Understanding Contextual Meaning
This section tests your ability to choose the most appropriate word to complete a sentence based on context, meaning, and natural Japanese expression. Success requires understanding subtle differences between similar words and recognizing which word fits the situation best.
๐ฏ Key Strategies for Contextual Meaning
What This Section Tests:
1. Word Choice:
- Similar meanings, different usage
- Appropriate formality level
- Natural collocations
- Context-dependent selection
2. Common Question Types:
- Verb selection (ใใ verbs, similar actions)
- Adjective nuances (similar descriptions)
- Noun appropriateness
- Adverb usage
3. Strategy:
- Read entire sentence first
- Understand the situation/context
- Eliminate clearly wrong options
- Choose most natural-sounding word
- Consider common collocations
4. N3 Focus Areas:
- Daily life situations
- Basic academic vocabulary
- Workplace expressions
- Social interactions
- Descriptive language๐ Common Word Groups & Differences
Group 1: "To Do" Verbs
ใใ - to do (general)
ๅฎฟ้กใใใใ(do homework)
ไปไบใใใใ(do work)
ๅฎฟ้กใใใใ(do homework)
ไปไบใใใใ(do work)
ใใ - to do (casual, willing action)
ใใใใใฃใฆใฟใ๏ผ(I'll try this!)
ใใๆฐใใใใ(have motivation)
ใใใใใฃใฆใฟใ๏ผ(I'll try this!)
ใใๆฐใใใใ(have motivation)
่กใ - to carry out (formal, organized)
่ฉฆ้จใ่กใใ(carry out an exam)
ไผ่ญฐใ่กใใ(hold a meeting)
่ฉฆ้จใ่กใใ(carry out an exam)
ไผ่ญฐใ่กใใ(hold a meeting)
Group 2: "To See/Look/Watch"
่ฆใ (ใฟใ) - to see/look at (general)
ใใฌใใ่ฆใใ(watch TV)
ๅฏๅฃซๅฑฑใ่ฆใใใ(can see Mt. Fuji)
ใใฌใใ่ฆใใ(watch TV)
ๅฏๅฃซๅฑฑใ่ฆใใใ(can see Mt. Fuji)
่ฆณใ (ใฟใ) - to watch/view (entertainment)
ๆ ็ปใ่ฆณใใ(watch a movie)
่ฉฆๅใ่ฆณใใ(watch a game)
ๆ ็ปใ่ฆณใใ(watch a movie)
่ฉฆๅใ่ฆณใใ(watch a game)
่ฆใใ (ใฟใใ) - can see, is visible
ๅใใใซๅฑฑใ่ฆใใพใใ(Mountains are visible over there)
ใใ่ฆใใพใใใ(I can't see well)
ๅใใใซๅฑฑใ่ฆใใพใใ(Mountains are visible over there)
ใใ่ฆใใพใใใ(I can't see well)
Group 3: "To Say/Speak/Tell"
่จใ (ใใ) - to say
ๅฝผใฏใใฏใใใจ่จใใพใใใ(He said "yes")
ไฝใ่จใใชใใงใใ ใใใ(Please don't say anything)
ๅฝผใฏใใฏใใใจ่จใใพใใใ(He said "yes")
ไฝใ่จใใชใใงใใ ใใใ(Please don't say anything)
่ฉฑใ (ใฏใชใ) - to speak, talk
ๆฅๆฌ่ชใ่ฉฑใใพใใ(speak Japanese)
ๅ้ใจ่ฉฑใใ(talk with friends)
ๆฅๆฌ่ชใ่ฉฑใใพใใ(speak Japanese)
ๅ้ใจ่ฉฑใใ(talk with friends)
ไผใใ (ใคใใใ) - to convey, tell
ใกใใปใผใธใไผใใใ(convey a message)
ๆฐๆใกใไผใใใ(express feelings)
ใกใใปใผใธใไผใใใ(convey a message)
ๆฐๆใกใไผใใใ(express feelings)
Group 4: "To Think/Consider"
ๆใ (ใใใ) - to think (opinion)
ใใใจๆใใพใใ(I think it's good)
