Science and Technology Vocabulary

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize and use 20 N2-level vocabulary words related to science and technology. You will understand how these words are formed, how they differ from similar words, and how to use them in context.

N2 science and technology vocabulary often uses common kanji to build precise, technical meanings. Many words share a root kanji (like 体 karada — body, or 低 hikui — low) but add different suffixes or prefixes to create specific terms. Understanding these building blocks helps you guess the meaning of new words you encounter.体低

1. Words with 低 (low)

The kanji 低 (tei, hikui) means "low" in height, level, or degree.低

How they work:

• 低下 = 低 (low) + 下 (down) → a lowering or decline低下
• 低価格 = 低 (low) + 価格 (price) → low price低価格
• 低気圧 = 低 (low) + 気圧 (atmospheric pressure) → low pressure system低気圧

2. Words with 体 (body)

The kanji 体 (karada, tai) means "body." Combined with other kanji, it creates words about the body and physical state.体

Important distinction:

• 体型 (taikei) = body shape (how you look)体型
• 体格 (taikaku) = body build (size, strength)体格
• 体調 (taichou) = body condition (how you feel)体調
• 体質 (taishitsu) = body constitution (your natural tendencies)体質

3. Words with 住 (live) and 宅 (house)

4. Words with 作 (make) and 使 (use)

How they work:

• 作り上げる = 作り (making) + 上げる (to raise/complete) → to build up to completion作上
• 使い分ける = 使い (using) + 分ける (to divide/separate) → to use separately for different purposes使分

5. Words with 何 (what) and 使 (mission)

Note: 何らか (nanraka) is a formal, written expression meaning "some kind of" or "some." It's different from 何か (nanika — something).何

1. 経済が低下している。
   Keizai ga teika shite iru.
   The economy is declining.経済低下

   経済低下

2. この薬は体内でゆっくり溶ける。
   Kono kusuri wa tainai de yukkuri tokeru.
   This medicine dissolves slowly inside the body.薬体内溶

   薬体内溶

3. 彼は体格がいい。
   Kare wa taikaku ga ii.
   He has a good physique.彼体格

   彼体格

4. 体調が悪いので、休みます。
   Taichou ga warui node, yasumimasu.
   I'll take a rest because I'm not feeling well (my physical condition is bad).体調悪休

   体調悪休

5. 新しいシステムを作り上げるのに時間がかかった。
   Atarashii shisutemu o tsukuriageru no ni jikan ga kakatta.
   It took time to build up the new system.新作上時間

   新作上時間

6. 彼女は使命を果たした。
   Kanojo wa shimei o hatashita.
   She fulfilled her mission.彼女使命果

   彼女使命果

7. 何度も同じ実験を繰り返した。
   Nando mo onaji jikken o kurikaeshita.
   I repeated the same experiment many times.何度同実験繰

   何度同実験繰

8. このソフトは目的によって使い分ける必要がある。
   Kono sofuto wa mokuteki ni yotte tsukaiwakeru hitsuyou ga aru.
   You need to use this software differently depending on the purpose.目的使分必要

   目的使分必要

❌ Mixing up 体型 and 体格体型格

• 体型 (taikei) = body shape (slim, curvy, etc.)体型
• 体格 (taikaku) = body build (large, small, muscular)体格

Example of wrong usage:
❌ 彼女はいい体格をしている。(She has a good physique — sounds like she's big/strong)
✅ 彼女はいい体型をしている。(She has a good figure — sounds like she's well-proportioned)彼女体格型

❌ Using 何らか like 何か何

• 何らか (nanraka) = "some kind of" (formal, written)何
• 何か (nanika) = "something" (casual, spoken)何

Example:
❌ 何らか食べたい。(I want to eat something — too formal)
✅ 何か食べたい。(I want to eat something — natural)何食

Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the lesson.

1. 運動不足で体力が___した。
   Undou busoku de tairyoku ga ___ shita.
   (My physical strength declined due to lack of exercise.)
   → Answer: 低下 (teika)運動不足体力

   運動不足体力

2. この地域は新しい___として開発された。
   Kono chiiki wa atarashii ___ to shite kaihatsu sareta.
   (This area was developed as a new residential district.)
   → Answer: 住宅地 (juutakuchi)地域新開発住

   地域新開発住

3. 彼は___が弱く、風邪を引きやすい。
   Kare wa ___ ga yowaku, kaze o hikiyasui.
   (He has a weak constitution and catches colds easily.)
   → Answer: 体質 (taishitsu)彼弱風邪引体

   彼弱風邪引体

4. この機械は___で使うことはできない。
   Kono kikai wa ___ de tsukau koto wa dekinai.
   (This machine cannot be used outside the body.)
   → Answer: 体外 (taigai)機械使体外

   機械使体外

5. 書類を___して、提出してください。
   Shorui o ___ shite, teishutsu shite kudasai.
   (Please prepare the document and submit it.)
   → Answer: 作成 (sakusei)書類提出作成

   書類提出作成

You've learned 20 N2 vocabulary words organized by their kanji roots:

• 低 (tei) words: decline, low price, low pressure低
• 体 (tai) words: body interior, body shape, physique, condition, constitution, sensation, experience, system体
• 住/宅 (juu/taku) words: dwelling, residential district住宅
• 作/使 (saku/tsukai) words: build up, create, use properly作使
• 何/使 (nan/shi) words: some kind, many times, mission何使

Next step: Practice using these words in sentences about science, technology, and daily life. Try to find them in news articles or technical documents. In the next lesson, we'll cover more N2 vocabulary related to environment and nature.