NCEA Level 2 Japanese key terms

A scene or situation in which a conversation or event takes place. Listening tasks often require identifying who is speaking, where they are, and what is happening.

To take notes while listening or reading. In the listening exam, quickly writing keywords, numbers, and names helps you keep important information until the question is asked.

The main point or summary of a passage or talk. Reading and listening questions may ask for the 要旨 rather than every detail, so focus on the overall message.

Specific details or particulars of a situation. Listening tasks often test details such as times, prices, names, and reasons, not just the general topic.

A reason or cause for something. Exam questions often ask why a person acted or holds an opinion, and answers may use から, ので, or なぜなら.

A conjunction that connects clauses or sentences. Words such as しかし, だから, and また signal contrast, reason, or addition, and are important clues in listening and reading.

An adverb that modifies a verb, adjective, or whole sentence. Examples include とても, ゆっくり, and たぶん, which add degree, manner, or certainty to what is said.

An ending with two key uses: after a stem it means 'looks like' based on appearance; after a plain form it means 'I heard' or 'they say'. Context decides the meaning.

The Japanese honorific system used to show respect and social awareness. It includes respectful language for others, humble language for oneself, and polite language that makes speech courteous.

Respectful Japanese used to elevate the actions, states, or possessions of others. It appears in customer service, formal emails, and speeches, often with special verbs such as いらっしゃる.

Humble Japanese used to lower the speaker's own actions in order to show respect to the listener or a third party. Common examples include いたす and 伺う.

Polite Japanese marked mainly by です and ます endings. It is the neutral polite style used in classrooms, interviews, and everyday conversation with people you do not know well.

A person's opinion or view about a topic. Speaking and writing tasks often require stating an opinion clearly and supporting it with a reason or example.

Experience gained from doing something. The pattern 〜たことがある states that someone has had an experience, while 経験があります is common in self-introductions and interviews.

A noun-like expression meaning intention or plan. Used after a verb or adjective, it states what the speaker has decided to do, often with 〜つもりです in polite speech.

Comparison between two or more things. Level 2 tasks may ask you to compare options, prices, or experiences using patterns such as より and のほうが.

The Chinese-derived reading of a kanji, often used when characters combine to form compound words. It contrasts with the native Japanese reading and is essential for reading unfamiliar 熟語.

The native Japanese reading of a kanji, usually used when the character stands alone or with a following 送り仮名. It often carries the core meaning of the character.

A compound word made of two or more kanji. In Level 2 reading, recognising common 熟語 helps you guess meaning and read more fluently without consulting a dictionary.

A particle attached to a word to show its grammatical role, such as subject, object, location, or direction. Particles like は, が, を, and に are central to Japanese sentences.

The plain dictionary form of a verb, such as 食べる or 行く. It is the form listed in dictionaries and the base for many patterns, including ことができる and つもり.

The plain negative form of a verb, adjective, or copula. It is used in casual speech and as the base for patterns such as 〜なければならない and 〜なくてもいい.

The potential form of a verb, expressing ability or possibility. For godan verbs it often ends in 〜える, while ichidan verbs add られる, as in 食べられる.

The Japanese passive form. It describes receiving an action and can express neutral passives, respectful passives, or suffering passives where the speaker is adversely affected.

The Japanese causative form, meaning to make or let someone do something. Context and verb type determine whether the nuance is compulsory ('make') or permissive ('let').

A verb form or pattern expressing conditions, such as 〜ば, 〜たら, and 〜と. Choosing the right conditional depends on certainty, sequence, and whether the result is automatic.

A conjunction meaning 'although' or 'despite'. It expresses contrast and often carries surprise, disappointment, or criticism about a result that differs from expectation.

A conjunction meaning 'because' or 'since'. It presents a reason politely and softly, often before requests or explanations, and usually follows a plain form in casual speech.

A conditional ending used for 'when' or 'if'. It presents a situation as completed before the next action and is common in sequences, requests, and hypothetical statements.

A concessive pattern meaning 'even if' or 'even though'. It shows that the result stays the same despite the condition and appears in set phrases such as 〜てもいい.

A grammar pattern attached to a verb stem meaning two actions happen at the same time by the same person. The main action comes after ながら, and the subordinate action before it.

A piece of writing or composition. Writing tasks often require a short 作文 with a clear structure: introduction, supporting details, and conclusion, using appropriate polite forms.

A verb ending that shows an action is finished completely, or that something happened unintentionally and often with regret. In speech it commonly contracts to 〜ちゃう.

A pattern that expresses ability or possibility, usually translated as 'can' or 'is able to'. It follows a verb's dictionary form and is common in formal and informal writing.

A pattern using a transitive verb in て form plus ある. It describes a state that remains after someone intentionally did something, such as a window being opened on purpose.

A pattern meaning to do something in advance or leave something as it is for a future purpose. It is common in planning, preparation, and instructions.

The volitional form of a verb, used for 'let's' suggestions or stated intention. It appears in casual speech as 〜よう and in polite speech as 〜ましょう.

A plan or schedule. It is used with 〜つもり and 〜予定です to talk about future arrangements, and appears often in listening dialogues about trips and events.