2013/07 JLPT N3 Letters and Vocabulary test
問題1 ___のことばの読み方として最もよいものを1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
1. <u>苦しい</u>ときは、この歌を聞きます。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
苦しい (くるしい) means 'painful', 'difficult', or 'distressed'. The sentence means 'When I'm feeling distressed, I listen to this song.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 悲しい, meaning 'sad'.
This is the reading for 悔しい, meaning 'frustrating' or 'regrettable'.
This is the reading for 寂しい, meaning 'lonely'.
2. 来月、日本に<u>出張</u>する予定です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
出張 (しゅっちょう) means 'business trip'. The sentence means 'I plan to go on a business trip to Japan next month.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 出張.
This is an incorrect reading for 出張. It could be 主張 (しゅちょう) meaning 'assertion'.
This is an incorrect reading for 出張.
3. 一つだけ<u>席</u>があいていました。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
席 (せき) means 'seat'. The sentence means 'Only one seat was available.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 鍵, meaning 'key'.
This is the reading for 穴, meaning 'hole'.
This is the reading for 蓋, meaning 'lid'.
4. その木の<u>根</u>は薬にもなるそうです。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
根 (ね) means 'root'. The sentence means 'I heard that the roots of that tree can also be used as medicine.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 葉 (leaf) or 歯 (tooth).
This is the reading for 皮 (skin/peel) or 川 (river).
This is the reading for 目 (eye) or 芽 (bud).
5. すみませんが、<u>事情</u>があっで、今日は行けません。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
事情 (じじょう) means 'circumstances' or 'reasons'. The sentence means 'Excuse me, but due to circumstances, I cannot go today.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is the reading for 事故, meaning 'accident'.
This is the reading for 事項, meaning 'matter' or 'item'.
This is the reading for 侍女, meaning 'maid' or 'assistant'.
6. 面接の結果は、1週間以内に<u>通知</u>します。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
通知 (つうち) means 'notification' or 'announcement'. The sentence means 'The interview results will be notified within one week.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 通知.
This is an incorrect reading for 通知.
This is an incorrect reading for 通知.
7. あの人はプロのサッカー<u>選手</u>です。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
選手 (せんしゅ) means 'player' or 'athlete'. The sentence means 'That person is a professional soccer player.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 選手.
This is an incorrect reading for 選手. It could be 先週 (せんしゅう) meaning 'last week'.
This is an incorrect reading for 選手.
8. 試合に出られなかったのは、<u>実力</u>が足りなかったからだ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
実力 (じつりょく) means 'true ability' or 'actual strength'. The sentence means 'The reason I couldn't participate in the match was because I lacked the ability.'
Why other options are incorrect:
This is an incorrect reading for 実力.
This is the reading for 努力, meaning 'effort'.
This is an incorrect reading for 実力.
問題2____のことぼを渋字で書くとき、最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
9. わたしは、彼ならできると<u>しんじて</u>います。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
しんじて is the te-form of 信じる (しんじる), meaning 'to believe' or 'to trust'. The sentence means 'I believe he can do it.'
Why other options are incorrect:
真 (ま) means 'truth', but 真じる is not the correct kanji for 'to believe'.
心 (こころ) means 'heart' or 'mind', but 心じる is not the correct kanji for 'to believe'.
親 (おや) means 'parent', but 親じる is not the correct kanji for 'to believe'.
10. この店は夜<u>おそく</u>まで開いているので、とても便利だ。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
おそく is the adverbial form of 遅い (おそい), meaning 'late'. The correct kanji is 遅. The sentence means 'This shop is open until late at night, so it's very convenient.'
Why other options are incorrect:
達 (たつ) means 'to reach', but this kanji is not used for 'late'.
後 (あと) means 'after' or 'behind', but this kanji is not used for 'late'.
復 (ふく) means 'to restore' or 'to return', but this kanji is not used for 'late'.
11. この工場ではプラスチックの<u>ようき</u>を生産しています。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ようき is 容器 (ようき), meaning 'container'. The sentence means 'This factory produces plastic containers.'
Why other options are incorrect:
溶 (よう) means 'to melt', but 溶器 is not the correct kanji for 'container'.
機 (き) means 'machine', but 容機 is not the correct kanji for 'container'.
This is not a common word.
