Japanese Intermediate Japanese Language Skills Syllabus

Distinguish ~そうだ (hearsay) from ~そうだ (appearance/conjecture) by their attachment.

Hearsay: attaches to plain form (雨が降るそうだ – "I hear it will rain"). Appearance: attaches to verb stem/adjective stem (雨が降りそうだ – "it looks like it will rain"; 美味しそう – "looks tasty"). Attachment rule distinguishes them.

Compare the evidential markers ~らしい, ~ようだ, and ~みたいだ.

~らしい: hearsay/reasonable inference from external info ("seems, apparently"). ~ようだ: inference from direct/personal evidence, more formal ("appears"). ~みたいだ: same as ようだ but colloquial. らしい is more secondhand; ようだ/みたい are firsthand-based.

What does the pattern ~ば～ほど express? Give an example.

It expresses "the more X, the more Y." Example: 練習すればするほど上手になる ("the more you practice, the better you get"). Structure: conditional ば-form + dictionary form + ほど.

What is the meaning and structure of ~ながら as a clause connector?

Verb-stem + ながら expresses two simultaneous actions by the same subject ("while doing"). Example: 音楽を聞きながら勉強する ("study while listening to music"). It can also mean "although" (残念ながら – regrettably).

What does ~つつある mean, and how does it differ from ~つつ?

~つつある (verb-stem + つつある) means "in the process of / gradually becoming" (発展しつつある – developing). Plain ~つつ means "while" (simultaneous, formal) or "although." つつある marks ongoing progression.

What is the function of ~として in a sentence?

It means "as / in the capacity/role of." Example: 留学生として日本に来た ("came to Japan as an exchange student"). It designates a role, status, or standpoint.

Explain the difference between ~ために and ~ように when expressing purpose.

~ために: purpose with a volitional verb, same subject, direct intention (日本語を勉強するために日本へ行く). ~ように: purpose with non-volitional/potential verbs or a resulting state (聞こえるように大きい声で話す – "speak loudly so it can be heard").

What does the pattern ~ことにする mean versus ~ことになる?

~ことにする: a decision made by the speaker ("I've decided to"). ~ことになる: a decision or outcome arrived at externally/by circumstance ("it has been decided that"). する = personal choice, なる = result/arrangement.

What is the meaning of ~ものだ in expressions like 昔はよく遊んだものだ?

~ものだ expresses reminiscence about the past ("used to"), general truths/tendencies, or strong feeling. In 昔はよく遊んだものだ it means "I used to play a lot in the old days" — nostalgic recollection.

What nuance does ~てばかりいる convey?

It means "do nothing but / keep on doing" with a negative/critical tone. Example: 彼はゲームをしてばかりいる ("he does nothing but play games"). ばかり emphasizes excessive repetition of one action.

Distinguish the specialized vocabulary registers 音読み (on'yomi) and 訓読み (kun'yomi) for kanji.

音読み: the Sino-Japanese reading derived from Chinese pronunciation, used mostly in compound words (e.g., 山 = サン in 富士山). 訓読み: the native Japanese reading, used for standalone words (山 = やま).

What is 敬語 (keigo), and what are its three main categories?

敬語 is Japanese honorific/polite language. Three categories: 尊敬語 (sonkeigo, respectful language elevating others), 謙譲語 (kenjōgo, humble language lowering oneself), and 丁寧語 (teineigo, polite language like です/ます).

In business/specialized vocabulary, what is the difference between お世話になっております and よろしくお願いします?

お世話になっております is a set greeting acknowledging ongoing indebtedness/relationship ("thank you for your continued support"), used to open business contact. よろしくお願いします is a closing request for goodwill/cooperation ("please treat me favorably / thanks in advance").

What is a 四字熟語 (yojijukugo)? Give an example and its meaning.

A four-character idiomatic compound, usually of Chinese origin, expressing a concept concisely. Example: 一石二鳥 (isseki nichō) = "one stone, two birds" = achieving two goals with one action.

