Abstract Concepts

概要

この章では「Abstract Concepts」というテーマにまとまって出てくる基本語彙を学びます。単語をばらばらに覚えるのではなく、場面といっしょに定着させるための構成です。

このまとまりを身につけると、その話題について話すときの語彙が増え、読むときも聞くときも反応しやすくなります。

テーマ

この章のJLPT N1 Vocabulary (499)

1. 哀愁 あいしゅう Pathos; sorrow; grief. A melancholic sadness often evoked by beauty or impermanence.
2. 曖昧模糊 あいまいもこ Vague; obscure; hazy; indistinct. Describes something deeply unclear or ambiguous.
3. 悪意 あくい Malice; ill will; bad faith. An intentional desire to harm or deceive others.
4. 飽くなき あくなき Insatiable; unquenchable; relentless. Describing a drive or desire that never subsides.
5. 悪用 あくよう Abuse; misuse; exploitation. Using something in a harmful or unintended way.
6. 明け暮れ あけくれ Dawn and dusk; day and night; all day long. Spending all one's time devoted to something.
7. 浅はか あさはか Shallow; superficial; thoughtless. Lacking depth in thought or judgement.
8. 足掛かり あしがかり Foothold; stepping stone; starting point. An initial position that enables further progress.
9. 圧迫 あっぱく Pressure; oppression; coercion. Physical or psychological force applied to constrain someone.
10. 阿鼻叫喚 あびきょうかん Pandemonium; infernal screaming; utter chaos. A scene of extreme suffering and desperate cries.
11. 天邪鬼 あまのじゃく Contrarian; perverse person; devil's advocate. Someone who deliberately opposes or goes against others.
12. 在り方 ありかた The way something should be; ideal form; proper state. How a person, organisation, or thing ought to exist.
13. 有様 ありさま State of affairs; situation; spectacle. The actual condition or appearance of something, often disappointing.
14. 暗礁 あんしょう Reef; hidden rock; obstacle; snag. An unseen danger or serious impediment to progress.
15. 暗示 あんじ Hint; suggestion; implication. Conveying meaning indirectly without stating it explicitly.
16. 暗澹 あんたん Gloomy; dismal; dark; dreary. A pervasive sense of hopelessness or bleakness.
17. 暗中模索 あんちゅうもさく Groping in the dark; feeling one's way. Proceeding without a clear plan or sufficient information.
18. 暗黙 あんもく Tacit; implicit; unspoken. Something understood without being stated explicitly.
19. 威圧 いあつ Coercion; intimidation; pressure. Using authority or force to suppress or dominate others.
20. 遺憾 いかん Regrettable; deplorable; unsatisfactory. Expressing deep disappointment or dissatisfaction with a situation.
21. 遺憾なく いかんなく Fully; to the utmost; completely; without reserve. Used to describe doing something to its fullest extent.
22. 意義 いぎ Meaning; significance; importance. The deeper value or purpose behind something.
23. 異議 いぎ Objection; dissent; protest. A formal or informal expression of disagreement.
24. 威厳 いげん Dignity; majesty; authority. An imposing presence that commands respect.
25. 遺産 いさん Inheritance; legacy; heritage. Something of value passed down from the past.
26. 脆弱 ぜいじゃく Fragile; vulnerable; frail; weak. Lacking resilience or strength to withstand pressure or attack.
27. 是正 ぜせい Correction; rectification; redress. The act of putting something wrong back on track.
28. 絶頂 ぜっちょう Peak; summit; climax; zenith. The highest point of something physical or abstract.
29. 善悪 ぜんあく Good and evil; right and wrong. The moral distinction between virtuous and wicked.
30. 漸次 ぜんじ Gradually; progressively; step by step. Moving forward in small, steady increments.
31. 前人未踏 ぜんじんみとう Unprecedented; never before achieved; uncharted. Describing a feat or territory no one has reached before.
32. 全般 ぜんぱん Whole; general; overall; across the board. Referring to something in its entirety or in general terms.
33. 前例 ぜんれい Precedent; previous example. A prior case used to justify or guide present decisions.
34. 創意 そうい Originality; creative idea; ingenuity. The capacity to generate novel and inventive thoughts.
35. 相応 そうおう Suitable; appropriate; befitting; proportionate. Matching what is expected or warranted.
36. 総括 そうかつ Summary; overview; recapitulation. A comprehensive wrap-up that draws together all key points.
37. 創出 そうしゅつ Creation; generation; production. Bringing something new into existence, often on a large or societal scale.
38. 相乗 そうじょう Synergy; multiplication; combined effect. A mutually amplifying interaction between two or more elements.
39. 双方 そうほう Both sides; both parties; mutual. Referring to two parties or entities equally.
40. 阻害 そがい Obstruction; hindrance; inhibition. The act of blocking or impeding a process or function.
41. 即座 そくざ Immediate; instant; on the spot. Without delay, right at that moment.
42. 素質 そしつ Aptitude; talent; natural disposition. An innate capacity or inclination that determines potential.
43. 損得 そんとく Profit and loss; advantages and disadvantages. A practical reckoning of what one gains or loses.
44. 造作 ぞうさ Trouble; fuss; facial features; furnishings. A versatile noun covering effort, appearance, and built-in fixtures.
45. 俗物 ぞくぶつ Worldly person; vulgar person; philistine. Someone obsessed with status, money, or superficial values.
46. 大概 たいがい In general; mostly; roughly; probably. Used to indicate approximation or a general tendency.
47. 大局 たいきょく Overall situation; big picture; general outlook. The broad, overarching view of a situation.
48. 大義 たいぎ Great cause; just cause; moral principle. A lofty ideal or overarching justification for action.
49. 対処 たいしょ Dealing with; coping; handling; response. Taking appropriate action in response to a situation.
50. 退廃 たいはい Decadence; degeneration; corruption. A moral or cultural decline into disorder or indulgence.
51. 異質 いしつ Heterogeneous; different in nature or quality. Describes something fundamentally unlike others of its kind.
52. 一途 いちず Wholehearted; single-minded; devoted to one thing exclusively. Describes unwavering focus or dedication.
53. 一挙 いっきょ One effort; one action; at a stroke. Describes accomplishing something in a single decisive move.
54. 一切 いっさい Everything; all; entirely; without exception. Used to express totality, often in negative or sweeping statements.
55. 一端 いったん One end; one aspect; a part or fragment of a whole. Used when presenting only a portion of something larger.
56. 一端を担う いったんをになう To play a part; to bear a share of responsibility; to contribute to a larger whole.
57. 一朝一夕 いっちょういっせき Overnight; in a brief time; in a single day. Used almost exclusively in negative contexts: not achievable quickly.
58. 逸脱 いつだつ Deviation; departure from a norm or standard; digression. Implies a straying from the expected path.
59. 居場所 いばしょ Whereabouts; a place where one belongs; one's niche. Refers both to a physical location and to a sense of social belonging.
60. 異変 いへん An unusual event; an unexpected accident or disturbance; a catastrophe or sign of trouble.
61. 因果 いんが Cause and effect; karma; fate resulting from past actions. Describes the interconnected chain of action and consequence.
62. 因果応報 いんがおうほう Karma; what goes around comes around; retribution for one's actions. Good deeds bring good results, bad deeds bring bad.
63. 因縁 いんねん Fate; karmic connection; deep ties between people; pretext or excuse for a quarrel.
64. 陰謀 いんぼう Plot; conspiracy; scheme. An underhanded plan carried out in secret, often against someone in power.