12. 今日は一日中歩いていたので、足が<u>つかれました</u>。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
つかれました is the past polite form of 疲れる (つかれる), meaning 'to get tired'. The correct kanji is 疲. The sentence means 'I walked all day today, so my legs got tired.'
Why other options are incorrect:
痛 (いた) means 'pain', but 痛れる is not a verb.
病 (やまい) means 'illness', but 病れる is not a verb.
症 (しょう) means 'symptom', but 症れる is not a verb.
13. お血は<u>かさねて</u>その棚にしまってください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
かさねて is the te-form of 重ねる (かさねる), meaning 'to stack' or 'to pile up'. The correct kanji is 重. The sentence means 'Please stack the dishes and put them on that shelf.'
Why other options are incorrect:
整 (ととのえる) means 'to arrange', but the reading is incorrect for かさねて.
列 (つらねる) means 'to line up', but the reading is incorrect for かさねて.
階 (かい) means 'floor' or 'story', but 階ねる is not a verb.
14. 今週は<u>ざんぎょう</u>が多かった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
ざんぎょう is 残業 (ざんぎょう), meaning 'overtime work'. The sentence means 'There was a lot of overtime work this week.'
Why other options are incorrect:
増 (ぞう) means 'increase', 勤 (きん) means 'duty', but 増勤 is not the correct kanji for 'overtime'.
This is not a common word.
This is not a common word.
問題3 ( ) に入れるのに最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
15. のどが( )、何か飲みたい。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
かわいたので (乾いたので) means 'because it's dry'. のどがかわく (to be thirsty) is a common expression. The sentence means 'My throat is dry, so I want to drink something.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ふらふら (fura fura) means 'dizzy' or 'wobbly'. It describes a physical state, not related to thirst.
べこべこ (beko beko) means 'dented' or 'hollow'. It describes a physical state of an object, not a throat.
すいた (空いた) means 'empty' or 'hungry'. It is used for the stomach (お腹がすいた), not the throat.
16. 工事のせいで道が( )していて、車が全然前に進まない。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
渋滞 (じゅうたい) means 'traffic jam' or 'congestion'. This fits the context of cars not moving forward due to construction. The sentence means 'Due to the construction, the road is congested, and cars aren't moving forward at all.'
Why other options are incorrect:
運休 (うんきゅう) means 'suspension of service', typically for public transport like trains or buses.
故障 (こしょう) means 'breakdown' or 'malfunction', typically for machines or equipment.
集中 (しゅうちゅう) means 'concentration' or 'focus'.
17. 車のエンジンの音が ( ) ので、修理をお願いした。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
おかしい (strange, odd, funny, wrong). In this context, it means the engine sound is 'strange' or 'not right'. The sentence means 'The car engine sound was strange, so I asked for a repair.'
Why other options are incorrect:
まずしい (貧しい) means 'poor' or 'needy', describing financial state or quality.
きびしい (厳しい) means 'strict' or 'severe', describing conditions or personality.
しつこい (persistent, nagging, heavy/rich taste). It describes a person's behavior or a taste, not a sound.
18. 時計が止まってしまったので、新しい電池に( )した。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
交換 (こうかん) means 'exchange' or 'replace'. This is the correct action for a battery in a stopped watch. The sentence means 'My watch stopped, so I replaced it with a new battery.'
Why other options are incorrect:
移動 (いどう) means 'movement' or 'transfer'.
変化 (へんか) means 'change'.
入力 (にゅうりょく) means 'input' (e.g., data, power).
19. 缶やペットボトルも捨てないで( )すれば、ごみは少なくなる。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
リサイクル (recycle) is the appropriate action for cans and plastic bottles to reduce trash. The sentence means 'If we don't throw away cans and plastic bottles and recycle them, there will be less trash.'
Why other options are incorrect:
キャンセル (cancel) means 'to cancel'.
カット (cut) means 'to cut'.
チェンジ (change) means 'to change'.
20. 林さんが結婚するという( )を聞いたが、本当かどうかはわからない。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
うわさ (rumor) fits the context of unconfirmed information about someone's marriage. The sentence means 'I heard a rumor that Mr. Hayashi is getting married, but I don't know if it's true.'
Why other options are incorrect:
文句 (もんく) means 'complaint'.
