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「酷」 means cruel or severe, and 「使」 means to use; together they mean to use harshly. It refers to continuously using a person or thing intensely beyond reasonable limits. Used in expressions like 「目を酷使する」 or 「労働者を酷使する」, in situations of imposing excessive burden.
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N3国籍こくせき
nationality. The status of which country a person is a citizen of. Example: 「日本国籍」 (Japanese nationality), 「国籍を取得する」 (to acquire nationality).
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N1告訴こくそ
It refers to the victim of a crime requesting the prosecutor or police to punish the perpetrator. Used in expressions like 「告訴する」 or 「告訴を取り下げる」, it is a word used as a legal procedure.
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N3国立こくりつ
Being built with the nation's money and run by the nation. It is most often attached to the name of a facility, as in 「国立大学」 (a national university), 「国立公園」 (a national park), 「国立博物館」 (a national museum), 「国立図書館」 (a national library), 「国立競技場」 (a national stadium). It is also used alone, as in 「この大学は国立だ」. Used in contrast with 「私立」 (private), 「県立」 (prefectural), and 「市立」 (municipal).
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N1孤軍こぐん
「孤」 means alone and 「軍」 means army; the original meaning refers to a single unit left isolated without support from allies. From this, the word came to describe a unit or individual fighting in isolation. It is a formal term that expresses facing difficulty alone, used almost exclusively as a set phrase such as 「孤軍奮闘する」.
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N3焦げるこげる
burn. To become blackened from being overcooked. Example: 「パンが焦げる」 (bread burns), 「焦げたにおい」 (a burnt smell). Something turning black on its own is 「焦げる」, while a person making it turn black by overcooking it is 「焦がす」; they are used as in 「ごはんが焦げる」 versus 「ごはんを焦がす」.
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N3, N5ここここ
A word referring to a place close to the speaker.
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N5午後ごご
afternoon. The time from noon until night. The antonym is 「午前」 (morning/before noon).
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N1孤高ここう
「孤」 means alone, and 「高」 means a lofty state; together they mean maintaining a lofty state by oneself. It refers to keeping high ideals or position alone, without conforming to others. Used in expressions like 「孤高の人」 or 「孤高を保つ」, it is a somewhat archaic and formal word expressing independent nobility.
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N3凍えるこごえる
For the body to lose sensation from cold. Example: 「手が凍える」 (one's hands go numb from cold), 「凍えるような寒さ」 (bone-chilling cold).
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N5九日ここのか
The 9th day of the month. Also, a period of 9 days. Read as "ここのか."
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N5九つここのつ
nine. The number 9 when counting things.
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N4心こころ
heart. The thing inside a person that feels happiness, sadness, etc. Also used to mean a way of thinking, as in 「心がひろい」 (broad-minded).
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N3試みこころみ
attempt. To try doing something. Example: 「新しい試み」 (a new attempt/initiative). The verb form is 「試みる」.
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N3腰こし
waist. The bendable part of the body below the back. Example: 「腰が痛い」 (one's lower back hurts). There are also the expressions 「腰が低い」 (having a humble/polite manner) and 「腰を下ろす」 (to sit down).
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N1固執こしつ
「固」 means firmly, and 「執」 means to grasp or cling; together they mean to cling firmly. It refers to stubbornly not changing one's opinion or thoughts. Used in expressions like 「自説に固執する」 or 「過去に固執する」, in contexts that critically describe a lack of flexibility.
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N1こじつけこじつけ
It refers to forcibly connecting things that originally have no relation by attaching some reasoning. Used in expressions like 「こじつけにすぎない」 or 「こじつけの解釈」, it is a noun used in situations of criticizing forced association.
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N4故障こしょう
For a machine or tool to break and stop working. Example: 「くるまが故障する」 (a car breaks down).
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N3個人こじん
individual. Each single person, as opposed to a group. Example: 「個人の意見」 (an individual's opinion), 「個人的な問題」 (a personal matter), 「個人情報」 (personal information).
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N3越すこす
To pass a place or time and go to the other side. Example: 「年を越す」 (to see out the year/into the new year), 「冬を越す」 (to get through the winter), 「引っ越す」 (to move house). In the form 「お越しください」, it also serves as an honorific way of saying 「来る」 (to come).
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N1, N2擦るこする
To press something firmly against the surface of an object and move it. A different action from 「摩る」 (to stroke gently) or 「刷る」 (to print), which are also read 「する」.
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N5午前ごぜん
The time from morning until noon. The antonym is 「午後」 (afternoon).
