N3 Vocabulary · Test 45

断る (ことわる) means 'to decline' or 'to refuse' an invitation, offer, or request. Option 4 correctly uses it to mean declining an invitation to a party because of a prior appointment.

• 1Here, 断って is used to mean 'to quit' a habit (smoking). The correct word for quitting a habit is やめる (止める).
• 2Here, 断って is used to mean 'to quit' a job or company. The correct word for quitting a job is やめる (辞める).
• 3Here, 断らないで is used to mean 'to give up' a dream. The correct word for giving up is あきらめる (諦める).

• 断ことわる — to decline, to refuse, to reject (an invitation or offer)

ゆるい (緩い) means 'loose' or 'not tight', typically referring to clothing, belts, screws, etc. Option 2 correctly uses it to describe pants being loose, which is why a belt needs to be tightened.

• 1Here, ゆるかった is used to mean 'not crowded' (for a train). The correct word for a train being empty or not crowded is すいている (空いている).
• 3Here, ゆるい is used to mean 'having extra space' (in a suitcase). The correct word for having space or being empty is すいている (空いている).
• 4Here, ゆるい is used to mean 'spacious' (for a house). The correct word for a house being spacious is ひろい (広い).

• ゆるい — loose, not tight

性格 (せいかく) means 'personality' or 'character' (of a person). Option 1 correctly uses it to describe a person's short-tempered personality.

• 2Here, 性格 is used to mean 'condition' (of a sports ground). The correct word for the condition or state of something is 状態 (じょうたい) or コンディション.
• 3Here, 性格 is used to mean 'characteristic' or 'feature' (of a car). The correct word for a distinguishing feature is 特徴 (とくちょう).
• 4Here, 性格 is used to mean 'mood' or 'feeling' (of a particular day). The correct word for a person's mood or feeling is 気分 (きぶん) or 機嫌 (きげん).

• 性格せいかく — personality, character

受け入れる (うけいれる) means 'to accept' or 'to admit' people, ideas, or situations into an organization or system. Option 1 correctly uses it to mean a university accepting/admitting international students.

• 2Here, 受け入れて is used to mean 'to receive' a physical object (a pamphlet). The correct word for receiving a physical object is 受け取る (うけとる).
• 3Here, 受け入れて is used to mean 'to accept' an application or request. The correct word for accepting applications is 受け付ける (うけつける).
• 4Here, 受け入れた is used to mean 'to adopt' or 'to incorporate' technology into a product. The correct word for adopting or incorporating something new is 取り入れる (とりいれる).

• 受け入れる（うけいれる） — to accept, to admit, to receive (people, ideas, etc.)

そろそろ means 'soon', 'before long', or 'it is about time to...'. It is often used when a certain time or state is approaching, prompting an action. Option 4 correctly uses it to mean 'it is getting to be about 12 o'clock, so let's take a lunch break'.

• 1Here, そろそろ is used to mean 'not easily' or 'still hasn't' (waiting for a bus). The correct word for something not happening easily or taking a long time is なかなか.
• 2Here, そろそろ is used to mean 'finally' or 'at last' (the washing machine broke). The correct word for something finally happening after a buildup is ついに.
• 3Here, そろそろ is used to mean 'finally' or 'at last' (finding a book). The correct word for finally finding something after searching is やっと.

• そろそろ — soon, before long, it is about time to...

The verb 包む（つつむ）means 'to wrap.' Its て-form is つつんで, which matches option 1. The sentence means 'The present was wrapped in pretty paper.'

• 2つづんで uses づ instead of つ — this is a deliberate dakuten trap; 包む never reads つづむ.
• 3つつつんで inserts an extra つ syllable; no such reading exists.
• 4つつづんで inserts an extra つ and uses づ; this is a distractor combining two errors.

• 包つつむ — to wrap

得意（とくい）means 'strong point / something one is good at.' The correct reading is とくい, option 4. The sentence means 'He is good at dancing.'

• 1どおくい inserts an extra お and voices the first syllable; not a real reading.
• 2とおくい inserts an extra お; not a real reading.
• 3どくい voices the first syllable (ど instead of と); 得意 is always とくい.

• 得意とくい — strong point; good at

発見（はっけん）means 'discovery.' 発 is normally はつ, but before a k-column sound (けん) it assimilates to はっ (促音化). So the correct reading is はっけん, option 1. The sentence means 'A new star was discovered.'

• 2はけん drops the small っ that results from assimilation; this is a common trap.
• 3はつけん fails to apply the assimilation to はっ; not the standard reading.
• 4ばつけん voices the first consonant (ば instead of は); 発 is never voiced here.

• 発見はっけん — discovery

表す（あらわす）means 'to express / to show.' Its て-form is あらわして, option 4. The sentence means 'This graph shows the change in population.'

• 1しめして would be 示す（しめす）'to indicate,' a near-synonym with a different kanji.
• 2ふやして is 増やす 'to increase,' unrelated to 表す.
• 3うごかして is 動かす 'to move,' unrelated to 表す.

• 表あらわす — to express; to show

件（けん）means 'matter / item / about.' The correct reading is けん, option 1. The phrase 〜の件で means 'about / regarding ~.' The sentence means 'Yamada-san called about next week's meeting.'

• 2あん is the reading of 案 'plan / idea,' a lookalike kanji.
• 3ほう is the reading of 報 'report,' unrelated to 件.
• 4よう is the reading of 用 'business / matter,' a near-synonym but wrong kanji.

• 件けん — matter; item; about