JLPT N1 kanji readings: choose the word

The idea

Compounds have established readings: 矛盾 is むじゅん, 慎重 is しんちょう, and 隠蔽 is いんぺい. Learn each spelling with its meaning and sound rather than assembling a reading from isolated characters.

Examples

• 彼かれの言動げんどうには矛盾むじゅんがあります。There is a contradiction in his words and actions.
• 資料しりょうを慎重しんちょうに検討けんとうします。We will examine the materials carefully.
• 交渉こうしょうは難航なんこうしています。The negotiations are making difficult progress.
• 新あたらしい制度せいどが徐々じょじょに浸透しんとうしています。The new system is gradually taking hold.
• 証拠しょうこを隠蔽いんぺいすることはできません。You cannot conceal the evidence.
• 予算よさんの削減さくげんを余儀よぎなくされました。We were forced to cut the budget.

Watch out

A familiar character may have several readings. Do not drop the long vowel in ちょう or miss the voiced ぺ in ぺい. JLPT does not publish an official kanji list, so N1 is an estimated practice level.

Try it yourself

1. 彼の言動には矛盾があります。矛盾（むじゅん／むじゅう／ぼじゅん）

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   むじゅん

   矛盾 is むじゅん: the word means a contradiction between things.

2. 資料を慎重に検討します。慎重（しんちょう／しんじゅう／しんちょ）

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   しんちょう

   慎重 is しんちょう: the long vowel in ちょう matters; the word means careful.

3. 証拠を隠蔽することはできません。隠蔽（いんぺい／いんへい／おんぺい）

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   いんぺい

   隠蔽 is いんぺい: ぺ is voiced with a handakuten; the word means concealment.

Use it today

Choose the reading, then say the word aloud and explain its meaning.