Akita Entrance Japanese key terms

The way an argument moves from claim to support and conclusion. In 論説文 you track where the writer states a position, gives reasons and examples, concedes a counterpoint, and then returns to the main point. Recognizing this structure lets you answer questions about the author's main idea and the function of a paragraph.

The central claim the writer wants the reader to accept. It is usually stated near the beginning or the end of a 論説文, often marked by phrases like ～べきだ, ～ではないだろうか, or 重要だ. Distinguishing the claim from supporting examples is the most common task in explanatory and argumentative reading questions.

The reasons, data, or examples a writer offers to make a claim convincing. In exam passages, 根拠 often follows expressions such as なぜなら, その理由は, or たとえば. Questions may ask which sentence serves as support for a given claim, so locate the claim first and then find what backs it up.

A specific instance used to illustrate or support a general statement. Passages often move from a general claim to a concrete example and back again. Exam questions frequently ask what the example demonstrates or why the writer introduced it, so identify the abstract point it is meant to explain.

The level of description that leaves out individual details to state a general principle or idea. 論説文 often alternate between abstract statements and concrete examples. Understanding which level a sentence belongs to helps you decide whether it is the main idea or merely an illustration.

A rhetorical pattern that sets two things against each other to clarify both, often signalled by 一方, に対して, 逆に, or ではなく. Writers use contrast to sharpen a claim. Questions may ask what is being contrasted or what the contrast reveals about the author's position.

A connective pattern that signals a turn against what was just said, marked by しかし, だが, けれども, とはいえ, or ものの. The clause after a 逆接 often carries the writer's real point, so exam questions tend to focus there. Missing this turn is a frequent cause of wrong answers.

The gist of a whole passage, condensed to its main claim and the essential reasoning behind it. A 要旨 question asks you to choose the summary that captures the author's point without adding or dropping key qualifications. Answers that are true but peripheral are usually distractors.

A unit of text set off by an indentation or line break, usually developing one idea. In Japanese passages the first sentence of a paragraph often announces its topic and the last sentence summarizes it. Mapping paragraph roles helps you locate the information a question refers to.

Words such as これ, それ, あれ, この, その that point back or forward to other content. Exam questions often ask what a 指示語 refers to. Find the nearest preceding noun phrase that fits grammatically and logically, and check that the substitution makes sense in context.

Words that link sentences or clauses and show the logical relation between them, such as したがって, つまり, ただし, また, and しかし. They are signposts for argument structure. Noting each one as you read tells you whether the next sentence adds, restates, restricts, or contradicts what came before.

The surrounding text that determines the meaning of a word, phrase, or sentence. A single expression can shift meaning depending on what precedes and follows it. Vocabulary and comprehension questions in this exam almost always require choosing the reading that fits the 文脈 rather than a dictionary's first gloss.

The stock of words a reader recognizes and can use. Entrance exams test both breadth (knowing many words) and depth (knowing collocations, register, and nuance). Building 語彙 through reading passages in context is more effective than memorizing isolated lists, because exam items test contextual fit.

Words with similar but not identical meanings, such as 改善 and 改良, or 推測 and 想像. Exam items often ask you to pick the word closest in meaning to an underlined expression. Check the collocations and the level of formality each word takes before deciding they are interchangeable.

A word with an opposite meaning to another, such as 抽象 and 具体, or 肯定 and 否定. Recognizing antonym pairs helps you follow contrast structures in 論説文 and answer vocabulary items that ask for the opposite of a given word. Watch for near-opposites that differ in nuance.

A fixed four-character compound of Chinese origin, such as 起承転結, 試行錯誤, or 一石二鳥. These appear in vocabulary and kanji sections, and sometimes in passages. Learn each as a unit with its meaning and reading, since individual characters rarely reveal the whole sense.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be derived from its parts alone, such as 油を売る or 首を長くする. Exam items ask you to choose the sentence where the expression is used correctly. Learn the meaning and typical subject and object, not just the literal words.

The ability to read kanji compounds aloud and to write them from kana. Entrance exams test both directions, often with compounds that share characters but differ in reading, such as 生 in 生活, 生徒, and 生一本. Study compounds in context and note irregular readings.

Words that sound the same but are written with different kanji and carry different meanings, such as 機関 and 期間, or 対象 and 対照. Exam items give a reading and ask you to choose the correct kanji for the sentence. Learn the kanji meanings to choose correctly.

A compound word made of two or more kanji, such as 環境, 認識, or 維持. Entrance exams test 熟語 as vocabulary units, including their readings and correct kanji. Learning the meaning of individual characters helps you infer the sense of unfamiliar compounds.

The system of rules governing how words combine into phrases and sentences. In this exam, grammar items test particles, verb forms, tense and aspect, voice, and sentence patterns. Knowing the rules explicitly lets you identify why a given sentence is ungrammatical or which form fits a blank.