65. 迂回 うかい Detour; a roundabout route; bypass. Taking an indirect path to reach a destination or avoid an obstacle.
66. 浮き彫り うきぼり Relief sculpture; bringing something to light; throwing something into sharp relief.
67. 器 うつわ Vessel; container; a person's calibre or capacity. Describes both a physical receptacle and someone's potential or magnanimity.
68. 旨味 うまみ Umami; a savoury, rich taste; profit or benefit; the appealing essence of something.
69. 裏付け うらづけ Backing; support; corroboration; evidence that confirms or substantiates a claim.
70. 裏腹 うらはら Opposite; contrary; reverse. Describes a stark contradiction between what is said and what is meant, or between appearance and reality.
71. 裏目 うらめ Backfiring; going wrong; producing the opposite of the intended result.
72. 運命 うんめい Fate; destiny; lot. The course of events believed to be predetermined or beyond human control.
73. 影響力 えいきょうりょく Influence; power to affect others; clout. The capacity to shape opinions, behaviour, or outcomes.
74. 英知 えいち Wisdom; superior intelligence; sagacity. The accumulated understanding and discernment of a great mind.
75. 叡智 えいち Profound wisdom; transcendent intelligence. An even deeper and more reverential term for supreme understanding.
76. 卓越 たくえつ Excellence; pre-eminence; superiority. Describes standing far above others in skill, quality, or ability.
77. 託する たくする To entrust something to someone; to consign; to use something as a pretext or cover for one's true intentions.
78. 佇まい たたずまい Appearance; bearing; atmosphere; the overall impression or ambiance given off by a person, building, or place.
79. 達成 たっせい Achievement; attainment; accomplishment. The successful realisation of a goal or target.
80. 多忙 たぼう Very busy; occupied; hectic. Describes a state of having far too much to do.
81. 多様 たよう Diverse; varied; multifarious. Refers to having many different forms, types, or perspectives.
82. 端緒 たんしょ Beginning; clue; start; origin. The first thread or opening that allows something to get underway.
83. 端末 たんまつ Terminal; device; endpoint. In modern usage, primarily refers to a computing or communication device such as a smartphone, tablet, or wor...
84. 胆力 たんりょく Courage; nerve; guts; the inner fortitude to remain composed and act decisively under pressure.
85. 代償 だいしょう Compensation; price; cost; sacrifice. The thing given up or paid in exchange for something gained.
86. 大同小異 だいどうしょうい More or less the same; much of a muchness. Describes things that differ only in minor details while being essentially identical.
87. 台無し だいなし Ruined; spoiled; wasted; destroyed. Describes something rendered completely useless or undone.
88. 打開 だかい Breakthrough; overcoming a deadlock; breaking out of a difficult situation.
89. 妥協点 だきょうてん Point of compromise; middle ground. The position or terms that both parties in a negotiation can mutually accept.
90. 妥結 だけつ Settlement; agreement; reaching a compromise. Describes the conclusion of negotiations with a mutually accepted outcome.
91. 打算 ださん Calculation; self-interest; mercenary thinking. Acting with an eye to personal gain rather than genuine motivation.
92. 惰弱 だじゃく Weak; indolent; slack; lacking the will or energy to act. Describes a feeble, unmotivated state of mind or character.
93. 脱却 だっきゃく Escape; breaking free; getting rid of. The act of extricating oneself from a constraining situation, mindset, or habit.
94. 打破 だは Breaking down; smashing through; overcoming. The forceful destruction of an obstacle, convention, or barrier.
95. 断絶 だんぜつ Severance; rupture; discontinuation. A complete break in a relationship, lineage, communication, or continuity.
96. 断片 だんぺん Fragment; piece; scrap; snippet. A small, broken-off part of a larger whole.
97. 弾力 だんりょく Elasticity; flexibility; resilience. The capacity to spring back or adapt after pressure or change.
98. 知見 ちけん Knowledge; expertise; findings; insight. Knowledge gained through direct experience, research, or investigation.
99. 遅滞 ちたい Delay; stagnation; arrears. A failure to proceed or pay on schedule.
100. 着手 ちゃくしゅ Start; commencement; undertaking. The act of beginning work on something concrete.
101. 大筋 おおすじ Outline; summary; general direction or framework of something. Used to describe the broad strokes of a plan, story, or argument.
102. 落ち度 おちど Fault; mistake; negligence; a shortcoming that leads to an undesirable outcome. Implies personal responsibility for an error.
103. 落とし穴 おとしあな Pitfall; trap; snare; a hidden danger or unexpected difficulty. Used both literally and figuratively.
104. 趣 おもむき Taste; elegance; charm; the subtle aesthetic quality or flavour of something. Also: meaning, purport, or the gist of a statement.
105. 愚か おろか Foolish; stupid; silly. Describes a lack of wisdom or sound judgement, often with a tone of reproach or lament.
106. 恩返し おんがえし Returning a favour; repaying kindness; showing gratitude through action.
107. 恩恵 おんけい Grace; favour; blessing; benefit. Refers to advantages or gifts received from nature, society, or a higher power.
108. 温床 おんしょう Hotbed; breeding ground. Refers to conditions that foster the growth of something, usually something negative.
109. 格差 かくさ Disparity; gap; difference in levels, quality, or status between groups or things.
110. 拡充 かくじゅう Expansion; enhancement; augmentation. The act of broadening and strengthening something that already exists.
111. 格段 かくだん Remarkable; exceptional; extraordinary. Describes a difference or improvement that is several levels above the ordinary.
112. 禍根 かこん Root of evil; source of trouble; the seed of future disaster. Refers to the underlying cause of ongoing or future harm.
113. 過言 かごん Exaggeration; overstatement. An expression that goes beyond what is strictly true.
114. 過剰 かじょう Excess; surplus; superfluous. Describes an amount or degree that is more than needed or appropriate.
115. 過疎 かそ Depopulation; underpopulation. Describes a region that has lost a significant portion of its population, typically due to migration to ur...
116. 片棒 かたぼう Accomplice; one who shares in carrying out a scheme, especially a wrongful one. Literally, one side of a carrying pole.
117. 渦中 かちゅう In the midst of; in the thick of. Refers to being caught up in the centre of a turbulent or intense situation.
118. 活路 かつろ Way out; means of survival; a breakthrough or path to resolution when facing a crisis or dead end.
119. 過渡期 かとき Transitional period; an era of change between two distinct states or systems.
120. 空振り からぶり Striking out; missing the target; a futile effort that results in nothing.
121. 感慨 かんがい Deep emotion; strong feelings arising from reflection on the past or a significant moment.
122. 簡潔 かんけつ Concise; brief; succinct. Describes expression that conveys the essential meaning without unnecessary words.
123. 還元 かんげん Return; restoration; reduction. The act of giving back value to a source, or in chemistry, the process of reduction.
124. 換算 かんさん Conversion; calculation by translating a value from one unit, currency, or system into another.
125. 完遂 かんすい Accomplishment; completion; fulfilment. Successfully carrying out a task or mission to its end.
126. 着実 ちゃくじつ Steady; sound; solid; reliable. Describes progress, effort, or a person that is dependable and consistent without flashiness.
127. 中核 ちゅうかく Core; nucleus; centre; kernel. The essential, central part of a group, system, or concept that everything else depends on.
128. 中枢 ちゅうすう Centre; core; nucleus; pivot. The controlling or governing centre of a system, especially in political, neurological, or organisational c...
129. 注力 ちゅうりょく Focusing effort; concentrating energy on something. Describes a deliberate allocation of resources or attention toward a priority.
