JLPT Vocab: Stop Translating, Start Pairing!

Hi everyone, as someone who has been tackling Japanese and the JLPT for over 10 years, I've noticed a common mistake many N2 and N1 learners make, especially in the Vocabulary section (文字・語彙).

That mistake is trying to literally translate every single word.

Have you ever been stuck between options that sound almost identical? For example:

• 開発 (kaihatsu - development)
• 発明 (hatsumei - invention)
• 発見 (hakken - discovery)

If you just translate them into English, they seem quite similar, making it hard to choose the right one in a specific sentence. This is a classic trap in the high-level JLPT. 😫

🔥 The Secret: Learn in Chunks (Collocations)

Instead of asking "What does this word mean?", you should be asking "What words does this word usually go with?". This is the key to "feeling" Japanese like a native speaker and securing points in this section.

Native speakers don't think in isolated words; they think in chunks. The JLPT is designed to test this ability.

A Real Example:

Question: 問題の解決のために、早急に対策を＿＿必要がある。 (In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to promptly ____ measures.)

1. 持つ (motsu)
2. する (suru)
3. 講じる (koujiru)
4. 取る (toru)

If you translate, you might think several options could work. But in Japanese, "to take measures" is an inseparable pair: 対策を講じる (taisaku o koujiru). The correct answer is 3.

Here are a few other common "power pairs":

• 責任を負う (sekinin o ou) - To bear responsibility
• 役割を果たす (yakuwari o hatasu) - To fulfill a role
• 興味をそそる (kyoumi o sosoru) - To arouse interest
• 損失を被る (sonshitsu o koumuru) - To suffer a loss

✍️ What should you do now?

1. Change your study method: When you learn a noun, immediately look up the verbs that often accompany it. When you learn a verb, see which nouns it frequently pairs with.
2. Make flashcards in chunks: Don't make a card that says "開発 = development". Instead, create cards like this:
   • Front: 対策を〜
   • Back: 講じる (koujiru) / 練る (neru)
3. Read a lot: When you're reading news articles or books, pay attention to and underline these collocations. Over time, you'll develop a very natural "feel" for the vocabulary.

Shifting from a translation mindset to a pairing mindset is the leap that will help you conquer the toughest vocabulary questions on the JLPT.

Good luck with your studies! 💪