ใใๆใใพใใใ(I don't think so)
ใใใจๆใใพใใ(I think it's good)
ใใๆใใพใใใ(I don't think so)
่ใใ (ใใใใใ) - to think (deliberate)
ใใ่ใใพใใ(think carefully)
่จ็ปใ่ใใใ(think about a plan)
ใใ่ใใพใใ(think carefully)
่จ็ปใ่ใใใ(think about a plan)
ๆใๅบใ (ใใใใ ใ) - to remember, recall
ๅๅใๆใๅบใใชใใ(can't remember the name)
ๆใๆใๅบใใ(recall the past)
ๅๅใๆใๅบใใชใใ(can't remember the name)
ๆใๆใๅบใใ(recall the past)
Group 5: "To Make/Create"
ไฝใ (ใคใใ) - to make (physical)
ๆ็ใไฝใใ(make food)
ๅฎถใไฝใใ(build a house)
ๆ็ใไฝใใ(make food)
ๅฎถใไฝใใ(build a house)
้ ใ (ใคใใ) - to construct, manufacture
่นใ้ ใใ(build a ship)
้ ใ้ ใใ(brew sake)
่นใ้ ใใ(build a ship)
้ ใ้ ใใ(brew sake)
ๅตใ (ใคใใ) - to create (artistic)
ไฝๅใๅตใใ(create a work of art)
ๆฐใใไธ็ใๅตใใ(create a new world)
ไฝๅใๅตใใ(create a work of art)
ๆฐใใไธ็ใๅตใใ(create a new world)
โ๏ธ Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Choose the Best Word
1. ๆจๆฅใๅ้ใจ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟๆ ็ปใ่ฆใพใใใ
a) ้ข็ฝใใb) ๆฅฝใใใc) ๅฌใใใd) ็พใใ
a) ้ข็ฝใใb) ๆฅฝใใใc) ๅฌใใใd) ็พใใ
2. ใใฎๅ้กใฏ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใงใใญใ
a) ้ฃใใใb) ๅณใใใc) ่ฆใใใd) ่พใ
a) ้ฃใใใb) ๅณใใใc) ่ฆใใใd) ่พใ
3. ๆฐใใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใ่ฒทใใใใงใใ
a) ๆใb) ๆดๆใc) ็็ฉใd) a and b both OK
a) ๆใb) ๆดๆใc) ็็ฉใd) a and b both OK
4. ๆฏๆฅ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ้ๅใใฆใใพใใ
a) ไธ็ๆธๅฝใb) ๅคงๅคใc) ใใใใใd) ใจใฆใ
a) ไธ็ๆธๅฝใb) ๅคงๅคใc) ใใใใใd) ใจใฆใ
5. ๅ
็ใซ่ณชๅใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใพใใใ
a) ่ใใb) ่จใใc) ๅฉใใd) a and b both OK
a) ่ใใb) ่จใใc) ๅฉใใd) a and b both OK
Exercise 2: Context-Based Selection
6. ใฌในใใฉใณใง๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟๆ็ใ้ฃในใพใใใ
a) ใใใใใb) ใใพใใc) ใพใใใd) ็พๅณใใ
a) ใใใใใb) ใใพใใc) ใพใใใd) ็พๅณใใ
7. ๅฝผใฏ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟไบบใงใใใใไฟก้ ผใงใใพใใ
a) ็้ข็ฎใชใb) ็ๅฃใชใc) ๆญฃ็ดใชใd) ่ฆชๅใช
a) ็้ข็ฎใชใb) ็ๅฃใชใc) ๆญฃ็ดใชใd) ่ฆชๅใช
8. ๆๆฅใฎไผ่ญฐใฏๅๅ10ๆใซ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟไบๅฎใงใใ
a) ๅงใใใb) ๅงใพใใc) ้ใใd) ้ใใ
a) ๅงใใใb) ๅงใพใใc) ้ใใd) ้ใใ
9. ใใฎๆฌใ่ชญใใงใใจใฆใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใชใใพใใใ
a) ๆๅใb) ๆๅ็ใc) ๆๅใใฆใd) ๆๅใซ
a) ๆๅใb) ๆๅ็ใc) ๆๅใใฆใd) ๆๅใซ
10. ๅฝผๅฅณใฏๆฅๆฌ่ชใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ่ฉฑใใพใใ
a) ไธๆใซใb) ไธๆใใc) ใใใd) all correct
a) ไธๆใซใb) ไธๆใใc) ใใใd) all correct
Exercise 3: Advanced Context
11. ใใฎไปไบใฏ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ็ต้จใๅฟ
่ฆใงใใ
a) ๅคใใb) ่ฑๅฏใชใc) ใใใใใd) ใใฃใฑใ