130. 超越 ちょうえつ Transcendence; surpassing; going beyond ordinary limits. Describes exceeding what is humanly typical, or rising above worldly concerns.
131. 兆候 ちょうこう Sign; indication; symptom; omen. An early observable signal that something — often unwanted — is about to occur or is already developing.
132. 長所 ちょうしょ Strong point; advantage; merit. A quality or ability in which someone or something particularly excels.
133. 帳尻 ちょうじり Balance; settlement of accounts. The final balance of an account, and by extension any situation where loose ends are tied up or figures ...
134. 彫琢 ちょうたく Polishing; elaboration; refinement. The careful and painstaking process of perfecting a piece of work, especially literary or artistic.
135. 長短 ちょうたん Merits and demerits; advantages and disadvantages; lengths (long and short). A balanced appraisal of both positive and negative aspects.
136. 朝令暮改 ちょうれいぼかい Frequent policy changes; inconsistency; flip-flopping. The practice of issuing orders in the morning and revising them by evening — a cri...
137. 沈下 ちんか Sinking; subsidence; submersion. The gradual downward displacement of land, structures, or abstract conditions.
138. 追随 ついずい Following; emulation; pursuance. Closely following behind someone or something, often imitating their lead or keeping pace.
139. 通念 つうねん Common idea; generally accepted notion; received wisdom. A belief or assumption that most people in a society share without questioning.
140. 徒然 つれづれ Tedium; boredom; idleness; aimless leisure. A state of having nothing particular to do, with time passing slowly.
141. 定着 ていちゃく Establishing; taking root; settling; becoming fixed. The process by which something new becomes permanent, habitual, or accepted.
142. 定番 ていばん Standard; staple; classic; regular. Something that is always reliably popular, expected, or present — a go-to option.
143. 低迷 ていめい Stagnation; slump; doldrums. A prolonged period of low performance, activity, or mood that does not recover easily.
144. 撤回 てっかい Withdrawal; retraction; revocation. The act of officially taking back a statement, proposal, or order that was previously made.
145. 撤退 てったい Withdrawal; retreat; pullout. The act of withdrawing forces, personnel, or operations from a position or market.
146. 撤廃 てっぱい Abolition; repeal; removal; elimination. The complete cancellation or dismantling of a rule, system, tax, or restriction.
147. 天衣無縫 てんいむほう Flawless; natural; artless; seamless. Describes something so perfectly natural that no trace of effort or artifice remains visible.
148. 天分 てんぶん Natural talent; gift; innate ability. A capacity or aptitude that one is born with rather than developed through training.
149. 天賦 てんぷ Natural; innate; God-given. Describes qualities, rights, or abilities bestowed at birth by nature or a higher power.
150. 投影 とうえい Projection; reflection; casting (a shadow or image). The act of projecting an image onto a surface, or attributing one's own inner state ...
151. 蓋然性 がいぜんせい Probability; likelihood; the degree to which something is plausible or likely to occur. Used in academic, philosophical, and logical cont...
152. 我田引水 がでんいんすい Self-serving argument; interpreting or presenting things in a way that benefits oneself. Literally, drawing water into one's own rice field.
153. 機運 きうん Momentum; the right opportunity; an auspicious current of events building towards change. Suggests a confluence of circumstances ripe for...
154. 危惧 きぐ Apprehension; misgiving; serious concern or anxiety about a potential negative outcome. Implies genuine dread about a future risk.
155. 詭計 きけい Trick; stratagem; a cunning ruse or deceptive scheme designed to mislead or manipulate others for one's own ends.
156. 機軸 きじく Pivot; axis; mainstay; the central principle or core mechanism around which something is organised or upon which it depends.
157. 帰趨 きすう Outcome; ultimate conclusion; the direction or drift towards which something tends to settle. Implies the eventual resolution of a matter.
158. 軌跡 きせき Trajectory; locus; the path traced by a moving point. Figuratively, the record of one's achievements, progress, or the course of a life o...
159. 奇想天外 きそうてんがい Wildly original; outlandishly bizarre; so fantastically unexpected as to seem beyond the heavens. Describes ideas or works that are start...
160. 拮抗 きっこう Being evenly matched; antagonism; the state of two forces, competitors, or ideas holding each other in check through roughly equal strength.
161. 機微 きび Subtlety; nuance; the delicate fine points of human psychology, social dynamics, or a situation. Implies sensitivity to what is not expli...
162. 気風 きふう Temperament; prevailing spirit; the characteristic ethos or collective disposition of a group, region, or era.
163. 窮状 きゅうじょう Difficult situation; plight; a state of extreme hardship or distress. Used to describe desperate circumstances of individuals, communitie...
164. 窮地 きゅうち Predicament; dilemma; a desperate situation from which there is no obvious escape. Implies being cornered with severely limited options.
165. 脅威 きょうい Threat; menace; a force or situation posing a serious danger to security, stability, or well-being.
166. 境地 きょうち State of mind; a level of inner attainment or awareness reached through experience or mastery. Also refers to a physical territory or dom...
167. 興味深い きょうみぶかい Very interesting; profoundly fascinating; intriguing in a way that stimulates sustained intellectual curiosity or deeper reflection.
168. 虚偽 きょぎ Falsehood; deception; a deliberate lie or fabrication. Used in formal and legal contexts to describe intentionally false statements.
169. 虚構 きょこう Fiction; fabrication; a constructed narrative or reality that is not factual. Refers both to literary fiction and to deliberately maintai...
170. 虚飾 きょしょく Ostentation; empty pretension; hollow display or affectation without genuine substance. Describes presenting oneself or something falsely...
171. 虚無 きょむ Nihility; nothingness; a profound void or emptiness. Refers to the absence of meaning, value, or existence itself.
172. 際立つ きわだつ To stand out; to be conspicuous; to be strikingly prominent in comparison to one's surroundings.
173. 極めて きわめて Extremely; exceedingly; to the utmost degree. An emphatic adverb indicating the highest possible level of intensity or significance.
174. 凝縮 ぎょうしゅく Condensation; concentration; the compression of something into a smaller, denser, or more intense form.
175. 形相 ぎょうそう Facial expression; the look on someone's face, especially when intensely emotional, fierce, or alarming. Conveys emotional extremity thro...
176. 当該 とうがい Relevant; applicable; the said; in question. Used attributively to indicate the specific item, person, or matter under official or formal...
177. 統制 とうせい Regulation; control; coordination; systematic management. Refers to centralised authority exercised over systems, economies, or behaviour.
178. 統率 とうそつ Leadership; command; the ability to lead and unify a group effectively. Emphasises practical capacity to direct people toward a common goal.
179. 淘汰 とうた Natural selection; elimination of the unfit; weeding out. The process by which weaker or inferior elements are removed through competitio...
180. 到達 とうたつ Reaching; attaining; arriving at a destination or goal. Used for both physical arrival and the achievement of abstract targets.
181. 当面 とうめん At present; for the time being; currently pressing. Used to describe the immediate situation or to signal a temporary state of affairs th...
182. 特性 とくせい Characteristic; peculiarity; special quality or inherent property. A distinctive feature that defines or differentiates something from ot...
183. 特筆 とくひつ Special mention; noteworthy; deserving particular note. Used when something is so remarkable it warrants explicit highlighting above the ...
184. 途上 とじょう On the way; in the middle of a process; in progress. Used both literally for being en route and figuratively for something still developing.
185. 滞る とどこおる To stagnate; to be delayed; to fall behind; to be in arrears. Describes a flow, process, or obligation that has stopped moving or has not...
