Kagoshima Entrance Japanese key terms

Expository prose in which the writer explains a topic, presents a claim, and supports it with examples and reasoning. Questions ask about paragraph roles, the writer's conclusion, and the meaning of demonstrative words like これ・それ.

Fictional or personal narrative prose such as short stories and essays. Questions focus on characters' feelings, scene changes, and why a character acts or speaks as they do, inferred from description and dialogue.

The task of identifying a character's emotional state from indirect clues: behavior, silence, physical description, and dialogue rather than explicit statements. Answers must be justified by a specific phrase in the text.

Descriptive passages of scenery, weather, or objects that set mood and often mirror a character's inner state. A darkening sky or a stopped wind may signal loneliness or resolve, so such lines are frequent answer keys.

Figurative expression such as 直喩 (like/as), 隠喩 (metaphor), and 擬人法 (personification). Questions ask what image the comparison conveys and what feeling or idea it indirectly communicates.

Words like これ・それ・あれ・この・その that point to content elsewhere in the text. Candidates must locate the exact preceding or following phrase the word replaces, since the answer choice often paraphrases it.

Conjunctions and connective phrases such as しかし・つまり・たとえば・したがって that signal logical relations: contrast, restatement, example, or conclusion. They mark where the writer's main claim or a reversal of it appears.

The central claim or overall message of a passage, distinct from any single supporting detail. Summary questions ask for the option that covers the whole text without adding ideas not stated.

The arrangement of paragraphs into introduction, development, and conclusion, including how each paragraph relates to the main claim. Recognizing this structure helps locate topic sentences and the passage's turning point.

Classical Japanese prose and poetry written roughly before the modern period. Candidates read short passages with historical kana usage and must grasp content and identify basic classical grammar and vocabulary.

Classical Chinese texts read in Japanese by means of kanbun conventions. Candidates handle 返り点 and 送り仮名 to reconstruct reading order and interpret short passages, often drawn from Chinese philosophical or historical works.

Marks such as レ・一二・上中下 placed beside kanji in kanbun to show that the reader must go back and read a later character first. They determine the Japanese reading order of the Chinese sentence.

Small kana written beside a kanji in kanbun to supply the inflectional ending and particles of the Japanese reading. They show tense, negation, and grammatical function that the bare kanji does not reveal.

Characters such as 而・於・矣 that appear in the Chinese text but are not read aloud in the Japanese rendering. Recognizing them prevents candidates from mistaking them for meaningful content words.

Pre-modern kana spelling, for example けふ for きょう and ゐる for いる. Candidates must convert these spellings to modern pronunciation in order to read classical passages and poems aloud correctly.

Vocabulary specific to classical Japanese, such as あはれ (deep emotion), をかし (charming), and うつくし (dear, lovely). Modern meanings often differ, so memorizing classical senses is essential for comprehension.

The grammar system of classical Japanese, including the six basic conjugations, auxiliary verbs like けり・なり・る・らる, and particles. Questions ask candidates to identify forms and explain their grammatical meaning in context.

The ability to supply the correct Japanese reading for a kanji compound in context, distinguishing 音読み and 訓読み. Items often test uncommon readings or readings that change with the surrounding phrase.

The ability to write the correct kanji for a word given in kana, choosing among homophones. Accuracy in stroke components and in distinguishing similar-shaped characters is what the items test.

Different words sharing the same pronunciation but written with different kanji, such as 対象・対照・対称. Correct choice depends on the meaning of the surrounding sentence, not on sound alone.

Multi-character kanji compounds whose meaning must be understood as a unit, including four-character idioms (四字熟語). Knowledge of common compounds supports both reading and vocabulary items.

Fixed phrases whose meaning cannot be derived from the individual words, such as 油を売る or 首を長くする. Items ask candidates to choose the phrase that fits a sentence's meaning.

A candidate's stock of word meanings, including synonyms, antonyms, and words that differ only in nuance. Vocabulary items ask which word fits a blank so that the sentence keeps its intended meaning.

The rules governing sentence structure, including parts of speech, particles, auxiliary verbs, and tense. Items ask candidates to judge whether a sentence is grammatically well formed and to choose the correct particle or form.

Particles such as は・が・を・に・で that mark grammatical roles and add nuance. Choosing the right particle, or spotting a misuse, is a common item type because small differences change meaning.

The inflection of verbs, adjectives, and auxiliary verbs across forms such as 未然形・連用形・終止形. Items ask candidates to identify the form used in a sentence or to select the correct conjugated form.

Auxiliary verbs such as れる・られる・たい・そうだ that attach to a predicate and add meaning like passive, potential, desire, or hearsay. Distinguishing these senses in context is a frequent task.

The functional parts of a sentence: subject, predicate, object, modifier, and independent elements. Identifying them, especially long modifiers, helps candidates parse complex sentences and answer structure questions.

A writing task in which candidates state and support their own opinion or describe an experience within a set length and topic. Clear structure, relevant examples, and correct usage are the main scoring points.

A group of sentences developing one idea, usually beginning with a topic sentence. In composition, dividing an essay into coherent paragraphs with clear connections is essential for readability and scoring.

Honorific language divided into 尊敬語 (respect for others), 謙譲語 (humbling oneself), and 丁寧語 (polite forms). Items test correct use, including common errors such as おられる or double honorifics.

The choice of wording and sentence style to convey meaning effectively, including conciseness, clarity, and appropriate register. Items ask candidates to rewrite or select the clearest, most natural expression.

The listening section, in which candidates hear dialogues or monologues and answer questions about content, intent, or the speaker's next action. Note-taking on numbers, times, and reasons is a key skill.

What a speaker actually means or wants to achieve, which may differ from the literal words, as with indirect requests or polite refusals. Listening items often ask what the speaker will do next.

Writing brief notes while listening to capture key facts such as dates, prices, places, and reasons. Because audio is played once, organized note-taking prevents losing details needed for the answer.