{"id":106949,"date":"2018-07-18T19:34:33","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T23:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/advanced-japanese-words\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T12:28:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:28:58","slug":"advanced-japanese-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/advanced-japanese-words\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Advanced Japanese Words for More Nuanced Communication"},"content":{"rendered":"

Itching to go beyond core Japanese vocabulary<\/a>?\u00a0Below are 10 advanced Japanese words that you won’t hear just anywhere. Learning them will make your conversations more sophisticated, and can even assist you on the JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test).<\/p>\n

The descriptions and example sentences will help you grasp the correct context for each term so you can use them successfully on your own.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]
\n<\/p>\n

1. \u9593\u67c4 (\u3042\u3044\u3060\u304c\u3089) \u2014 A Relationship or Relation to Somebody or Something<\/h2>\n

\u9593\u67c4 is a noun that specifically indicates the word “relationship.” This can be used when describing or asking about a relationship to a person, company, object or anything else.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u5f7c\u5973\u3068\u306f\u3069\u3093\u306a\u9593\u67c4\u3067\u3059\u304b? (\u304b\u306e\u3058\u3087\u3068\u306f \u3069\u3093\u306a \u3042\u3044\u3060\u304c\u3089 \u3067\u3059\u304b?)
\nWhat’s your relationship with her?<\/p>\n

2. \u5408\u9593 (\u3042\u3044\u307e) \u2014 Time Period, Stretch, Interval<\/h2>\n

The word \u5408\u9593 can either be used as a noun or an adjective. It specifically indicates “spare moments” or “spare chances” as well as breaks or pauses between actions.<\/p>\n

It can also be used when talking about intervals in time or intervals of a specific, ongoing action.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u52c9\u5f37\u306e\u5408\u9593\u306b\u79c1\u306f\u96e8\u3092\u898b\u305f\u3002(\u3079\u3093\u304d\u3087\u3046\u306e \u3042\u3044\u307e\u306b \u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u3042\u3081\u3092\u307f\u305f\u3002)
\nI watched the rain while I was studying.<\/p>\n

3. \u66d6\u6627 (\u3042\u3044\u307e\u3044) \u2014 Vague, Uncertain<\/h2>\n

This dynamic word can be a verb, an adjectival noun (also known as a quasi-adjective<\/a>, which are commonly found in the Japanese language) or a regular noun. \u66d6\u6627 stands for things that are ambiguous, vague or obscure in nature.<\/p>\n

It’s commonly used to describe someone or something’s behavior or relationship with another person. As you can see in the sentence below, it can also be used to describe content.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u305d\u306e\u518a\u5b50\u306b\u306f\u66d6\u6627\u306a\u70b9\u304c\u591a\u3044\u3002(\u305d\u306e\u3055\u3063\u3057\u306b\u306f \u3042\u3044\u307e\u3044\u306a \u3066\u3093\u304c \u304a\u304a\u3044\u3002)
\nThat brochure is full of ambiguity.<\/p>\n

4. \u4ef0\u3050 (\u3042\u304a\u3050) \u2014 To Look Up To or Respect Someone<\/h2>\n

\u4ef0\u3050 is a verb. There are many different words in Japanese to describe ascension or admiration, but this specific word is used to denote the utmost respect and admiration for a person, figuratively “looking up” to them.<\/p>\n

It can also be used to express dependence on someone or something.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u5f7c\u3089\u306f\u5f7c\u3092\u7236\u89aa\u3068\u3057\u3066\u4ef0\u3050\u3002(\u304b\u308c\u3089\u306f \u304b\u308c\u3092 \u3061\u3061\u304a\u3084\u3068\u3057\u3066 \u3042\u304a\u3050\u3002)
\nThey look up to him as their father.<\/p>\n

5. \u8d64\u5b57 (\u3042\u304b\u3058) \u2014 Deficit, Debt, Shortage<\/h2>\n

As a noun, \u8d64\u5b57 means literally “written in red.” This term is commonly used to describe a deficit or debt in business or economics.<\/p>\n

