AP Japanese Language and Culture key terms

A short formal talk delivered to an audience. For the presentation task you state the topic, explain what you researched or believe, give examples, and finish with a clear message within the time limit.

The opening part of a presentation or piece of writing. It greets the audience, introduces the topic, and tells listeners what they will hear next.

The final part where you state what your findings or opinion come to. A strong one restates the main message and leaves the audience with something to remember.

A pattern in which something tends to move or change in a certain direction, such as rising prices or fewer young people. Presentations often describe one using numbers and graphs.

A specific instance that makes a general claim easier to understand, such as naming a town, product, or person. Presenters use one to support an abstract statement.

A connector meaning 'on the other hand' or 'meanwhile'. It sets two facts side by side, often showing a contrast between them.

A verb meaning to show, indicate, or point to something. Used with data, graphs, and examples when explaining what the evidence suggests.

The reason or evidence behind a claim. When answering questions, you name the source, data, or experience that supports what you said.

The act of gathering information by asking people, counting things, or reading sources. A survey is one common type used in student projects.

A humble verb used when you ask a question or visit someone of higher status. It lowers the speaker and sounds polite in formal exchanges.

An honorific verb meaning 'to say' used about a teacher, judge, or other respected person. It raises the person being talked about.

Giving information in a way that makes something clear. In a question-and-answer exchange you use it to walk the listener through your reasoning.

To ask someone to repeat or clarify what they said. A useful repair move when a question or a recording is hard to catch.

A set phrase opening a folk tale, meaning 'a long time ago'. It signals that a story, not a real event, is beginning.

The people or creatures who appear in a story. When narrating, you keep them consistent and show what each one does and feels.

A single scene or moment in a story, such as a meeting at a station. Clear scenes with time and place help listeners follow the plot.

An adverb meaning all at once, without warning. It marks a turn in a story and prepares the listener for something unexpected.

The final outcome of a story, where conflicts are settled. A good narration briefly says how things end and what it meant.

An ending added to a verb to show an action is finished, or that it was regrettable or unintended. It adds nuance to narration and everyday speech.

A pattern attached to a verb stem meaning 'while doing'. It joins two actions by the same person, such as walking while talking.

The subject line of an email. It should be short and specific so the reader knows at a glance what the message is about.

A standard polite greeting at the start of a business email or call. It thanks the other person for their ongoing help and sets a formal tone.

A file sent along with an email. You mention it in the body and check that it actually reached the reader.

An apology. In a formal email you state clearly what went wrong, say sorry, and offer a fix or a next step.

A very polite phrase used before asking a favor or troubling someone. It softens requests in formal emails and conversation.

A pattern meaning 'as soon as' something happens. It appears in business emails to promise a quick follow-up action.

A standard closing line in a formal message. It asks for the reader's continued cooperation and ends the email politely.

The most important points or main ideas of a talk or passage, without supporting details. Listeners note them down so they can answer questions later.

To write down short notes while listening or reading. Good notes record names, numbers, times, and the reason something happened.

A pattern showing that information was heard from elsewhere, or that something seems typical of a person or thing. It marks hearsay or impression.

A pattern meaning something should be or is expected to be the case, based on reasoning. It expresses the speaker's confident guess.

A pattern meaning 'it is not that' or 'not necessarily'. It partly denies an assumption the listener might have made.

A shift from one state to another, such as a change in price, population, or mood. Listening tasks often ask what changed and why.

The writer of a passage, as opposed to the reader or the people mentioned in it. Questions often ask what the writer thinks or why.

The overall gist or main argument of a passage, stated briefly. It differs from details, which support or illustrate it.

Words like これ, それ, あれ, and その that point back to something already mentioned. Readers must work out what they refer to.

Words such as しかし, だから, and また that join sentences and signal logical relations like contrast, cause, or addition. Noticing them helps readers follow the argument.

A figure of speech that describes one thing as another, such as likening a person to a storm. It creates images and is common in stories and essays.

A pattern meaning 'compared with' or 'in contrast to'. It sets two things side by side so the reader can see how they differ in size, cost, or quality.

A pattern meaning 'according to' a source such as a survey, article, or person. It signals reported information rather than the speaker's own view.