宣伝 (せんでん) means 'advertisement' or 'propaganda'.
うそ (lie) means 'a lie'. While the information might be a lie, 'rumor' is a more natural fit for unconfirmed information.
21.この講演会の参加者は( )学生だったが、ほかに主婦や会社員も少しいた。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
おもに (主に) means 'mainly' or 'primarily'. This fits the context that most participants were students, but there were also others. The sentence means 'The participants of this lecture were mainly students, but there were also some housewives and company employees.'
Why other options are incorrect:
かならず (必ず) means 'definitely' or 'without fail'. It implies 100% students, which contradicts 'ほかに...も少しいた' (there were also some others).
すべて (全て) means 'all' or 'everything'. This also implies 100% students, contradicting the rest of the sentence.
じゅうぶん (十分) means 'enough' or 'sufficient'.
22. こんな重要な仕事がわたしにできるかどうか、初めは( )だった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
不安 (ふあん) means 'anxiety' or 'unease'. It describes the feeling of uncertainty about one's ability to do an important job. The sentence means 'At first, I was anxious about whether I could do such an important job.'
Why other options are incorrect:
無理 (むり) means 'impossible' or 'unreasonable'. While the job might feel impossible, '不安' describes the feeling of the person.
退屈 (たいくつ) means 'boredom'.
苦手 (にがて) means 'poor at' or 'weak point'. It describes a skill, not a feeling about a task.
23. 都合が悪くなったときは、( )早く連絡してください。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
なるべく (as much as possible, as soon as possible) is used with verbs like 早く (quickly) to mean 'as quickly as possible'. The sentence means 'If circumstances become inconvenient, please contact me as soon as possible.'
Why other options are incorrect:
ずいぶん (very, extremely) is an intensifier, not used to express 'as much as possible'.
きっと (surely, certainly) expresses certainty.
さっそく (早速) means 'immediately' or 'at once', implying action without delay, but 'なるべく早く' is a common set phrase.
24. 会議の間、山田さんは目を( )いたので、寝ているのかと思った。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
とじて is the te-form of 閉じる (とじる), meaning 'to close (eyes, books, etc.)'. The sentence means 'During the meeting, Mr. Yamada had his eyes closed, so I thought he was sleeping.'
Why other options are incorrect:
とめて is the te-form of 止める (とめる), meaning 'to stop (movement)'.
やめて is the te-form of 止める (やめる) or 辞める (やめる), meaning 'to stop (an action)' or 'to quit'.
さげて is the te-form of 下げる (さげる), meaning 'to lower' or 'to hang down'.
25. セーターをきちんと ( )、たんすの引き出しにしまった。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
たたんで is the te-form of 畳む (たたむ), meaning 'to fold'. This is the correct action for putting a sweater into a drawer. The sentence means 'I neatly folded the sweater and put it in the dresser drawer.'
Why other options are incorrect:
締めて is the te-form of 締める (しめる), meaning 'to tighten' or 'to fasten'.
曲げて is the te-form of 曲げる (まげる), meaning 'to bend' or 'to curve'.
むすんで is the te-form of 結ぶ (むすぶ), meaning 'to tie' or 'to knot'.
問題4_に意味が最も近いものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
26. これと同じ<u>サイズ</u>の皿はありますか
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
サイズ (size) refers to the dimensions or magnitude of an object. 大きさ (おおきさ) also means 'size' or 'dimensions'. The sentence means 'Do you have a plate of the same size as this one?'
Why other options are incorrect:
値段 (ねだん) means 'price'.
色 (いろ) means 'color'.
形 (かたち) means 'shape'.
27. サラダはもう<u>注文しましたか</u>。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
注文しましたか (ちゅうもんしましたか) means 'Did you order?'. たのみましたか (頼みましたか) also means 'Did you order/request?'. The sentence means 'Did you already order the salad?'
Why other options are incorrect:
作りましたか (つくりましたか) means 'Did you make?'
食べましたか (たべましたか) means 'Did you eat?'
はこびましたか (運びましたか) means 'Did you carry/transport?'
28. すみませんが、もう一回<u>たしかめて</u>くれませんか。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
たしかめて (確かめて) means 'to confirm' or 'to check'. チェックして (check shite) means 'to check'. The sentence means 'Excuse me, could you please check it one more time?'