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N1誇大こだい
「誇」 means to boast, and 「大」 means large; together they mean to make something appear larger by boasting. It refers to saying or showing something as larger than it actually is. Used in expressions like 「誇大広告」 or 「誇大に表現する」, in contexts that criticize expressions inflated beyond reality.
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N1誇大妄想こだいもうそう
「誇大」 means exaggerated and inflated, and 「妄想」 means imagining without basis in fact; together they mean imagining oneself as larger than one really is. It refers to thinking of one's ability or position as far greater than reality, divorced from facts. Used in expressions like 「誇大妄想に陥る」, it is a four-character idiom used to criticize excessive self-evaluation.
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N5答えるこたえる
answer. To respond to a question or problem with words or a sentence. Example: 「質問に答える」 (to answer a question).
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N5こちらこちら
A polite way of saying 「ここ」. Also used to refer to a person, as in 「こちらは田中さんです」.
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N3国家こっか
nation. A country. A unified entity that has territory, people, and a government. Example: 「国家試験」 (a national examination). More formal than 「国」, used when discussing politics and law.
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N3国会こっかい
The most important assembly, which decides a nation's laws and budget. Example: 「国会議員」 (a member of parliament), 「国会で審議する」 (to deliberate in the National Diet).
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N1滑稽こっけい
To be so absurd that it is funny enough to make one laugh without meaning to.
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N5こっちこっち
A casual way of saying 「こちら」. Used in spoken language.
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N3固定こてい
To firmly fix something in one place or state so it does not move. Example: 「固定給」 (a fixed salary).
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N3, N5事こと
A word referring to a matter, or the content of a talk. Example: 「話す事」 (something to talk about), 「大事な事」 (an important matter). Very often written in hiragana as 「こと」.
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N5今年ことし
This year. Read as 「ことし」, not read according to the characters as written.
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N5言葉ことば
Something people use to convey feelings or thoughts through speaking or writing. Also used to mean a specific language, as in 「国のことば」 (the language of a country), such as Japanese or English.
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N3, N5子供こども
child. A young person. The opposite of an adult. Also used to mean one's own son or daughter. Often written as 「子ども」.
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N4小鳥ことり
small bird. A small bird, such as a sparrow.
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N5このこの
A word referring to something close to the speaker. Used before a noun, as in 「この本」 (this book).
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N4この間このあいだ
A certain time a little while ago. Example: 「この間、えきで先生に会った」 (I met the teacher at the station the other day).
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N4この頃このごろ
A recent period, close to now. Example: 「この頃、さむくなった」 (it has gotten cold lately).
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N3好むこのむ
To like something and choose it oneself. A slightly more formal way of saying 「好き」 (to like).
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N1拒むこばむ
It refers to clearly not accepting another's proposal or demand. Used in expressions like 「面会を拒む」 or 「協力を拒む」, it is a somewhat formal verb used in situations of refusing with strong intent.
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N5御飯ごはん
Cooked rice. Also used to mean a meal, as in 「朝御飯」 (breakfast), 「御飯を食べる」 (to eat a meal). Usually written 「ご飯」 or 「ごはん」.
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N3こぼすこぼす
It refers to inadvertently letting liquid or powder out. It also means to let out one's dissatisfaction or complaints. Used in expressions like 「水をこぼす」 or 「愚痴をこぼす」, it expresses the act of unintentionally letting something out.
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N4細かいこまかい
A state where the size or amount of something is small. Also used to mean small denominations of money, as in 「細かいおかね」 (small change).
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N3ごまかすごまかす
It refers to concealing by means of lies or makeshift measures, hiding the truth. Used in expressions like 「年齢をごまかす」 or 「答えをごまかす」, it is a verb that critically expresses the act of deceiving others.
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N3, N5困るこまる
To not know what to do because of something unpleasant or difficult. Example: 「お金がなくて困る」 (troubled by not having money).
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N4ごみごみ
trash. Something no longer needed that is thrown away.
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N4込むこむ
For there to be many people or vehicles, becoming crowded. Example: 「でんしゃが込む」 (the train gets crowded).
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N4, N5米こめ
rice. White grains grown in a paddy field, used as food. Usually cooked by boiling.
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N1凝らすこらす
It refers to gathering one's mind or ingenuity to one point and putting it to work. Used in expressions like 「目を凝らす」 or 「趣向を凝らす」, it is a verb used in situations of strongly concentrating one's consciousness or creativity.