It’s similar to the English term “in the red” that’s used to describe a bank account debt. \u8d64\u5b57 can also be used to describe corrections on school assignments.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u540c\u5354\u4f1a\u306f\u8d64\u5b57\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002(\u3069\u3046\u304d\u3087\u3046\u304b\u3044\u306f \u3042\u304b\u3058 \u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002)
\nThat same association is in a deficit.<\/p>\n

6. \u4e0a\u304c\u308a (\u3042\u304c\u308a) \u2014 To Yield More, Gain Income, Advance on Something Financially<\/h2>\n

\u4e0a\u304c\u308a is a noun that’s mostly used to describe a rise in income or earnings in business or personal finances.<\/p>\n

It can also be used to describe the act of standing up or “ascending” to a higher place, either physically or metaphorically.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u5f7c\u5973\u306f\u7acb\u3061\u4e0a\u304c\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002(\u304b\u306e\u3058\u3087\u306f \u305f\u3061\u3042\u304c\u308a\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002)
\nShe stood up.<\/p>\n

7. \u4e0a\u304c\u308b (\u3042\u304c\u308b) \u2014 Rising, Climbing<\/h2>\n

\u4e0a\u304c\u308b is very similar to \u4e0a\u304c\u308a, but there are some notable differences.<\/p>\n

\u4e0a\u304c\u308b is a verb that can be used to describe a wider range of actions, such as literally and figuratively rising, entering a building, arriving to a place or being promoted at work.<\/p>\n

It’s also used to describe the act of catching fire or “flaring up.”<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u79c1\u306f\u968e\u6bb5\u3092\u4e0a\u304c\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002(\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u304b\u3044\u3060\u3093\u3092\u3042\u304c\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002)
\nI am going up the stairs.<\/p>\n

8. \u8ae6\u3081 (\u3042\u304d\u3089\u3081) \u2014 Resignation, Departure, Acceptance<\/h2>\n

Also written as \u8ae6\u3081\u308b, this verb describes the acts of abandoning a task or giving up. It usually has negative or desperate connotations.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u79c1\u306f\u3081\u3063\u305f\u306b\u8ae6\u3081\u306a\u3044\uff01(\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f \u3081\u3063\u305f\u306b \u3042\u304d\u3089\u3081\u306a\u3044\uff01)
\nI rarely give up!<\/p>\n

9. \u7070\u6c41 (\u3042\u304f) \u2014 Astringency, Puckery Juice<\/h2>\n

\u7070\u6c41 is used to describe a very specific substance called “puckery juice.” This is essentially lye or foamy scum that floats on the surface of cooking water when boiling particular foods.<\/p>\n

Lye is used in soaps, so you’re also likely to find \u7070\u6c41 in sentences about washing clothes.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u8868\u9762\u306e\u7070\u6c41\u3092\u53d6\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002(\u3072\u3087\u3046\u3081\u3093\u306e \u3042\u304f\u3092\u3068\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002)
\nPlease skim the scum off the top.<\/p>\n

10. \u6b3a\u304f (\u3042\u3056\u3080\u304f) \u2014 Deception<\/h2>\n

This verb denotes trickiness and deception. \u6b3a\u304fusually has negative connotations and should not be used to describe playful deception, but rather real betrayals.<\/p>\n

Example:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u5f7c\u3089\u306f\u4ed6\u4eba\u3092\u6b3a\u304f\u3088\u3046\u306a\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3057\u306a\u3044\u3002(\u304b\u308c\u3089\u306f \u305f\u306b\u3093\u3092\u3042\u3056\u3080\u304f\u3088\u3046\u306a\u3053\u3068\u306f \u3057\u306a\u3044\u3002)
\nThey will not deceive others.<\/p>\n

Tips for Memorizing Advanced Japanese Words<\/h2>\n

Here are some effective ways to learn advanced Japanese words and memorize them for life:<\/p>\n