186. 渡来 とらい Arrival from overseas; importation; the act of coming to Japan from a foreign land. Used in historical, cultural, and ecological contexts.
187. 頓挫 とんざ Setback; breakdown; abrupt collapse of a plan before completion. A project or endeavour that comes to a sudden halt midway.
188. 同調 どうちょう Sympathy; agreement; conformity; going along with others. Also used technically for resonance or tuning to the same frequency.
189. 独自 どくじ Original; unique; one's own; independent. Used to describe something distinctly developed by a single entity, setting it apart from conve...
190. 独創 どくそう Originality; creativity; the quality of creating something genuinely new without relying on existing models.
191. 独断 どくだん Arbitrary decision; unilateral action; dogmatism. A judgement or decision made by one person alone without consultation, typically with a...
192. 内在 ないざい Inherence; immanence; existing within something intrinsically. Refers to qualities or forces residing inside a thing rather than being im...
193. 内包 ないほう Connotation; intension; containment within. In logic, the defining properties of a concept; in general use, what a word or idea implicitl...
194. 内面 ないめん Inner surface; interior; inner life; psychological interior. A person's inward emotional and mental world as distinct from their outward ...
195. 名残 なごり Remnant; vestige; lingering trace; the bittersweet feeling when something beautiful has ended or is about to end.
196. 名残惜しい なごりおしい Reluctant to part; regretful that something is ending; loath to say goodbye. An i-adjective expressing the bittersweet feeling when a goo...
197. 成り行き なりゆき Course of events; natural development; outcome. Refers to how a situation unfolds without deliberate intervention — the natural flow of t...
198. 難題 なんだい Difficult problem; tough challenge; demanding or unreasonable demand. A question or issue that is hard to resolve, or a request extremely...
199. 二の次 にのつぎ Secondary; of lesser importance; something deliberately set aside in favour of a higher priority.
200. 二律背反 にりつはいはん Antinomy; paradox; a dilemma in which two equally valid principles are in irreconcilable conflict. Neither can be satisfied without viola...
201. 空虚 くうきょ Emptiness; void; hollowness. Refers to a state of being devoid of substance, meaning, or content.
202. 空疎 くうそ Empty; hollow; vacuous; futile. Describes something that lacks substance, depth, or real value.
203. 空白 くうはく Blank; void; vacuum; gap. Denotes an empty space, a missing period of time, or an unfilled position.
204. 空理空論 くうりくうろん Abstract theory; armchair argument; impractical theorising. Refers to ideas that are logically coherent but completely detached from real...
205. 苦悩 くのう Anguish; suffering; agony; distress. Deep mental or spiritual torment arising from difficult circumstances or inner conflict.
206. 繰り返し くりかえし Repetition; recurrence; iteration. The act of doing or occurring again, whether deliberate or unintentional.
207. 繰言 くりごと Repetitive complaint; grumbling; nagging. Refers to repeatedly voicing the same grievance or lament.
208. 愚行 ぐこう Foolish act; folly; stupidity. An action that is clearly unwise, reckless, or morally questionable.
209. 形骸 けいがい Mere shell; skeleton; hollow form. Something that retains its outward appearance but has lost its original substance or function.
210. 形骸化 けいがいか Becoming a mere formality; hollowing out. The process by which something loses its substance while keeping its outward form.
211. 鶏口牛後 けいこうぎゅうご Better to be the head of a small group than the tail of a large one. Equivalent to 'better to be a big fish in a small pond'.
212. 係争 けいそう Dispute; litigation; conflict; contention. A contested matter under legal or formal debate.
213. 傑作 けっさく Masterpiece; masterwork. Also used ironically to mean a blunder or howler.
214. 決裂 けつれつ Breakdown; rupture; collapse. The complete failure of negotiations, talks, or an agreement.
215. 堅固 けんご Solid; firm; strong; steadfast. Physically or spiritually unshakeable and resistant to force or change.
216. 顕在 けんざい Manifest; apparent; visible; overt. The state of being clearly evident or present, as opposed to hidden or potential.
217. 見識 けんしき Insight; discernment; opinion; view. A well-informed, perceptive judgement or perspective on a matter.
218. 兼備 けんび Combining; possessing both. Having two or more qualities or attributes simultaneously.
219. 堅牢 けんろう Solid; sturdy; robust; strong; firm. Built or structured to withstand significant force or endure over time.
220. 激化 げきか Intensification; escalation; aggravation. The process of something becoming more severe, intense, or extreme.
221. 激変 げきへん Sudden change; upheaval; drastic change. A rapid and dramatic transformation in circumstances.
222. 限界 げんかい Limit; boundary; threshold. The point beyond which something cannot continue or function.
223. 幻想 げんそう Illusion; fantasy; vision. A mental image or belief detached from reality, often beautiful or deceptive.
224. 原点 げんてん Origin; starting point; base point. The foundational point from which something begins or to which one returns.
225. 原動力 げんどうりょく Driving force; motive power; impetus. The fundamental energy or motivation that propels action or change.
226. 認識 にんしき Recognition; awareness; perception; understanding. The cognitive act of consciously knowing, identifying, or comprehending something.
227. 忍耐 にんたい Patience; endurance; perseverance. The ability to withstand hardship, difficulty, or adversity without losing composure.
228. 捻出 ねんしゅつ Contriving; working something out with effort; scraping together. Finding or producing something through ingenuity or under difficult con...
229. 把握 はあく Grasp; understanding; comprehension. Firmly getting hold of a situation, concept, or set of facts with one's mind.
230. 排除 はいじょ Exclusion; removal; elimination. The act of actively removing, expelling, or excluding something from a group, system, or process.
231. 背理 はいり Absurdity; contradiction; irrationality. A conclusion or premise that contradicts reason, logic, or established truth.
232. 波及 はきゅう Spread; ripple effect; repercussion; diffusion of influence. An effect or influence that spreads outward like ripples in water.
233. 白日の下 はくじつのもと In broad daylight; publicly exposed; laid bare for all to see. Describes something being fully revealed without concealment.
234. 破綻 はたん Bankruptcy; failure; collapse; breakdown. The complete and irreversible falling apart of a system, plan, relationship, or enterprise.
235. 破竹 はちく Sweeping advance; unstoppable momentum. Progress or advance so forceful that it cannot be stopped.
236. 発露 はつろ Manifestation; expression; revelation of an inner quality. The emergence or outward expression of something internal or latent.
237. 反映 はんえい Reflection; influence; incorporation. The way something is mirrored in, or incorporated into, another thing.
238. 反響 はんきょう Echo; reverberation; repercussion; public response. The reaction or response that an event, statement, or work elicits from an audience.
239. 反骨 はんこつ Rebellious spirit; defiance; refusal to submit to authority or convention. An innate disposition to resist power or injustice.
240. 反芻 はんすう Rumination; deep pondering; chewing the cud. The act of repeatedly going over something in one's mind to extract deeper understanding.
241. 範疇 はんちゅう Category; scope; domain; range. A defined conceptual boundary or classification within which things are grouped or considered.
242. 反駁 はんばく Refutation; rebuttal; counterargument. The act of forcefully contradicting or disproving an opposing argument.
243. 反面 はんめん On the other hand; the flip side; the reverse aspect. Introduces a contrasting or opposing quality or consequence.
244. 汎用 はんよう General-purpose; versatile; universal applicability. Describes something designed or suitable for a wide range of uses.
245. 馬脚 ばきゃく True colours; a hidden flaw; inadvertent self-betrayal. The unintended revelation of one's true nature or a carefully concealed deficiency.