a) ๅคใใb) ่ฑๅฏใชใc) ใใใใใd) ใใฃใฑใ
12. ๅฝผใฏๆฏๆฅ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใ
a) ็ๅฃใซใb) ็้ข็ฎใซใc) ็ฑๅฟใซใd) all can work
a) ็ๅฃใซใb) ็้ข็ฎใซใc) ็ฑๅฟใซใd) all can work
13. ใใฎๅ้กใซใคใใฆใใใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใใ ใใใ
a) ๆใฃใฆใb) ่ใใฆใc) ๆณๅใใฆใd) ่ฆใใฆ
a) ๆใฃใฆใb) ่ใใฆใc) ๆณๅใใฆใd) ่ฆใใฆ
14. ๅฝผใฎ่ฉฑใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใใพใใใใไฟกใใใใพใใใงใใใ
a) ่ใใฆใb) ่ดใใฆใc) ่จใใฆใd) a and b both OK
a) ่ใใฆใb) ่ดใใฆใc) ่จใใฆใd) a and b both OK
15. ่ฉฆ้จใฎ็ตๆใ๏ผฟ๏ผฟ๏ผฟใๅฟ้
ใงใใ
a) ๆชใใฆใb) ใพใใใฆใc) ไธๆใงใd) ่ฆๆใง
a) ๆชใใฆใb) ใพใใใฆใc) ไธๆใงใd) ่ฆๆใง
โ Answer Key & Explanations
Exercise 1:
1. a) ้ข็ฝใ - "interesting movie" is natural collocation
ๆฅฝใใ = fun (experience), not typically for movies alone
2. a) ้ฃใใ - "difficult problem" standard expression
ๅณใใ = strict, ่ฆใใ = painful, ่พใ = spicy/hard
3. d) both OK - ๆ and ๆดๆ both mean "clothes"
็็ฉ = kimono (traditional, too specific)
4. a) ไธ็ๆธๅฝ - "do one's best" natural with ้ๅ
ๅคงๅค = terrible/hard (adjective), not adverb for "exercise"
5. d) both OK - ่ใ and ่จใ both mean "ask"
ๅฉใ = to work/be effective (different meaning)
Exercise 2:
6. d) ็พๅณใใ - formal/standard "delicious"
ใใใใ = same meaning (hiragana form)
ใใพใ = casual masculine, ใพใใ = bad-tasting
7. c) ๆญฃ็ดใช - "honest person" โ trustworthy
็้ข็ฎ = serious/diligent, ็ๅฃ = earnest, ่ฆชๅ = kind
8. b) ๅงใพใ - intransitive "meeting will start"
ๅงใใ = transitive "someone starts it"
้ใ/้ใใ = to open
9. c) ๆๅใใฆ - "became moved" needs ใฆ-form + ใชใ
ๆๅ = noun, ๆๅ็ = adjective
10. d) all correct - all mean "well/skillfully"
ไธๆใซ = skillfully, ไธๆใ = well, ใใ = well
Exercise 3:
11. b) ่ฑๅฏใช - "abundant experience" ใช-adjective
ๅคใ = many (for countable), doesn't modify ็ต้จ directly
12. d) all can work - all express diligence/seriousness
็ๅฃใซ = seriously, ็้ข็ฎใซ = diligently, ็ฑๅฟใซ = enthusiastically
13. b) ่ใใฆ - "think about" (deliberate thought)
ๆใ = think (opinion), ๆณๅ = imagine, ่ฆใใ = memorize
14. d) both OK - ่ใ = hear/listen, ่ดใ = listen attentively
่จใ = ask (different context)
15. a) ๆชใใฆ - "results are bad"
ใพใใ = tastes bad, ไธๆ = unskilled, ่ฆๆ = weak at
Scoring:
13-15: Excellent! Strong vocabulary sense
10-12: Good! Minor review needed
7-9: Fair - study similar word groups
0-6: Keep practicing - focus on collocations๐ Common Confusion Pairs
Pair 1: ้ข็ฝใ vs ๆฅฝใใ
้ข็ฝใ (ใใใใใ) - interesting, amusing
โข Focus on content being interesting
โข ้ข็ฝใๆฌ (interesting book)
โข ้ข็ฝใๆ ็ป (interesting movie)
ๆฅฝใใ (ใใฎใใ) - fun, enjoyable
