Science & Technology

Introduction

Science vocabulary at N2 gives you access to a different register of Japanese: the language of experiments, solutions, devices, process, and explanation. This chapter gathers the terms that commonly appear in education, technical writing, and science reporting.

It is especially useful for learners who want to read beyond general-interest material and into specialised Japanese.

Themes

All JLPT N2 Vocabulary in This Chapter (54)

1. アルカリ電池 アルカリでんち Alkaline battery. A type of disposable battery that uses an alkaline electrolyte.
2. 遺伝 いでん Heredity; genetic inheritance. The passing of traits from parents to offspring.
3. 遺伝子 いでんし Gene. A unit of heredity that determines a specific characteristic of an organism.
4. 引力 いんりょく Gravitational pull; attraction. The force that draws objects toward each other.
5. 学説 がくせつ Theory; academic theory. A systematic set of ideas proposed to explain a phenomenon.
6. 化合物 かごうぶつ Chemical compound. A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements.
7. 技能 ぎのう Technical skill; proficiency. A practical ability acquired through training or experience.
8. 研究領域 けんきゅうりょういき Research area; field of study. A specific domain of academic or scientific investigation.
9. 原子 げんし Atom. The smallest unit of a chemical element that retains the properties of that element.
10. 現実味 げんじつみ Sense of reality; realism; viability. The quality of feeling real or achievable.
11. 原子力発電 げんしりょくはつでん Nuclear power generation. The process of producing electricity using nuclear energy.
12. 元素 げんそ Chemical element. A pure substance consisting of only one type of atom.
13. 原発 げんぱつ Nuclear power plant; nuclear power generation. A common abbreviation used in everyday speech and news.
14. 光合成 こうごうせい Photosynthesis. The process by which plants convert sunlight into energy.
15. 合成 ごうせい Synthesis; composition; combining. The process of creating something by combining elements.
16. 光沢 こうたく Lustre; gloss; sheen. A smooth, shiny quality on a surface.
17. 細胞 さいぼう Cell. The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
18. 自然科学 しぜんかがく Natural science. The branch of knowledge dealing with the physical world, including physics, chemistry, and biology.
19. 実技 じつぎ Practical skill; hands-on test. A demonstration of ability through actual performance rather than written knowledge.
20. 実情 じつじょう Real situation; actual circumstances. The true state of affairs as opposed to appearances or reports.
21. 実費 じっぴ Actual cost; out-of-pocket expenses. The real amount spent, without markup or subsidy.
22. 周波数 しゅうはすう Frequency. The number of cycles of a wave per unit of time, measured in hertz.
23. 重力 じゅうりょく Gravity; gravitational force. The force that pulls objects toward the centre of a celestial body.
24. 磁力 じりょく Magnetic force; magnetism. The force exerted by magnets or magnetic fields.
25. 進化 しんか Evolution. The gradual development and change of organisms or systems over time.
26. 新陳代謝 しんちんたいしゃ Metabolism; renewal; replacement. The process by which cells and tissues are renewed in the body.
27. 水素 すいそ Hydrogen (H). The lightest and most abundant chemical element in the universe.
28. 生活様式 せいかつようしき Lifestyle; way of living. The particular manner in which a person or group lives.
29. 生存する せいぞんする To survive; to exist. To continue living, especially in difficult or dangerous conditions.
30. 生態系 せいたいけい Ecosystem. A biological community of organisms and their physical environment functioning as a unit.
31. 先行研究 せんこうけんきゅう Prior research; previous studies. Academic work that has already been done on a particular topic.
32. 染色体 せんしょくたい Chromosome. A thread-like structure of DNA found in the nucleus of cells.
33. 素粒子 そりゅうし Elementary particle; subatomic particle. The most fundamental constituents of matter.
34. 太陽光発電 たいようこうはつでん Solar power generation. The production of electricity from sunlight using photovoltaic panels.
35. 多数決 たすうけつ Majority vote; majority rule. A decision-making method where the option with the most votes wins.
36. 炭素 たんそ Carbon (C). A chemical element essential to all known life and the basis of organic chemistry.
37. 窒素 ちっそ Nitrogen (N). A chemical element that makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere.
38. 津波警報 つなみけいほう Tsunami warning. An official alert issued when a tsunami is expected to strike a coastal area.
39. 電磁波 でんじは Electromagnetic wave. Energy that travels through space in the form of oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
40. 動画 どうが Video; video clip. A recording of moving images, especially digital video content.
41. 突然変異 とつぜんへんい Mutation. A sudden change in the DNA sequence of a gene or chromosome.
42. 謎の飛行物体 なぞのひこうぶったい UFO; unidentified flying object. A mysterious object seen flying in the sky.
43. 濃度 のうど Concentration; density. The amount of a substance in a given volume or mixture.
44. 波紋 はもん Ripple; ripple effect. Concentric circles spreading on water, or figuratively, the spreading impact of an event.
45. 反応 はんのう Reaction; response. A physical, chemical, or emotional response to a stimulus.
46. 微生物 びせいぶつ Microorganism; microbe; germ. A tiny organism invisible to the naked eye.
47. 物議 ぶつぎ Controversy; public criticism. Discussion or debate aroused by something contentious.
48. 物資 ぶっし Supplies; goods; materials; resources. Physical items needed for a particular purpose.
49. 物体 ぶったい Object; body; physical entity. A tangible thing that occupies space.
50. 分子 ぶんし Molecule. The smallest unit of a chemical compound that retains its properties.
51. 方式 ほうしき Form; method; system; formula. A structured way or established method of doing something.
52. 放射線 ほうしゃせん Radiation. Energy emitted in the form of waves or particles, especially from radioactive substances.
53. 密度 みつど Density. The degree of compactness of a substance, or how closely packed something is.
54. 溶液 ようえき Solution (liquid). A homogeneous liquid mixture in which a substance has been dissolved.