246. 抜本 ばっぽん Fundamental; radical; thoroughgoing. Describes a solution or measure that addresses the root cause rather than treating superficial sympt...
247. 万全 ばんぜん Perfect; flawless; thoroughly prepared; leaving nothing to chance. A state of complete readiness where every contingency is accounted for.
248. 彼我 ひが Both sides; friend and foe; self and others. Refers to the relationship or contrast between oneself (or one's group) and others (or the o...
249. 皮肉 ひにく Irony; sarcasm; cynicism. A remark or situation where the surface meaning differs from or contradicts the deeper intent, often to critici...
250. 非凡 ひぼん Extraordinary; uncommon; remarkable; beyond the ordinary. Describes exceptional talent, ability, or quality that far surpasses the average.
251. 幻滅 げんめつ Disillusionment; disenchantment. The shattering of an illusion or ideal.
252. 交錯 こうさく Intertwining; mixing; complication. A state where multiple elements become entangled.
253. 高邁 こうまい Lofty; noble; elevated; high-minded. Describes ideals or character of exceptional moral height.
254. 枯渇 こかつ Drying up; depletion; exhaustion of a resource or supply.
255. 心得 こころえ Knowledge; understanding; know-how; guiding rules or principles one should keep in mind.
256. 来し方 こしかた The past; one's history; the path one has travelled through life.
257. 骨格 こっかく Skeleton; framework; build; the essential structure of something.
258. 根幹 こんかん Root and trunk; the fundamental basis or core of something.
259. 困窮 こんきゅう Poverty; destitution; severe distress or hardship.
260. 困窮する こんきゅうする To be in poverty; to be destitute; to suffer from severe hardship.
261. 渾身 こんしん With all one's might; one's whole body and soul; every ounce of one's strength.
262. 懇切 こんせつ Kind; cordial; thorough and careful in explanation or guidance.
263. 渾然 こんぜん Blended; unified; harmoniously integrated into a single whole.
264. 根底 こんてい Basis; foundation; root; the deepest underlying layer of something.
265. 混沌 こんとん Chaos; confusion; a state of primordial disorder.
266. 混迷 こんめい Confusion; bewilderment; turmoil; a situation that has become deeply muddled.
267. 困惑する こんわくする To be bewildered; to be puzzled; to be perplexed or at a loss.
268. 合意 ごうい Agreement; consent; mutual understanding reached between parties.
269. 呉越同舟 ごえつどうしゅう Rivals in the same boat; sworn enemies who must cooperate due to shared circumstances.
270. 極意 ごくい The secret; the essence; the innermost principle or quintessence of an art or skill.
271. 五里霧中 ごりむちゅう Completely lost; bewildered; unable to see the way forward; in a fog.
272. 権化 ごんげ Incarnation; embodiment; avatar of a quality or deity.
273. 言語道断 ごんごどうだん Outrageous; unspeakable; utterly preposterous; beyond words.
274. 才覚 さいかく Resourcefulness; wit; ingenuity; natural talent for finding solutions.
275. 際限 さいげん Limit; bounds; end; used almost exclusively in the phrase 際限がない (there is no end to it).
276. 飛躍 ひやく Leap; rapid progress; breakthrough. A sudden jump to a higher level of achievement or understanding.
277. 飛躍的 ひやくてき Dramatic; remarkable; advancing by leaps and bounds. Describes growth or improvement that is sudden and extraordinary in scale.
278. 比喩 ひゆ Metaphor; simile; figurative expression. Language that describes something by reference to something else to clarify or illuminate meaning.
279. 標榜 ひょうぼう Openly advocating; professing; proclaiming one's principles or stance. Often implies a gap between stated ideals and actual behaviour.
280. 表裏 ひょうり Front and back; two sides; duplicity. Can describe both the literal two faces of an object and a person's two-faced or hypocritical nature.
281. 貧困 ひんこん Poverty; destitution; penury. A severe lack of material resources, or figuratively a deficiency in ideas or understanding.
282. 美徳 びとく Virtue; moral excellence; an admirable quality. A noble trait that is esteemed in a person's character.
283. 微妙 びみょう Delicate; subtle; sensitive; nuanced. Describes a quality or situation that is complex, hard to define clearly, or requiring careful hand...
284. 不可逆 ふかぎゃく Irreversible; non-reversible. Describes a process or change that cannot be undone or returned to its original state.
285. 不可避 ふかひ Inevitable; unavoidable; inescapable. Describes an outcome or event that cannot be prevented regardless of effort.
286. 不朽 ふきゅう Immortal; eternal; everlasting; imperishable. Describes works, achievements, or legacies that endure beyond time.
287. 不均衡 ふきんこう Imbalance; disparity; unevenness. A state in which things are not equally distributed or proportioned.
288. 伏線 ふくせん Foreshadowing; a hint planted earlier in a narrative; groundwork laid in advance for a later development.
289. 伏魔殿 ふくまでん Den of demons; hotbed of intrigue and corruption. Describes an organisation or place rife with hidden evil, scheming, and dark dealings.
290. 腐食 ふしょく Corrosion; erosion; decay. The gradual deterioration of a material or institution through chemical or figurative degradation.
291. 扶植 ふしょく Fostering; nurturing; cultivating; supporting the growth of someone or something through deliberate, sustained effort.
292. 不条理 ふじょうり Absurdity; irrationality; unreasonableness. A situation or state of affairs that defies logic, justice, or rational explanation.
293. 付帯 ふたい Incidental; accessory; ancillary; appended. Describes something attached to or accompanying a main element, often as a subsidiary conditi...
294. 普遍 ふへん Universal; general; applicable to all; ubiquitous. Describes something that holds true across all times, places, and contexts.
295. 不毛 ふもう Barren; sterile; futile; unproductive. Describes land that cannot grow crops, or efforts and discussions that yield no results.
296. 不問 ふもん Disregarding; overlooking; not questioning or pursuing. Deliberately choosing not to hold someone accountable or investigate further.
297. 付和雷同 ふわらいどう Following others blindly; jumping on the bandwagon; going along with the crowd without independent thought or judgement.
298. 奮起 ふんき Arousal; being stirred into action; rallying one's spirit. A sudden surge of motivation or resolve to act with determination.
299. 奮闘 ふんとう Hard struggle; strenuous effort; fighting with all one's might. The state of giving one's full effort against difficult circumstances.
300. 分岐 ぶんき Branch; fork; divergence; bifurcation. A point where something divides into two or more paths, strands, or directions.
301. 再燃 さいねん Recurrence; revival; flare-up. Describes the resurgence of something that had previously subsided.
302. 裁量 さいりょう Discretion; judgement; latitude. Refers to the authority or freedom to judge and decide independently.
303. 遡る さかのぼる To go back; to trace back; to date back to. Describes movement or tracing against the flow of time or a current.
304. 錯誤 さくご Error; mistake; blunder. Refers to a misjudgement or faulty reasoning, often in a formal or intellectual context.
305. 錯綜 さくそう Complication; entanglement; complexity. Describes a situation where multiple threads, interests, or factors are intertwined in a confusin...
306. 些細 ささい Trivial; trifling; slight; minor. Describes something of little importance or consequence.
307. 錯覚 さっかく Optical illusion; hallucination; delusion. Refers to a false perception of reality, whether visual or psychological.
308. 殺到 さっとう Rush; flood; deluge; influx. Describes a sudden overwhelming surge of people, messages, or demands.
309. 賛否 さんぴ Pros and cons; for and against. Refers to divided opinion or the two opposing stances on an issue.
