Compound Words - JLPT N3

Understanding Compound Words

Compound words (複合語 - ふくごご) are words formed by combining two or more kanji characters or morphemes. Understanding how compounds are formed helps you deduce meanings of unfamiliar words and recognize patterns in Japanese vocabulary. This section focuses on common N3-level compound word patterns and formation rules.

🎯 Key Strategies for Compound Words

What This Section Tests:

1. Formation Patterns:
   - Noun + Noun compounds
   - Verb stem + Noun compounds
   - Adjective + Noun compounds
   - Opposite pairs (antonyms)
   - Related concept pairs

2. Meaning Inference:
   - Understanding from parts
   - Common patterns (前/後, 上/下)
   - Logical relationships
   - Context clues

3. Common Compound Types:
   - Direction/Position (東西南北)
   - Time (朝晩、昼夜)
   - Abstract concepts (平和、自由)
   - Actions/States (開閉、出入)
   - Everyday objects (食器、寝具)

4. Strategy:
   - Break compound into parts
   - Understand each part's meaning
   - Consider relationship between parts
   - Check context for confirmation
   - Learn common patterns

5. N3 Focus:
   - 2-kanji compounds (primary)
   - Common 3-kanji compounds
   - Everyday vocabulary
   - Basic abstract concepts
   - Practical nouns

📚 Common Compound Patterns

Pattern 1: Opposite Pairs (Antonyms)

Time-Related Opposites
• 朝晩 (あさばん) - morning and evening
　朝 (morning) + 晩 (evening)
• 昼夜 (ちゅうや) - day and night
　昼 (day) + 夜 (night)
• 昨今 (さっこん) - recently, these days
　昨 (past) + 今 (now)
• 前後 (ぜんご) - before and after, approximately
　前 (before) + 後 (after)
• 先後 (せんご) - before and after, priority
　先 (first) + 後 (after)

Direction Opposites
• 東西 (とうざい) - east and west
　東 (east) + 西 (west)
• 南北 (なんぼく) - north and south
　南 (south) + 北 (north)
• 上下 (じょうげ) - up and down, high and low
　上 (up) + 下 (down)
• 左右 (さゆう) - left and right, influence
　左 (left) + 右 (right)
• 内外 (ないがい) - inside and outside, domestic and foreign
　内 (inside) + 外 (outside)

Quality Opposites
• 大小 (だいしょう) - large and small, size
　大 (big) + 小 (small)
• 長短 (ちょうたん) - long and short, length
　長 (long) + 短 (short)
• 高低 (こうてい) - high and low, height
　高 (high) + 低 (low)
• 強弱 (きょうじゃく) - strength and weakness
　強 (strong) + 弱 (weak)
• 新旧 (しんきゅう) - new and old
　新 (new) + 旧 (old)

Pattern 2: Related Concept Pairs

Action Pairs
• 開閉 (かいへい) - opening and closing
　開 (open) + 閉 (close)
• 出入 (しゅつにゅう/でいり) - going in and out
　出 (exit) + 入 (enter)
• 売買 (ばいばい) - buying and selling, trade
　売 (sell) + 買 (buy)
• 貸借 (たいしゃく) - lending and borrowing
　貸 (lend) + 借 (borrow)
• 読書 (どくしょ) - reading books
　読 (read) + 書 (write/book)

Family/People Pairs
• 兄弟 (きょうだい) - siblings
　兄 (older brother) + 弟 (younger brother)
• 姉妹 (しまい) - sisters
　姉 (older sister) + 妹 (younger sister)
• 父母 (ふぼ) - parents
　父 (father) + 母 (mother)
• 夫婦 (ふうふ) - married couple
　夫 (husband) + 婦 (wife)
• 子孫 (しそん) - descendants
　子 (child) + 孫 (grandchild)

Object Compounds
• 食器 (しょっき) - tableware, dishes
　食 (eat) + 器 (vessel)
• 寝具 (しんぐ) - bedding
　寝 (sleep) + 具 (tool)
• 文房具 (ぶんぼうぐ) - stationery
　文房 (study room) + 具 (tools)
• 電気 (でんき) - electricity
　電 (electric) + 気 (energy)
• 時計 (とけい) - clock, watch
　時 (time) + 計 (measure)