What does the idiom 猫の手も借りたい literally and figuratively mean?

Literally "want to borrow even a cat's paws." Figuratively it means being so busy that you'd welcome any help at all, no matter how little.

What does the idiom 腹が立つ mean, and what body-part metaphor does it use?

腹が立つ means "to get angry." Literally "the belly stands up." Japanese often locates emotions in the 腹 (belly/gut), so anger "rising" in the belly expresses becoming angry.

Explain the idiom 頭が下がる.

Literally "the head lowers/bows." It means to feel deep respect or admiration for someone — one is so impressed one figuratively bows. Example: 彼の努力には頭が下がる ("I have great respect for his efforts").

What does the idiomatic expression 目がない mean when applied to something one likes?

甘い物には目がない = "to have no eyes for sweets" idiomatically means "to have a weakness for / love something so much one loses judgment." It expresses being crazy about something.

What does the proverb 十人十色 (jūnin toiro) express?

Literally "ten people, ten colors." It means everyone has their own tastes/preferences — "to each their own" / different strokes for different folks.

What is the meaning of the idiom 口が軽い versus 口が堅い?

口が軽い ("light mouth") = someone who can't keep secrets, a blabbermouth. 口が堅い ("hard/firm mouth") = someone who is tight-lipped and reliably keeps secrets. They are opposites describing discretion.

What does the set phrase 気をつけて mean and when is it used?

気をつけて means "take care / be careful." 気 (spirit/attention) + つける (attach) → "attach your attention." It is commonly said to someone leaving or traveling as a caring farewell.

What is the difference in nuance between the connectives しかし and でも?

Both mean "but/however." しかし is more formal/written, used to introduce a strong contrast. でも is casual/conversational and softer, often starting a spoken rebuttal. Register is the key difference.

What does the expression ~に違いない mean, and how certain is it?

~に違いない means "there is no doubt that / must be." It expresses the speaker's strong conviction based on reasoning — high certainty, stronger than ~だろう or ~かもしれない.

Compare ~かもしれない and ~だろう in expressing probability.

~かもしれない = "might/may be" — low-to-moderate possibility, speaker unsure. ~だろう = "probably / I expect" — higher confidence conjecture. だろう indicates greater likelihood than かもしれない.

What does the grammar pattern ~ざるを得ない express?

It expresses "cannot help but / have no choice but to (do)." Formed with the verb negative stem + ざるを得ない (e.g., 行かざるを得ない – "have no choice but to go"). する becomes せざるを得ない.

What is the meaning and formation of ~っぱなし?

Verb-stem + っぱなし means leaving something in a state (often carelessly) / doing something continuously. Example: 電気をつけっぱなしにする ("leave the light on"). It implies neglecting to undo an action.

What does the pattern ~にもかかわらず mean?

It means "despite / in spite of / notwithstanding." Example: 雨にもかかわらず、試合が行われた ("despite the rain, the match was held"). It is a formal concessive connector stronger than のに.

Explain the difference between ~のに and ~ても as concessive forms.

~のに: "even though / despite" a real, factual situation, often with a tone of surprise or complaint (勉強したのに、落ちた). ~ても: "even if / even though," covering hypothetical or general cases (雨が降っても行く – "I'll go even if it rains").

What does the specialized keigo verb いただく function as, and give a polite request using it?

いただく is the humble form of もらう/食べる/飲む. As a benefactive humble form ~ていただく means "receive the favor of." Polite request: 教えていただけますか ("could I please have you teach me?") — very polite.

What does the pattern ~わけにはいかない express, and how does it differ from ~ことができない?

~わけにはいかない means "cannot (do) for social/moral/circumstantial reasons" (行かないわけにはいかない – "I can't not go"). ~ことができない is plain inability (physical/skill). わけにはいかない implies obligation-driven impossibility.

What is the meaning of the four-character idiom 温故知新 (onko chishin)?

Literally "warm the old, know the new." It means learning from the past to gain new understanding — reviewing old knowledge to acquire fresh insight. It derives from a Confucian saying.