310. 三位一体 さんみいったい Trinity; three-in-one; a unified approach. Describes three distinct elements functioning as a single, inseparable unit.
311. 雑念 ざつねん Idle thoughts; distracting thoughts; worldly desires. Refers to extraneous mental noise that disrupts concentration or spiritual clarity.
312. 残骸 ざんがい Remains; wreckage; ruins; debris. Refers to what is left after destruction — the broken remnants of something that once existed.
313. 残滓 ざんし Remnant; residue; dregs; vestige. Describes what lingers on after the main substance has gone — traces of a past era, system, or influence.
314. 暫定 ざんてい Provisional; tentative; temporary; interim. Describes a decision, measure, or status that is not yet finalised and subject to revision.
315. 残余 ざんよ Remainder; residue; surplus. What is left over after the main portion has been used, distributed, or accounted for.
316. 色彩 しきさい Colour; hue; tint; colouring. Refers to colour in both literal (visual) and figurative (character, tone, flavour) senses.
317. 至極 しごく Very; extremely; utmost. An intensifying adverb expressing the highest possible degree of a quality.
318. 至極当然 しごくとうぜん Perfectly natural; only to be expected; entirely reasonable. Expresses that an outcome or reaction is completely and inevitably correct g...
319. 示唆 しさ Suggestion; hint; implication. Refers to communicating something indirectly or implicitly, prompting thought or action without stating it...
320. 示唆に富む しさにとむ Suggestive; thought-provoking; full of implications. Describes something that prompts deep reflection by carrying multiple layers of mean...
321. 至上 しじょう Supreme; highest; paramount. Denotes the absolute highest position or priority, beyond which nothing can be placed.
322. 自然体 しぜんたい Natural posture; being oneself; unaffected manner. Describes the state of acting naturally without pretence, force, or self-consciousness.
323. 失態 しったい Blunder; disgrace; misconduct. A serious lapse in conduct or performance that causes embarrassment or damage to one's reputation.
324. 質実剛健 しつじつごうけん Simple and sturdy; plain yet strong; unpretentious strength. A four-character idiom describing a character that values sincerity and robu...
325. 指摘 してき Pointing out; indication; identification. The act of drawing attention to a specific problem, error, or point of significance.
326. 弊害 へいがい Harmful effect; adverse consequence; evil; abuse. Refers to the ill effects or damage caused by something, especially policies, customs, ...
327. 並行 へいこう Parallel; simultaneous; concurrent. Describes two or more things advancing side by side without converging.
328. 併存 へいそん Coexistence; co-occurrence; existing simultaneously. Describes two or more entities or phenomena existing together at the same time.
329. 並列 へいれつ Juxtaposition; parallel arrangement; side by side. Describes elements placed or listed alongside one another, or circuits connected in pa...
330. 辟易 へきえき Being fed up; recoiling; shrinking back. Describes a state of being overwhelmed and exhausted by something unpleasant, or of flinching be...
331. 返還 へんかん Return; restoration; restitution. Refers to the formal return of something — land, territory, objects, or rights — to its original owner.
332. 片鱗 へんりん A glimpse; a fragment; a hint of. Describes a small revealing trace that suggests the nature or greatness of something much larger.
333. 弁証法 べんしょうほう Dialectics; the dialectical method. A form of logical argumentation based on the interplay of opposing forces or contradictions to arrive...
334. 崩壊 ほうかい Collapse; crumbling; disintegration; breakdown. Refers to the sudden and complete destruction or falling apart of a structure, system, or...
335. 包括 ほうかつ Inclusion; comprehensive coverage; all-embracing. Describes the act of encompassing or including everything within a broad scope.
336. 萌芽 ほうが Budding; sprouting; germ; beginning. Refers to the first stirring or emergence of something, most often used metaphorically for nascent i...
337. 奉仕 ほうし Service; volunteer work; dedication. Describes selfless service to others, a cause, or an institution, often without expectation of reward.
338. 逢着 ほうちゃく Encounter; meeting; running into. Describes unexpectedly meeting or coming across a person, situation, or problem.
339. 飽和 ほうわ Saturation; fullness to capacity. Describes a state in which something has reached its maximum capacity and can absorb or accommodate no ...
340. 綻び ほころび Opening; tear; unravelling; flaw; hint of a smile. Describes a seam coming undone, a small crack or flaw appearing, or the very beginning...
341. 保全 ほぜん Preservation; conservation; maintenance; protection. Refers to maintaining something in good condition or safeguarding it from deteriorat...
342. 発端 ほったん Origin; beginning; trigger; starting point. Refers to the initial cause or event that sets something larger in motion.
343. 本懐 ほんかい Long-cherished desire; true wish; deeply held aspiration. Refers to a heartfelt goal or ambition that one has harboured for a long time.
344. 本旨 ほんし Main purpose; true intent; gist; principal aim. Refers to the essential or fundamental purpose behind something.
345. 本末転倒 ほんまつてんとう Putting the cart before the horse; getting one's priorities completely wrong; mistaking means for ends.
346. 本領 ほんりょう One's forte; true ability; full capability; specialty. Refers to the area or skill in which someone truly excels or their full authentic ...
347. 亡失 ぼうしつ Loss; disappearance; being irretrievably lost. Describes the permanent loss or disappearance of something, especially official documents,...
348. 冒涜 ぼうとく Blasphemy; profanity; sacrilege; desecration. Describes the act of treating something sacred, revered, or highly valued with contempt or ...
349. 没頭 ぼっとう Immersion; absorption; total dedication. Describes the state of being completely absorbed in or devoted to something, to the exclusion of...
350. 凡庸 ぼんよう Mediocre; ordinary; commonplace; lacking distinction. Describes someone or something that is thoroughly average and unremarkable.
351. 至難 しなん Extremely difficult; formidable. Describes a task or challenge that is nearly impossible to accomplish.
352. 始末 しまつ Management; disposal; circumstances; result. Refers to dealing with a situation or accounting for how something came about and ended.
353. 使命感 しめいかん Sense of mission; sense of duty. A strong internal feeling that one has an important purpose or obligation to fulfil.
354. 四面楚歌 しめんそか Being surrounded by enemies on all sides; total isolation. A state in which one faces opposition or hostility from every direction with n...
355. 社会的 しゃかいてき Social; societal. Relating to society or the relationships and structures within it.
356. 捨象 しゃしょう Abstraction; the act of omitting non-essential elements to focus on what is essential. A philosophical and logical process of generalisat...
357. 遮二無二 しゃにむに Desperately; recklessly; blindly; hell-bent. Acting with complete disregard for obstacles or consequences, driven purely by urgency or si...
358. 収束 しゅうそく Convergence; settling down; resolution. The process by which something turbulent or dispersed comes to a stable, unified state.
359. 集約 しゅうやく Consolidation; concentration; summary. The gathering of dispersed things, ideas, or resources into a concentrated or unified whole.
360. 主眼 しゅがん Main point; chief aim; focus. The primary objective or central concern of an endeavour, argument, or work.
361. 宿命 しゅくめい Fate; destiny; predestination. An inevitable outcome or condition that one is believed to be born into or cannot escape.
362. 趣向 しゅこう Plan; idea; fancy; design. A creative concept, arrangement, or clever touch that gives something a distinctive character or appeal.
363. 主軸 しゅじく Main axis; principal pillar; core. The central element around which other parts are organised or on which everything depends.
364. 趣味嗜好 しゅみしこう Tastes and preferences; personal inclinations. The combination of one's hobbies and deeper personal preferences that define individual ch...
