JLPT N2 - Advanced Japanese Grammar, Kanji & Reading Flashcards

Question 1

Grammar: 〜わけだ (wake da)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'For that reason', 'it stands to reason that', 'no wonder'. Used to state a logical conclusion based on a cause or circumstance.

Connection: Plain form + わけだ (Na-adj: 〜なわけだ, Noun: 〜（という）わけだ)

Example: 寒いわけだ。雪が降っている。(No wonder it's cold. It's snowing.)

Question 2

Grammar: 〜ものか / 〜もんか (mono ka / mon ka)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'As if...', 'There's no way that...', 'Definitely not'. Expresses strong personal rejection, determination, or emphatic denial (informal/spoken).

Connection: Plain form + ものか (Na-adj: 〜なものか, Noun: 〜なものか)

Example: あんな店、二度と行くものか。(As if I'd ever go to a restaurant like that again!)

Question 3

Grammar: 〜につれて (ni tsure te)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'As...', 'in proportion to...'. Indicates that as one change occurs, another change happens simultaneously in one direction.

Connection: Noun / Verb (Dict form) + につれて

Example: 年を取るにつれて、記憶力が低下する。(As one gets older, memory ability declines.)

Nuance: Used for natural, non-intentional proportional changes.

Question 4

Grammar: 〜限り (kagiri) vs. 〜限りの (kagiri no)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'As long as...', 'To the extent of...'

Usage 1 (Condition): Verb (Plain) + 限り → As long as the condition continues. (例: 日本にいる限り、日本語を使う。)

Usage 2 (Limit/Max effort): Verb (Dict) / Noun + 限りの → To the utmost limit. (例: 力の限りの力を尽くす。)

Question 5

Grammar: 〜に違いない (ni chigainai) vs. 〜に相違ない (ni sōinai)

Accepted Answer

Both mean 'Must be...', 'There is no doubt that...'

Nuance Distinction:
• 〜に違いない: Standard formal/spoken expression for strong conjecture.
• 〜に相違ない: Formal written/academic equivalent (often seen in reading passages and essays).

Example: 犯人は彼に違いない / 相違ない。(The culprit must be him.)

Question 6

Grammar: 〜にすぎない (ni suginai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'Is nothing more than...', 'merely...', 'only...'. Downplays the importance or quantity of something.

Connection: Verb (Plain) / Noun / Na-adj (である) + にすぎない

Example: それは単なる噂にすぎない。(That is merely a rumor.)

Question 7

Grammar: 〜ようがない (yō ga nai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'There is no way to...', 'It is impossible to...'. Indicates that even if one wants to do something, the means/method does not exist.

Connection: Verb Stem (Masu-form without ます) + ようがない

Example: 電車もバスも止まっているので、行きようがない。(Trains and buses have stopped, so there's no way to go.)

Question 8

Grammar: 〜をめぐって (o megutte)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'Concerning...', 'surrounding...', 'over (a dispute/discussion)'. Used when multiple people or parties debate or conflict over an issue.

Connection: Noun + をめぐって / をめぐる + Noun

Example: 新しい政策をめぐって、議論が続いている。(Discussions continue over the new policy.)

Question 9

Grammar: 〜おそれがある (osore ga aru)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'There is a risk/danger that...'

Connection: Verb (Dict form) / Noun + の + おそれがある

Context: Used in news reports and formal writing to warn about potential negative outcomes.

Example: 台風が接近しており、大雨になるおそれがあります。(A typhoon is approaching, and there is a danger of heavy rain.)

Question 10

Grammar: 〜ざるを得ない (zaru o enai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'Cannot help but...', 'have no choice but to...'. Expresses logical or situational necessity despite personal preference.

Connection: Verb Negative Stem (Nai-form without ない) + ざるを得ない
* Exception: する → せざるを得ない

Example: 上司の命令なら、従わざるを得ない。(If it's an order from the boss, I have no choice but to obey.)

Question 11

Grammar: 〜にしては (ni shite wa) vs. 〜わりに(は) (wari ni wa)

Accepted Answer

Both mean 'considering that...' or 'for a...'