Pattern 4: Verb Stem + Noun

Action Result Compounds
• 食べ物 (たべもの) - food (thing to eat)
　食べ (eat) + 物 (thing)
• 飲み物 (のみもの) - beverage (thing to drink)
　飲み (drink) + 物 (thing)
• 読み物 (よみもの) - reading material
　読み (read) + 物 (thing)
• 着物 (きもの) - kimono (thing to wear)
　着 (wear) + 物 (thing)
• 乗り物 (のりもの) - vehicle (thing to ride)
　乗り (ride) + 物 (thing)

Action Place Compounds
• 待ち合わせ (まちあわせ) - meeting (place/time)
　待ち合わせる (meet up) → noun form
• 乗り換え (のりかえ) - transfer (trains/buses)
　乗り換える (transfer) → noun form
• 組み合わせ (くみあわせ) - combination
　組み合わせる (combine) → noun form
• 打ち合わせ (うちあわせ) - meeting, consultation
　打ち合わせる (discuss) → noun form

Pattern 5: Abstract Concept Compounds

State/Condition Compounds
• 平和 (へいわ) - peace
　平 (flat/peaceful) + 和 (harmony)
• 自由 (じゆう) - freedom
　自 (self) + 由 (reason/from)
• 安全 (あんぜん) - safety
　安 (safe) + 全 (complete)
• 幸福 (こうふく) - happiness
　幸 (fortune) + 福 (blessing)
• 健康 (けんこう) - health
　健 (healthy) + 康 (peaceful)

Quality Compounds
• 親切 (しんせつ) - kind, kindness
　親 (parent/intimate) + 切 (cut/sincere)
• 便利 (べんり) - convenient
　便 (convenience) + 利 (profit/benefit)
• 簡単 (かんたん) - simple, easy
　簡 (simple) + 単 (single)
• 丁寧 (ていねい) - polite, careful
　丁 (polite) + 寧 (peaceful)
• 真面目 (まじめ) - serious, earnest
　真 (true) + 面目 (face/honor)

✏️ Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Understanding Compound Meanings

Choose the best meaning for each compound word.

1. 南北 (なんぼく)
a) left and right
b) north and south
c) up and down
d) front and back

2. 食器 (しょっき)
a) food
b) kitchen
c) tableware
d) restaurant

3. 兄弟 (きょうだい)
a) parents
b) siblings
c) friends
d) family

4. 開閉 (かいへい)
a) entrance
b) opening and closing
c) beginning
d) door

5. 飲み物 (のみもの)
a) food
b) beverage
c) restaurant
d) plate

Exercise 2: Compound Formation

Which compound word matches the description?

6. A word meaning "morning and evening"
a) 昼夜
b) 朝晩
c) 前後
d) 昨今

7. A word meaning "parents" (father and mother)
a) 夫婦
b) 父母
c) 兄弟
d) 姉妹

8. A word meaning "buying and selling"
a) 貸借
b) 開閉
c) 売買
d) 出入

9. A word meaning "safety" (safe + complete)
a) 安心
b) 安全
c) 平和
d) 健康

10. A word meaning "reading material"
a) 本
b) 読書
c) 読み物
d) 文章

Exercise 3: Context Usage

Choose the compound word that best fits the context.

11. この店は＿＿＿の時間が長いです。
(This store's _____ hours are long)
a) 開閉
b) 出入
c) 営業
d) 前後

12. 日本は＿＿＿に長い国です。
(Japan is a long country from _____ )
a) 東西
b) 南北
c) 左右
d) 上下

13. ＿＿＿が大切です。
(_____ is important - regarding health)
a) 幸福
b) 健康
c) 自由
d) 平和

14. この＿＿＿を洗ってください。
(Please wash these _____)
a) 食器
b) 食べ物
c) 寝具
d) 文房具

15. 彼は＿＿＿な人です。
(He is a _____ person - regarding honesty/seriousness)
a) 親切
b) 真面目
c) 便利
d) 簡単

✅ Answer Key & Explanations

Exercise 1:
1. b) north and south
   南 (south) + 北 (north) = 南北 (north and south)