365. 俊敏 しゅんびん Agile; quick; nimble; sharp. Describes exceptional swiftness of movement or thought, often combining physical quickness with mental acuity.
366. 昇華 しょうか Sublimation; refinement; elevation. The transformation of something raw or base into a higher, purer, or more refined state.
367. 衝撃 しょうげき Shock; impact; crash; collision. A sudden, powerful force — physical or emotional — that strikes with overwhelming effect.
368. 詳細 しょうさい Details; particulars; specifics. Thorough and precise information about something, as opposed to a summary or overview.
369. 焦燥 しょうそう Impatience; irritation; restlessness. A state of anxious agitation caused by frustration, delay, or inability to act as one wishes.
370. 象徴 しょうちょう Symbol; emblem; representation. Something that stands for, represents, or evokes a broader concept, value, or idea.
371. 消長 しょうちょう Rise and fall; ebb and flow; waxing and waning. The cyclical pattern of something growing and then declining over time.
372. 衝動 しょうどう Impulse; urge; sudden desire. A spontaneous, involuntary drive to act, often without rational forethought.
373. 正念場 しょうねんば Crucial moment; critical juncture; crunch time. The decisive point at which everything is on the line and full effort is demanded.
374. 障壁 しょうへき Barrier; obstacle; wall. A physical or metaphorical obstruction that impedes progress, communication, or understanding.
375. 埋没 まいぼつ Burial; being buried; obscurity. Refers to being submerged, lost, or forgotten within a larger mass.
376. 待ち受ける まちうける To await; to lie in wait for someone or something. Implies active anticipation, readiness, or a sense of something looming ahead.
377. 末節 まっせつ Minor details; peripheral matters; trivia. Refers to insignificant points as opposed to the essential core of an issue.
378. 真っ只中 まっただなか Right in the middle; in the very heart or thick of something. Emphasises being fully immersed at the centre of an intense situation.
379. 末端 まったん End; tip; extremity; the peripheral edge. Refers to the outermost point of a physical structure, system, or organisation.
380. 末路 まつろ One's final end; ultimate fate; ruin or downfall. Almost always used to describe a pitiful or ignominious conclusion to a life or career.
381. まとまり まとまり Unity; coherence; the quality of things coming together. Also refers to the successful conclusion of negotiations or the resolution of a ...
382. 満遍なく まんべんなく Equally; evenly; uniformly; all-round. Conveys the sense that something is distributed or applied to every part without exception.
383. 身勝手 みがって Selfishness; self-centredness; acting only in one's own interest without regard for others.
384. 微塵 みじん A tiny particle; the smallest possible amount. Most commonly used in negative constructions to mean 'not in the slightest' or 'not at all.'
385. 未遂 みすい Attempted (but not completed); an abortive act. Used primarily in legal contexts to describe a crime that was attempted but not carried t...
386. 未然 みぜん Before something happens; in advance of an occurrence. Primarily used in the fixed expression 未然に防ぐ ('to prevent beforehand').
387. 未曾有 みぞう Unprecedented; unheard of; something that has never occurred before. Describes an event or situation of extraordinary, one-of-a-kind magn...
388. 道筋 みちすじ Route; path; course of action; line of reasoning. Refers to the logical or physical path through which something proceeds step by step.
389. 未踏 みとう Unexplored; untrodden; never before reached or attempted. Describes territory or domains that no one has yet ventured into.
390. 冥利 みょうり Divine grace or blessing; the fortune of being in a privileged role. Most commonly used in the set phrase 〜冥利に尽きる, meaning 'one could not...
391. 魅力的 みりょくてき Attractive; charming; fascinating; having great appeal. Describes a person, idea, or thing that exerts a compelling draw.
392. 無為 むい Inaction; idleness; doing nothing. Also the Taoist philosophical concept of non-action (wu wei) — acting in harmony with nature without f...
393. 無碍 むげ Free; unimpeded; unconstrained. Describes movement, thought, or action that proceeds without obstacle or restriction.
394. 無作為 むさくい Random; without intention or deliberate planning. Most commonly used in academic and statistical contexts to mean random selection.
395. 無尽 むじん Inexhaustible; without end; unlimited. Describes a supply, energy, or resource that seemingly has no limit.
396. 無尽蔵 むじんぞう Inexhaustible; a limitless supply; a bottomless storehouse. Describes resources, creativity, or energy that appears entirely boundless.
397. 無駄遣い むだづかい Waste; squandering; extravagant or pointless spending. Refers to using resources, money, or time without purpose or proportionate benefit.
398. 無頓着 むとんちゃく Indifferent; unconcerned; completely unattentive to something. Describes a person who shows no interest or concern in a matter where othe...
399. 明暗 めいあん Light and shade; brightness and darkness; contrasting fortunes. Used both literally in art and photography and figuratively for contrasti...
400. 消耗 しょうもう Exhaustion; consumption; depletion through use or strain. Refers to the draining of energy, resources, or materials.
401. 食指 しょくし Appetite; interest; inclination; desire. Particularly used in the set phrase 食指が動く (to feel drawn to something).
402. 所見 しょけん Finding; observation; view; opinion. Used formally to express what one has observed or concluded.
403. 所産 しょさん Product; result; outcome; something produced by effort or circumstance.
404. 所在 しょざい Whereabouts; location; address. Where something or someone is situated or can be found.
405. 初志 しょし Original intention; initial resolve; the purpose one set out with at the beginning.
406. 所詮 しょせん After all; in the end; ultimately; when all is said and done. Often carries a resigned or cynical nuance.
407. 初歩 しょほ Basics; rudiments; first steps; the ABCs of something. The foundational stage of learning.
408. 真意 しんい Real intention; true meaning; genuine purpose behind what was said or done.
409. 真骨頂 しんこっちょう One's true worth; real ability; forte. The moment or quality that reveals a person's genuine capability.
410. 針小棒大 しんしょうぼうだい Making a mountain out of a molehill; gross exaggeration. Describes overstating the size or severity of something trivial.
411. 真相 しんそう Truth; real situation; the actual facts behind an event. What really happened as opposed to appearances.
412. 深層 しんそう Deep layer; depths; the subconscious or hidden stratum of something.
413. 進捗 しんちょく Progress; advance; headway. The degree to which a task or project is moving forward.
414. 浸透 しんとう Permeation; penetration; spread. The gradual diffusion of something into a substance or group.
415. 自覚 じかく Self-awareness; consciousness; realisation of one's situation, role, or condition.
416. 自業自得 じごうじとく Reaping what one sows; suffering the consequences of one's own actions. You brought it on yourself.
417. 持続 じぞく Continuation; perseverance; sustainability. Maintaining something over a period of time without interruption.
418. 自他 じた Self and others; both parties; oneself and other people.
419. 自堕落 じだらく Self-indulgent; dissolute; idle; depraved. Describes a lifestyle of laziness, excess, or moral laxity.
420. 実相 じっそう True nature; reality; actual state. The real form of things as they actually are.
421. 地盤 じばん Ground; base; foundation; constituency. The underlying basis upon which something is built or supported.
422. 重厚 じゅうこう Profound; dignified; solid; having weight and depth. Describes something of substance and gravitas.
423. 十人十色 じゅうにんといろ To each their own; different strokes for different folks. Every person has their own preferences and ways.
424. 純然 じゅんぜん Pure; genuine; absolute; unmixed. Without any impurity, adulteration, or ambiguity.
425. 名実 めいじつ Name and reality; nominal and actual; in both name and substance.
426. 滅多 めった Rarely; seldom (as in 滅多にない). Also: reckless; thoughtless (less frequent nuance).