Why other options are incorrect:
コピーして (copy shite) means 'to copy'.
メモして (memo shite) means 'to make a note'.
メールして (mail shite) means 'to email'.
29. 山田さんは<u>このごろ</u>忙しそうですね。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
このごろ (these days, recently) is synonymous with さいきん (最近), which also means 'recently'. The sentence means 'Mr. Yamada seems busy these days, doesn't he?'
Why other options are incorrect:
ずっと means 'all the time' or 'continuously'.
いつも means 'always'.
まだ means 'still' or 'yet'.
30. さっきからあの子ばかり<u>しゃべって</u>いる。
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
しゃべって is the te-form of しゃべる, meaning 'to chat' or 'to talk'. 話して is the te-form of 話す (はなす), meaning 'to talk'. They are synonyms. The sentence means 'That child has been talking non-stop since a while ago.'
Why other options are incorrect:
騒いで is the te-form of 騒ぐ (さわぐ), meaning 'to make noise' or 'to be rowdy'.
答えて is the te-form of 答える (こたえる), meaning 'to answer'.
遊んで is the te-form of 遊ぶ (あそぶ), meaning 'to play'.
問題5 つぎのことばの使い方として最もよいものを、1・2・3・4から一つえらびなさい。
31. 建設
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
建設 (けんせつ) means 'construction' or 'building', typically used for large-scale structures like buildings, roads, or airports. Option 3 correctly uses it for building a new airport.
Why other options are incorrect:
本棚 (ほんだな: bookshelf) is too small for 建設. One would typically use 作る (つくる: to make) or 組み立てる (くみたてる: to assemble).
ベンチ (bench) is too small for 建設. One would typically use 作る (つくる: to make) or 設置する (せっちする: to install).
For ships (船), 造船 (ぞうせん: shipbuilding) or 作る (つくる: to make) is used, not 建設.
32. 身につける
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
身につける (みにつける) means 'to acquire (skills, knowledge)' or 'to wear (clothing)'. Option 3 correctly uses it in the sense of acquiring various skills.
Why other options are incorrect:
希望 (きぼう: hope) is something one has (希望を持っている), not something one 'acquires' in this sense.
尊敬 (そんけい: respect) is something one gains (尊敬を得る), not something one 'acquires' with 身につける.
顔と名前 (faces and names) are something one remembers (顔と名前を覚える), not something one 'acquires' with 身につける.
33. 発生
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
発生 (はっせい) means 'occurrence' or 'generation', often used for phenomena, problems, or substances like gas. Option 1 correctly uses it for the generation of dangerous gas.
Why other options are incorrect:
For people like researchers, 輩出する (はいしゅつする: to produce/turn out) or 育つ (そだつ: to grow) would be more appropriate, not 発生.
For shops, できた (were established) or 増えた (increased) would be more appropriate, not 発生.
For flowers, 咲く (さく: to bloom) or 咲き始める (さきはじめる: to start blooming) would be appropriate, not 発生.
34. にぎる
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
にぎる (握る) means 'to grasp' or 'to hold firmly in one's hand'. Option 2 correctly uses it for grasping a rope.
Why other options are incorrect:
For a bag tied with a string, 縛る (しばる: to tie) or 結ぶ (むすぶ: to tie) would be appropriate, not にぎる.
にぎる is for hands. For chopsticks (ほし), 掴む (つかむ: to grasp/hold) or 挟む (はさむ: to pinch/hold with chopsticks) would be appropriate.
For holding papers with a clip, 挟む (はさむ: to clip) or 留める (とめる: to fasten) would be appropriate, not にぎる.
35. だるい
Detailed Explanation
Why this is correct:
だるい (dull, sluggish, heavy, listless, tired) describes a physical feeling of fatigue or lack of energy, often due to illness. Option 3 correctly uses it to describe a heavy, tired feeling due to fever.
Why other options are incorrect:
For disappointment, 残念だった (ざんねんだった: was regrettable) or がっかりした (was disappointed) would be appropriate, not だるい.
For the sky, 曇っている (くもっている: cloudy) or どんよりしている (gloomy) would be appropriate, not だるい.
For a stuffy room, 蒸し暑い (むしあつい: humid) or 息苦しい (いきぐるしい: stuffy) would be appropriate, not だるい.