2. c) tableware
   食 (eat) + 器 (vessel) = 食器 (dishes/tableware)

3. b) siblings
   兄 (older brother) + 弟 (younger brother) = 兄弟 (siblings)

4. b) opening and closing
   開 (open) + 閉 (close) = 開閉 (opening and closing)

5. b) beverage
   飲み (drink) + 物 (thing) = 飲み物 (beverage)

Exercise 2:
6. b) 朝晩
   朝 (morning) + 晩 (evening) = morning and evening

7. b) 父母
   父 (father) + 母 (mother) = parents

8. c) 売買
   売 (sell) + 買 (buy) = buying and selling, trade

9. b) 安全
   安 (safe) + 全 (complete) = safety
   安心 = relief/peace of mind

10. c) 読み物
    読み (read) + 物 (thing) = reading material
    読書 = reading books (activity)

Exercise 3:
11. a) 開閉 (opening and closing)
    開閉の時間 = business hours (opening/closing hours)
    営業 also works but 開閉 focuses on opening/closing

12. b) 南北 (north and south)
    Japan extends from north to south
    南北に長い = long from north to south

13. b) 健康 (health)
    健康が大切 = health is important
    Most appropriate in this context

14. a) 食器 (tableware)
    食器を洗う = wash dishes
    Only dishes are washed among options

15. b) 真面目 (serious, earnest)
    真面目な人 = serious/diligent person
    親切 = kind (also possible but 真面目 more common)

Scoring:
13-15: Excellent! Strong compound understanding
10-12: Good! Solid grasp of patterns
7-9: Fair - review compound formation rules
0-6: Keep practicing - memorize common patterns

📖 Compound Formation Rules Summary

Rule 1: Opposite Pairs Create Collective Meaning

When two opposite concepts combine:
• 大小 (big + small) = size in general
• 東西 (east + west) = east and west, all directions
• 昼夜 (day + night) = day and night, constantly
• 朝晩 (morning + evening) = morning and evening, daily

Usage: Often means "both" or "all aspects of"

Rule 2: Related Actions Create Process

When two related actions combine:
• 開閉 (open + close) = opening and closing process
• 出入 (exit + enter) = coming and going
• 売買 (sell + buy) = buying and selling, commerce
• 貸借 (lend + borrow) = lending and borrowing

Usage: Describes complete process or activity

Rule 3: Category + Specific = Specific Type

General category + specific aspect:
• 学 (learning) + 校 (school) = 学校 (school building)
• 教 (teach) + 室 (room) = 教室 (classroom)
• 病 (illness) + 院 (institution) = 病院 (hospital)
• 図書 (books) + 館 (building) = 図書館 (library)

Usage: Creates specific place/object names

Rule 4: Verb Stem + 物 = Object for Action

Verb stem (masu-form minus ます) + 物:
• 食べ + 物 = 食べ物 (food - thing to eat)
• 飲み + 物 = 飲み物 (beverage - thing to drink)
• 読み + 物 = 読み物 (reading material - thing to read)
• 乗り + 物 = 乗り物 (vehicle - thing to ride)

Usage: Creates concrete noun for action's object

Rule 5: Abstract Quality Combinations

Two characters creating abstract concept:
• 平 (flat) + 和 (harmony) = 平和 (peace)
• 自 (self) + 由 (from) = 自由 (freedom)
• 安 (safe) + 全 (complete) = 安全 (safety)
• 健 (healthy) + 康 (peaceful) = 健康 (health)

Usage: Often な-adjectives or abstract nouns

🎯 Key Takeaways

Break it down: Analyze each kanji's meaning to understand compound
Opposite patterns: Opposite pairs create collective or range meaning
Related concepts: Related actions/things create process or category
Verb stem + 物: Creates concrete object nouns (食べ物, 飲み物)
Common suffixes: 具 (tools), 器 (vessels), 館 (buildings), 室 (rooms)
Family/people pairs: 父母 (parents), 兄弟 (siblings), 夫婦 (couple)
Direction pairs: 東西 (east-west), 南北 (north-south), 上下 (up-down)
Abstract concepts: Often na-adjectives (便利, 親切, 真面目)

🔗 Compound Words (複合語)