Learning guides
Understand readings and expressions, then put them into practice with review and mock tests.
空 and 雲: the sky and clouds within it
Separate a space from the visible objects in it when describing the sky.
雨 and 雪: falling precipitation and what remains
Distinguish what is falling now from water or snow left afterward.
風 and 嵐: wind and stormy weather
Separate wind direction and strength from the broader storm situation.
雷 and 霧: thunder sounds and foggy visibility
Distinguish an audible phenomenon from one that blocks the view.
晴れ and 曇り: time ranges for clear and cloudy weather
Distinguish weather nouns from verb forms and identify when conditions change.
気温 and 温度: air temperature and object temperature
Identify what is measured and keep temperature comparisons separate.
湿度 and 湿気: humidity level and dampness
Distinguish humidity expressed as a degree from the noun for moisture or dampness.
春 and 秋: spring and autumn in schedules
Attach season names to events and distinguish their time ranges.
夏 and 冬: summer, winter, and comparison standards
Separate a season's general associations from the information actually stated.
季節 and 天候: seasons and weather conditions
Distinguish a period of the year from weather during a particular time.
山 and 丘: mountains and hills
Distinguish landform names from the endpoint of a climb.
川 and 池: rivers and ponds
Distinguish bodies of water from the locations of activities around them.
海 and 湖: locations around seas and lakes
Distinguish water bodies from viewing directions and visit locations.
森 and 林: places where trees grow together
Read two words for wooded places without inventing a rigid classification.
石 and 岩: stones and larger rocks
Describe size, location, and material only to the extent stated.
土 and 砂: handling soil and sand
Read ground materials and the states in which they enter or remain on something.
花 and 草: observing flowers and grass
Separate plant names from their blooming or growing states.
枝 and 葉: changes to branches and leaves
Identify plant parts and distinguish what fell from what remains.
種 and 実: seeds, fruit, and results
Distinguish seeds that are sown, fruit that forms, and figurative outcomes.
根 and 茎: identifying roots and stems
Read plant parts and the targets of watering or cutting precisely.
電車 and 列車: electric trains and the broader train category
Separate a propulsion distinction from the names used in ordinary announcements.
地下鉄 and 新幹線: choosing a transport mode
Connect subway and Shinkansen names with the part of a journey being described.
自転車 and 自動車: two similar-sounding vehicle names
Distinguish bicycle and car spellings and readings, and means from action targets.
飛行機 and 空港: aircraft and airport roles
Distinguish the vehicle boarded from the departure or arrival facility.
船 and 港: ships, ports, and movement direction
Separate a vehicle from the place it enters or leaves through particles.
駅 and 停留所: waiting at stations and stops
Distinguish facility names from meeting points in front of or near them.
切符 and 乗車券: ticket names and usage scope
Distinguish an everyday word for a ticket from the name for a travel ticket.
乗り換え and 経由: changing vehicles and traveling via a place
Distinguish changing transport from following a route through a location.
運賃 and 料金: transport fares and service charges
Distinguish transport costs from broader charges and read included or separate items.
交通 and 渋滞: transport and congested flow
Separate a transport system from congestion and read its stated effects.