Learning guides
Understand readings and expressions, then put them into practice with review and mock tests.
意図 and 意欲: purpose and eagerness to act
Compare 意図 for the purpose behind a question or arrangement with 意欲 for eagerness to learn or work. See how a concrete goal increases motivation without proving that the work is complete.
決意 and 覚悟: resolve to continue and readiness for difficulty
Read 決意 as resolve to continue a challenge or take on a job, and 覚悟 as readiness for difficulties or criticism. Compare their overlap in resolve without treating expected events as completed facts.
意志 and 意思: two spellings of いし and a person's wishes
Compare 意志 and 意思 through strong will, expressed intentions, and confirmation of a person's wishes. Read their overlap alongside the difference between a past participation decision and a scheduling proposal.
故意 and 意図: deliberate action and intended purpose
Distinguish whether an action was deliberate from what it was intended to achieve. Compare 故意 and 意図, preserving the scope of the denial in the vase example and the purpose behind an arrangement.
本音 and 建前: true feelings and a stated principle
Compare 本音 for true feelings with 建前 for a public stance or pretext. Keep unknown feelings unknown, and distinguish an equal opportunity to speak from proof that everyone actually spoke.
誠意 and 好意: sincerity in a response and kindness toward someone
Compare 誠意 in apologies and good-faith responses with 好意 in helpful kindness or affectionate feelings. Read their possible overlap without adding forgiveness, compensation, or a resolved problem.
誠実 and 忠実: sincere conduct and faithfulness to a reference
Compare sincere answers and an honest attitude with a model faithful to its plans or a dog loyal to its master. Read 誠実 and 忠実 through attitude and reference without assuming perfect accuracy or performance.
素直 and 従順: honest acceptance and apparent obedience
Compare 素直 in an honest apology or acceptance without resistance with 従順 in obedience toward someone. Read the example of pretended submission without changing concealed opinions into sincere agreement.
劣等感 and 劣る: feelings of inferiority and a limited comparison
Separate feelings expressed by 劣等感 from a comparison of durability or experience expressed by 劣る. Keep the named dimension and the possibility of compensation without making a judgment about overall human worth.
無口 and 沈黙: few words in context and a period of silence
Compare 無口 in work or home settings with 沈黙 after a question or before someone speaks. Keep laughter separate from talkativeness and avoid assigning an unstated motive to silence.
受講 and 受験: taking a course or sitting an exam
Compare attending an evening language course with a plan to take a school exam, identifying what the application and documents prepare for.
履修 and 修了: coursework and completing a program
Compare completed required coursework and a planned history course with training completion and the condition for issuing a certificate.
研修 and 講習: job training and a course of instruction
Compare training in work knowledge or customer service with instruction in a specific subject, without classifying it solely by participant status.
実習 and 実践: hands-on learning and putting learning into action
Compare practical training for learning with putting knowledge or advice into action, keeping the relationship between learning and application.
演習 and 反復: an exercise and the method of repetition
Compare an exercise or drill with repeating an action, separating what is practised from how the action is repeated.
勉学 and 自習: study as an undertaking and self-study
Compare devotion to studies with studying on one's own initiative, distinguishing the scope of study from the way of learning.
熟練 and 熟知: skilled execution and thorough familiarity
Compare skill in performing work with detailed knowledge of a route or subject, keeping performance and familiarity as distinct evidence.
才能 and 適性: developing talent and suitability for a role
Compare guidance that nurtures talent with assessing suitability for work, without making talent exclusively innate or suitability a general ability score.
能力 and 実力: developing an ability and demonstrating competence
Compare nurturing or using an ability with competence shown in performance, without imposing a fixed potential-versus-score division.
技能 and 技術: acquired skill and the scope of technique
Compare acquired proficiency with methods or technology used in work, keeping their overlap instead of dividing people from machines.
腕前 and 手際: displayed skill and capable handling of work
Compare skill demonstrated in a performance with the way work is handled, identifying the different focus of ability and execution.
迅速 and 拙速: prompt action and a hasty, poor result
Compare prompt handling with haste criticized for poor handling, reading speed together with the quality being assessed.
成果 and 実績: obtained results and a record of achievement
Compare results from practice or research with a sales or research record, reading what was gained and what supports the record.
完成 and 完遂: a finished creation and carrying out a mission
Compare completion of a bridge or model with carrying out a mission or plan, preserving the remaining part and the cooperation required.
成長 and 成熟: growth and a state of maturity
Compare growth in a seedling or person with ripening fruit or a maturing plan, following the targets and changes stated in the examples.
発達 and 発展: language, towns, ports, and research development
Compare development in language or a town with a port or research, preserving overlap in urban contexts and the action of collecting materials.
上達 and 究める: gradual improvement and deep mastery
Compare improvement conditional on practice with deep mastery of a field, separating conditions, completed changes, and the scope of mastery.
改良 and 改革: improving qualities and reforming structures
Compare improvements to a machine or crop variety with changes to systems or organizations, focusing on the target rather than the scale alone.
徹底 and 一貫: thorough execution and a consistent direction
Compare thorough cleaning or checks with a consistent stance or use of colour, separating the scope of execution from a maintained direction.
克服 and 解消: overcoming a difficulty and resolving a condition
Compare fear or a technical challenge with lack of exercise or a misunderstanding, separating actions taken for a purpose from completed results.