規則きそくを破るやぶると罰則ばっそくがあります。

If you break school rules, there are penalties.

Usage 規則を破る = to break a rule, using 破る (to tear) — the same verb as 約束を破る. Note the pairing: you 守る rules and 破る them.

Remember it 規 (a standard) + 則 (a rule). The same 規 as in 規則正しく from the food lesson.

すべての人ひとは教育きょういくを受けるうける権利けんりを持ってもっています。

Everyone has the right to receive an education.

Usage 権利 pairs with 義務 as rights and duties. 権 (けん) marks a right: 権利, 人権 (human rights), 著作権 (copyright) from the technology lesson.

Remember it 権 (authority, right) + 利 (benefit). The benefit you are entitled to.

納税のうぜいは国民こくみんの義務ぎむの一つひとつです。

Paying taxes is one of a citizen's duties.

Usage 義務教育 (ぎむきょういく) = compulsory education, which in Japan runs through 中学校. 納税 (のうぜい) = paying tax, 国民 = the citizenry.

Remember it 義 (righteousness, duty) + 務 (a task). The task righteousness demands — the same 務 as 業務.

性別せいべつに関係なくかんけいなく平等びょうどうに機会きかいが与えられるあたえられるべきだ。

Opportunities should be given equally, regardless of gender.

Usage に関係なく = regardless of. べきだ = should, in the moral sense. Note the reading びょうどう — 平 usually reads へい, as in 平和 and 平日.

Remember it 平 (level, flat) + 等 (equal, a grade). Levelled to the same grade.

自由じゆうには責任せきにんが伴うともなうということを忘れてわすれてはならない。

We must not forget that freedom comes with responsibility.

Usage 自由な is a な-adjective: 自由な時間 = free time. 伴う (ともなう) = to accompany or come with. てはならない = must not, formal and emphatic.

Remember it 自 (self) + 由 (cause, reason). Acting from your own reasons.

民主主義みんしゅしゅぎでは、国民こくみんが政治せいじに参加さんかする権利けんりがあります。

In a democracy, citizens have the right to take part in politics.

Usage 主義 (しゅぎ) is the Japanese '-ism': 民主主義, 資本主義 (capitalism), 社会主義 (socialism). Spot it and you can decode most political vocabulary.

Remember it 民主 (rule by the people) + 主義 (-ism). Literally people-rule-ism.

来月らいげつの選挙せんきょに向けむけて、各政党かくせいとうが活動かつどうを始めたはじめた。

Ahead of next month's election, each political party has begun campaigning.

Usage に向けて = ahead of, aiming toward a future event. 政党 (せいとう) = a political party, 各 (かく) = each. 選挙に行く = to go and vote.

Remember it 選 (to choose) + 挙 (to raise up). Choosing someone and raising them into office.

政府せいふは経済けいざい対策たいさくとして、新しいあたらしい政策せいさくを発表はっぴょうしました。

The government announced a new policy as an economic measure.

Usage 政策 (せいさく) = a policy, 対策 (たいさく) = a countermeasure — both very common in news Japanese, and easy to confuse by sight.

Remember it 政 (government, rule) + 府 (an office, a seat). The seat of rule.

若者わかものも政治せいじに関心かんしんを持つもつことが大切たいせつです。

It's important that young people take an interest in politics too.

Usage 関心を持つ = to take an interest in, slightly more serious than 興味がある. 政治家 (せいじか) = a politician, 若者 (わかもの) = young people.

Remember it 政 (government) + 治 (to govern, to cure). The same 治 as in 治療 — governing and healing were once one idea.

日本にほんの経済けいざいは世界せかいで有数ゆうすうの規模きぼを誇るほこる。

Japan's economy boasts one of the largest scales in the world.

Usage 経済的 (けいざいてき) means both economic and economical. 規模 (きぼ) = scale, 誇る (ほこる) = to boast or take pride in, 有数の = leading, among the few.

Remember it 経 (to manage, to pass through) + 済 (to settle, to finish). Managing and settling affairs.

この国くには急速きゅうそくな経済けいざい発展はってんを遂げてとげてきました。

This country has achieved rapid economic development.

Usage 発展 is growth and expansion; 発達 (はったつ) is maturing or advancing in ability. 遂げる (とげる) = to accomplish, formal and often with 発展.

Remember it 発 (to send out) + 展 (to unfold, to spread). Unfolding outward.

世界せかいから貧困ひんこんをなくすことが国際こくさい社会しゃかいの目標もくひょうです。

Eliminating poverty from the world is a goal of the international community.

Usage 貧困 is poverty as a social condition; 貧しい (まずしい) is the adjective for a poor person or family. なくす = to eliminate, 国際 (こくさい) = international.

Remember it 貧 (poor) + 困 (troubled, distressed). Poor and in difficulty — the same 困 as 困る.

この町まちの人口じんこうは十年じゅうねんで半分はんぶんに減へりました。

This town's population has halved in ten years.

Usage Note that 口 reads こう here, not くち. 人口減少 = population decline and 人口密度 = population density are both common in reading passages.

Remember it 人 (person) + 口 (mouth). Counting a population by the mouths to feed.

高齢化こうれいか社会しゃかいに伴いともない、医療いりょう費ひが増加ぞうかしています。

With the ageing of society, medical costs are rising.

Usage 医療 is healthcare as a system; 治療 (ちりょう) is the treatment you personally receive. に伴い = accompanying, along with. 費 (ひ) marks costs: 医療費, 交通費.

Remember it 医 (medical) + 療 (to heal). The same 療 as in 治療.

高齢者こうれいしゃの福祉ふくしを向上こうじょうさせるための政策せいさくが必要ひつようです。

Policies are needed to improve welfare for the elderly.

Usage 福祉 is social welfare as public provision — 社会福祉, 福祉施設. 向上させる = to improve something, using the causative of 向上する.

Remember it 福 (good fortune) + 祉 (blessing). Both characters mean blessing — welfare as shared good fortune.

世界せかい平和へいわを実現じつげんするために、対話たいわが重要じゅうようです。

Dialogue is essential to achieving world peace.

Usage 実現する (じつげん) = to realise or bring about. 対話 (たいわ) = dialogue. Note 平 reads へい here, but びょう in 平等 from this same lesson.

Remember it 平 (level, calm) + 和 (harmony). 和 also stands for Japan itself, as in 和室 and 和食.