Vocabulary and kanji in context
This domain, Vocabulary and kanji in context, tests words and kanji as they appear in sentences, not isolated lists. Expect furigana-free N5-level items, kanji reading and writing, counters, katakana loanwords, and meaning-in-context choices. The exam rewards knowing okurigana, rendaku, long vowels, small っ, and the reading that fits the sentence.
What to check
- On-yomi versus kun-yomi: 日 is にち in 日曜日, ひ in 一日 (ついたち is the exception), じつ in 休日.
- Okurigana belongs to the kanji: 食べる, 飲む, 大きい.
- Counters change sound: 一つ, 二人, 三枚, 四本 (よんほん), 一杯 (いっぱい).
- Katakana words are usually loanwords: テレビ, パン, コーヒー; long vowel ー changes meaning (ビル building versus ビール beer).
- Context chooses between near-synonyms: 高い can mean tall or expensive.
Worked example
Sentence: わたしは毎朝、パンと牛乳を食べます。 Question: What is wrong? Reasoning: パン takes 食べます, but 牛乳 takes 飲みます. The particle と joins the two objects, but the final verb must fit both or be split: パンを食べて、牛乳を飲みます. This tests verb–noun collocation, not just vocabulary recognition.
Traps
- Reading 一日 as いちにち when the date sense ついたち is intended.
- Dropping the small っ in きって or がっこう.
- Confusing しろい (white) with しろ (castle) by context.
- Choosing a kanji with the right meaning but the wrong reading.