Particles such as は, が, を, に, で, and と that mark the grammatical role of the preceding word. Small particle choices change meaning, as with は versus が. Exam items often ask you to choose the particle that makes a sentence correct or to explain the nuance a particle adds.

The way verbs, adjectives, and auxiliary verbs change form to show tense, mood, polarity, and politeness. For example, 書く changes to 書かない, 書いた, 書けば, and 書かれる. Grammar items test whether you can select the correct stem and ending for a given meaning.

Auxiliary verbs attached to a main word to add meaning such as negation, past, passive, causative, or conjecture, for example ない, た, れる, せる, and らしい. Classical Japanese also has its own set of 助動詞. Identifying which one is used, and its meaning, is central to both modern and classical grammar items.

The system of polite and honorific language, divided into 尊敬語 (respect for others), 謙譲語 (humility about oneself), and 丁寧語 (polite forms such as です and ます). Exam items test correct use, for example whether いらっしゃる or 伺う fits a given subject. Mixing the categories is the usual trap.

The grammar of classical Japanese, including historical kana usage, the 活用 of classical verbs and adjectives, and the meanings of classical 助動詞 such as けり, なり, らむ, and べし. Entrance exams test recognition of forms and the ability to translate classical sentences into modern Japanese.

The traditional kana spelling used in classical texts, where ゐ, ゑ, and を appear and some vowels are written differently from modern usage, as in けふ for きょう. Reading classical passages aloud requires converting these spellings. Exam items may ask for the modern reading of a classical word.

A classical Japanese rule in which certain particles, such as ぞ, なむ, や, and か, require the sentence to end in a specific verb form, typically the 連体形. The particle は and も do not trigger this. Recognizing 係り結び helps you parse classical sentences and identify emphasis.

Vocabulary of classical Japanese whose meanings often differ from modern Japanese, such as あはれ (deep emotion), をかし (charming), and うつくし (dear, lovely). Exams test these meanings directly. Learn each word with its typical emotional nuance, since classical passages turn on such feelings.

Classical Chinese as read in Japan, using 返り点 and 送り仮名 to adapt Chinese word order to Japanese. Exam items test reading order, the meaning of function words such as 之, 而, and 也, and translation into modern Japanese. Knowing common 句法 (sentence patterns) is essential.

Marks placed beside Chinese characters to show the order in which they should be read in Japanese, such as レ, 一, 二, and 上, 下. They let a reader follow Japanese word order while keeping the Chinese text. Exam items ask you to reconstruct the correct reading order from the marks.

A Chinese text rewritten in Japanese order with kana endings added, keeping the kanji. It represents how the passage is read aloud. Exam items may ask you to choose the correct 書き下し文 or to explain the meaning of a phrase in it.

Recurring grammatical patterns in classical Chinese, such as 使役 (make someone do), 受身 (passive), 反語 (rhetorical question), and 比較. Each pattern has a fixed set of function words. Learning these patterns lets you translate unfamiliar 漢文 sentences accurately.

Fiction that narrates events and characters. Entrance exams use 小説 passages to test understanding of character relationships, changes in feeling, and the meaning of actions and dialogue. Pay attention to who is speaking and how the narrator's viewpoint shapes what the reader knows.

An essay-like piece in which the writer reflects on personal experience, often with humour or insight. 随筆 passages test your grasp of the writer's attitude and the point of an anecdote. Unlike 論説文, the logic may be loose, so follow the shifts in feeling and topic rather than looking for a formal argument.

A character's inner feelings as revealed by words, actions, or narration. Literary questions often ask why a character acted or spoke as they did, or what emotion a scene conveys. Infer from concrete details in the text rather than from general assumptions about how people feel.

Description of setting, weather, or objects used to create atmosphere or to reflect a character's state of mind. In Japanese fiction, a shift in scenery often signals a change in emotion. Exam questions may ask what a described scene suggests about the character.

Figurative language that describes one thing in terms of another, including 直喩 (like, as), 暗喩 (metaphor), and 擬人法. In literary passages, 比喩 conveys emotion and atmosphere. Questions ask what an image suggests, so connect the figure to the feeling or situation it describes.

The voice that tells a narrative, which may be a character in the story or an outside observer. The 語り手's knowledge and attitude shape what the reader can know. Questions sometimes ask whose viewpoint a passage presents, so identify the narrator before interpreting events.

A composition written to a prompt, usually requiring a clear opinion, supporting reasons, and examples. In this exam, 作文 is judged on task response, organization, and appropriate style. Plan the structure before writing, state a position early, and support it with concrete experience rather than vague generalities.

The arrangement of a piece of writing into introduction, body, and conclusion, with each part serving a clear function. A common pattern is 起承転結 or claim-reasons-conclusion. Examiners reward visible organization, so signal transitions and keep each paragraph to one main point.

The choice of words, sentence patterns, and style used to convey meaning effectively. In composition, 表現 covers clarity, appropriate register, and variety of sentence structure. In reading, it covers how a writer's phrasing creates emphasis or tone. Both senses appear in this exam.