427. 目安 めやす Standard; guideline; rough estimate; reference benchmark.
428. 免罪符 めんざいふ Indulgence; a free pass; an excuse used to absolve oneself of responsibility.
429. 面目 めんもく Face; honour; prestige; dignity; one's standing in the eyes of others.
430. 面目躍如 めんもくやくじょ Living up to one's reputation; performing in a manner befitting one's name; in true form.
431. 黙認 もくにん Tacit consent; acquiescence; turning a blind eye; implicit approval through silence.
432. 目論見 もくろみ Plan; scheme; calculated intention; expected outcome.
433. 模索 もさく Groping; searching; exploration; feeling one's way towards an answer.
434. もてなし もてなし Hospitality; entertainment; reception; the spirit of selfless, anticipatory care for guests.
435. 門外漢 もんがいかん Outsider; layperson; non-specialist; someone outside a particular field.
436. 紋切り型 もんきりがた Stereotyped; formulaic; cliched; boringly conventional and unoriginal.
437. 唯物 ゆいぶつ Materialism; the philosophical view that only matter exists.
438. 優位 ゆうい Superiority; predominance; advantageous position; the upper hand.
439. 誘因 ゆういん Incentive; inducement; contributing factor; precipitating cause.
440. 悠然 ゆうぜん Calm; composed; leisurely; unhurried and serenely dignified.
441. 猶予 ゆうよ Postponement; deferment; reprieve; grace period; extension of time.
442. 優劣 ゆうれつ Superiority and inferiority; comparative merit; relative quality ranking.
443. 融和 ゆうわ Harmony; reconciliation; concord; the fusion of different groups or elements into unity.
444. 所以 ゆえん Reason; grounds; the basis for why something is so.
445. 揺らぎ ゆらぎ Fluctuation; wavering; oscillation; gentle variation or instability.
446. 余韻 よいん Lingering sound; reverberation; aftertaste; the lasting impression something leaves behind.
447. 要諦 ようてい Essentials; key point; core principle; the crux of the matter.
448. 要領 ようりょう Knack; gist; essential points; the efficient way of getting something done.
449. 余儀なく よぎなく Unavoidably; inevitably; being compelled to; having no other choice.
450. 常軌 じょうき Normal course; proper track; the standard or expected way of doing things.
451. 常識 じょうしき Common sense; conventional wisdom; general knowledge expected of any reasonable person.
452. 情状 じょうじょう Circumstances; conditions surrounding an act; mitigating factors considered in judgement.
453. 冗長 じょうちょう Verbose; redundant; excessively wordy; padded with unnecessary content.
454. 情理 じょうり Emotion and reason; the balance between sentiment and logic in human judgement.
455. 序列 じょれつ Rank; order; hierarchy; the arrangement of people or things according to status or precedence.
456. 人為 じんい Human action; something artificial or man-made, as opposed to natural.
457. 遂行 すいこう Execution; accomplishment; carrying out a task or mission to completion.
458. 推奨 すいしょう Recommendation; endorsement; official or expert commendation of something as worthy.
459. 推進 すいしん Promotion; driving forward; propulsion of a plan, policy, or initiative.
460. 垂直 すいちょく Vertical; perpendicular; forming a right angle with the horizontal plane.
461. 水泡 すいほう Bubble; foam; futility; coming to nothing — as in efforts that yield no result.
462. 筋道 すじみち Reason; logic; a coherent, step-by-step sequence of thought or argument.
463. 寸法 すんぽう Measurement; dimension; size; by extension, a plan or scheme.
464. 随一 ずいいち The best; foremost; number one among a group.
465. 正鵠 せいこく The mark; the bull's-eye; the precise point or truth of a matter.
466. 盛衰 せいすい Rise and fall; prosperity and decline; the cyclical fate of people, nations, and organisations.
467. 整然 せいぜん Orderly; neat; well-organised; systematic and tidy in arrangement or manner.
468. 切磋琢磨 せっさたくま Mutual improvement through friendly rivalry; striving together by competing and encouraging each other.
469. 節度 せつど Moderation; temperance; self-restraint; keeping within appropriate limits.
470. 瀬戸際 せとぎわ The brink; the verge; a critical juncture where the outcome hangs in the balance.
471. 先駆 せんく Pioneer; forerunner; precursor; someone or something that leads the way before others.
472. 千載一遇 せんざいいちぐう A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; an extremely rare chance that may never come again.
473. 選択肢 せんたくし Choices; alternatives; options available when making a decision.
474. 千変万化 せんぺんばんか Ever-changing; infinite variety; kaleidoscopic transformation with no fixed form.
475. 抑制 よくせい Restraint; suppression; control; inhibition. The act of holding something back or keeping it in check.
476. 余波 よは Aftermath; repercussion; lingering effects. The ripple effects that persist after a major event.
477. 拠り所 よりどころ Basis; foundation; authority; support. Something one relies on as a source of justification or emotional grounding.
478. 濫用 らんよう Abuse; misuse; excessive use. Using something beyond its proper scope or with improper intent.
479. 力量 りきりょう Ability; capacity; competence; calibre. The measure of a person's real skill or power to handle a task.
480. 理性 りせい Reason; rationality; intellect. The faculty of logical thinking and self-control that governs behaviour.
481. 律儀 りちぎ Upright; honest; faithful; conscientious. Describing a person who is scrupulously dutiful and never cuts corners.
482. 立脚 りっきゃく Standing on; being based on. The premise or standpoint from which an argument or policy is constructed.
483. 利便性 りべんせい Convenience; accessibility; utility. The degree to which something is useful or easy to use.
484. 竜頭蛇尾 りゅうとうだび Anticlimactic ending; starting strong but finishing weak. A four-character idiom for something impressive at the start but disappointing ...
485. 両義 りょうぎ Ambiguity; double meaning. Having two distinct and sometimes contradictory senses or interpretations.
486. 臨機応変 りんきおうへん Adapting to circumstances; flexibility. Acting appropriately to the situation at hand rather than following fixed rules.
487. 臨場感 りんじょうかん Sense of presence; immersive feeling; realism. The quality of making one feel as though one is actually there.
488. 類推 るいすい Analogy; inference by analogy. Drawing a conclusion about one thing by comparing it to something similar.
489. 累積 るいせき Accumulation; pile-up; build-up. The gradual increase of something through repeated addition over time.
490. 冷徹 れいてつ Cool and clear-headed; dispassionate; penetrating. Describing clear-eyed judgement unobscured by emotion.
491. 裂帛 れっぱく Piercing (yell); spirit; determination. The sharp, tearing quality of an intense shout or a fierce fighting spirit.
492. 連鎖 れんさ Chain; series; concatenation; linkage. A sequence of events or elements in which each is causally connected to the next.
493. 露呈 ろてい Exposure; revelation; disclosure. The coming to light of something previously hidden, especially a flaw or weakness.
494. 路頭 ろとう Roadside; streets; being destitute. Primarily used in the phrase 路頭に迷う — to end up on the streets, to be left without means of livelihood.
495. 論外 ろんがい Out of the question; absurd; beyond discussion. Used to dismiss something as too unreasonable to even debate.
496. 論旨 ろんし Gist of an argument; main point; thesis. The central claim or thread running through a piece of reasoning or writing.
497. 論理 ろんり Logic; reasoning; theory. The systematic framework of valid inference used to evaluate arguments.
498. 惑溺 わくでき Infatuation; addiction; being enslaved by. A state of being so captivated by something that one loses rational judgement.
499. リスク りすく Risk. The possibility of loss, harm, or an undesirable outcome from a decision or action.