Difference:
• 〜にしては: Used when evaluated against a specific, concrete standard or fact (e.g., 彼は外国人にしては日本語が上手だ).
• 〜わりに(は): Used when comparing a relative scale/proportion where expected result differs from reality (e.g., 値段のわりにはおいしい).

Question 12

Grammar: 〜まい (mai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning:
1. 'Will not / Intend not to' (Volitional negative)
2. 'Probably not' (Negative conjecture)

Connection:
• Group 1 verbs: Dict form + まい (例: 書くまい)
• Group 2 verbs: Stem + まい / Dict + まい (例: 食べるまい)
• する → するまい / すまい | くる → くるまい / こまい

Example: 二度とあのような過ちは犯すまい。(I shall never make such a mistake again.)

Question 13

Kanji Strategy: Common N2 Negative Prefixes

Accepted Answer

Key Prefixes indicating negation or absence:

1. 未 (み - Mi): 'Not yet' (例: 未定 - undecided, 未知 - unknown)
2. 無 (む - Mu): 'Without/No' (例: 無料 - free of charge, 無断 - without permission)
3. 非 (ひ - Hi): 'Non-/Un-' (例: 非常識 - lacking common sense, 非公式 - unofficial)
4. 不 (ふ/ぶ - Fu/Bu): 'Not/Bad' (例: 不安 - uneasy, 不正 - injustice)

Question 14

Kanji Strategy: Formal Abstract Suffixes

Accepted Answer

High-yield suffixes for N2 reading passages:

1. 〜化 (か - ka): '-ization' (例: 温暖化 - global warming, 少子化 - declining birthrate)
2. 〜性 (せい - sei): '-ity / nature' (例: 可能性 - possibility, 危険性 - risk level)
3. 〜感 (かん - kan): 'Feeling of' (例: 責任感 - sense of responsibility, 満足感 - feeling of satisfaction)

Question 15

Reading Vocab: Key Argumentation Terms

Accepted Answer

Words frequently signaling author's logical framework:

• 抽象的 (ちゅうしょうてき): Abstract
• 具体的 (ぐたいてき): Concrete/Specific
• 普遍的 (ふへんてき): Universal/Widespread
• 特殊 (とくしゅ): Special/Peculiar
• 筆者 (ひっしゃ): The author

Question 16

Reading Strategy: Spotting the Author's Main Claim (筆者の主張)

Accepted Answer

Key strategy for N2 Reading Comprehension (読解):

Look near the END of paragraphs and the entire passage for strong assertion patterns:
• 〜のではないだろうか (Is it not the case that...?)
• 〜べきだ / 〜べきではない (Should / Should not)
• 〜にほかならない (Is nothing other than)
• むしろ〜 (Rather...)

Question 17

Reading Strategy: Transition Markers (接続詞)

Accepted Answer

Pay close attention to contrast markers that signal a shift in thought:

• しかし / ただし: 'However' (Introduces main counterpoint or exception)
• 一方で (いっぽうで): 'On the other hand'
• 要するに (ようするに) / つまり: 'In short / In other words' (Summarizes the author's core point)

Question 18

Reading Strategy: Information Search (情報検索)

Accepted Answer

Strategy for the final N2 reading question:

1. Read the **questions and criteria first**, NOT the full document.
2. Note specific constraints (e.g., age, budget, deadlines, conditions).
3. Scan titles, bullet points, and asterisked footnotes (*) which often contain key conditions.
4. Eliminate options that break even one constraint.

Question 19

Grammar: 〜わけにはいかない (wake ni wa ikanai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'Cannot afford to...', 'Must not...' (due to social norms, moral obligation, or psychological resistance).

Connection: Verb (Dict form) + わけにはいかない

Example: 明日テストがあるから、今夜は遊ぶわけにはいかない。(I have a test tomorrow, so I can't afford to go out playing tonight.)

Question 20

Grammar: 〜にほかならない (ni hoka nara nai)

Accepted Answer

Meaning: 'Is nothing other than...', 'Is none other than...'. Expresses a strong, definitive opinion by the speaker.

Connection: Noun + にほかならない

Context: High-yield in N2 Reading Passages for stating core reasons/conclusions.

Example: 彼の成功は、努力の結果にほかならない。(His success is nothing other than the result of hard work.)

JLPT N2 - Advanced Japanese Grammar, Kanji & Reading

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