โข Focus on experience being fun
โข ๆฅฝใใๆ้ (fun time)
โข ๆฅฝใใใใผใใฃใผ (fun party)
Note: ๆ ็ปใฏ้ข็ฝใใฃใ (movie was interesting)
ๆ ็ปใ่ฆใใฎใฏๆฅฝใใใฃใ (watching movie was fun)
โข Focus on content being interesting
โข ้ข็ฝใๆฌ (interesting book)
โข ้ข็ฝใๆ ็ป (interesting movie)
ๆฅฝใใ (ใใฎใใ) - fun, enjoyable
โข Focus on experience being fun
โข ๆฅฝใใๆ้ (fun time)
โข ๆฅฝใใใใผใใฃใผ (fun party)
Note: ๆ ็ปใฏ้ข็ฝใใฃใ (movie was interesting)
ๆ ็ปใ่ฆใใฎใฏๆฅฝใใใฃใ (watching movie was fun)
Pair 2: ๆฐใใ vs ๆฐ้ฎฎ
ๆฐใใ (ใใใใใ) - new (recently made/obtained)
โข ๆฐใใ่ป (new car)
โข ๆฐใใๆ (new clothes)
ๆฐ้ฎฎ (ใใใใ) - fresh (not old, not stale)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใช้ญ (fresh fish)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใช็ฉบๆฐ (fresh air)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใชๆใ (fresh feeling)
โข ๆฐใใ่ป (new car)
โข ๆฐใใๆ (new clothes)
ๆฐ้ฎฎ (ใใใใ) - fresh (not old, not stale)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใช้ญ (fresh fish)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใช็ฉบๆฐ (fresh air)
โข ๆฐ้ฎฎใชๆใ (fresh feeling)
Pair 3: ้ใ vs ๆฉใ vs ้ใใ
้ใ (ใฏใใ) - fast (speed)
โข ้ใ่ป (fast car)
โข ่ตฐใใฎใ้ใ (fast at running)
ๆฉใ (ใฏใใ) - early (time)
โข ๆฉใๆ้ (early time)
โข ๆใๆฉใ (early morning)
้ใใ (ใใฟใใ) - prompt, quick (formal)
โข ้ใใใซๅฏพๅฟใใ (respond promptly)
โข ้ใ่ป (fast car)
โข ่ตฐใใฎใ้ใ (fast at running)
ๆฉใ (ใฏใใ) - early (time)
โข ๆฉใๆ้ (early time)
โข ๆใๆฉใ (early morning)
้ใใ (ใใฟใใ) - prompt, quick (formal)
โข ้ใใใซๅฏพๅฟใใ (respond promptly)
Pair 4: ๅคงใใ vs ๅคงใใช
ๅคงใใ (ใใใใ) - big (i-adjective)
โข ๅคงใใ็ฌ (big dog)
โข ใจใฆใๅคงใใใงใ (very big)
ๅคงใใช (ใใใใช) - big (้ฃไฝ่ฉ)
โข ๅคงใใชๅ้ก (big problem)
โข ๅคงใใชๅฝฑ้ฟ (big influence)
Note: ๅคงใใช sounds more emphatic/abstract
Both can often be used interchangeably
โข ๅคงใใ็ฌ (big dog)
โข ใจใฆใๅคงใใใงใ (very big)
ๅคงใใช (ใใใใช) - big (้ฃไฝ่ฉ)
โข ๅคงใใชๅ้ก (big problem)
โข ๅคงใใชๅฝฑ้ฟ (big influence)
Note: ๅคงใใช sounds more emphatic/abstract
Both can often be used interchangeably
๐ฏ Key Takeaways
- Context is crucial: Same meaning words used in different contexts
- Collocations matter: Some words naturally go together
- Formality levels: Choose appropriate formality for situation
- Transitive vs intransitive: ๅงใใ (start something) vs ๅงใพใ (something starts)
- Similar sounds, different uses: ้ใ (speed) vs ๆฉใ (time)
- Adjective types: ใ-adjectives vs ใช-adjectives have different usage
- Read whole sentence: Don't just match word meanings
- Natural Japanese: Choose what sounds most natural, not just "correct"