Lesson L7N2N2 Kanji in Context⏱ 25 min

Science and Research Kanji

This lesson introduces kanji such as 究 (research), 科 (science), 実 (actual), and others that frequently appear in academic and technical writing. Each kanji is presented with common compounds and contextual usage to help you understand how they are used in real Japanese texts.

🎯 Goal: Learn N2 kanji related to science and research in context.

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to recognize, read, and use 8 N2-level kanji commonly found in science and research contexts. You will understand their meanings, common readings, and how they appear in real academic vocabulary.

Concept

Science and research in Japanese use many kanji that express ideas like "experiment," "theory," "data," and "analysis." These kanji often combine to form technical terms. Instead of memorizing them in isolation, you will learn them through meaningful, real-world examples.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. 実 (jitsu) – truth, reality, fruit

On'yomi: じつ (jitsu)
Kun'yomi: み (mi), みのる (minoru)
Common compounds:
- 実験 (じっけん, jikken) – experiment
- 実例 (じつれい, jitsurei) – actual example
- 実用 (じつよう, jitsuyō) – practical use

2. 験 (ken) – test, examine

On'yomi: けん (ken)
Kun'yomi: あかし (akashi), ためす (tamesu)
Common compounds:
- 実験 (じっけん, jikken) – experiment
- 試験 (しけん, shiken) – test, exam
- 経験 (けいけん, keiken) – experience

3. 理 (ri) – reason, logic, principle

On'yomi: り (ri)
Kun'yomi: ことわり (kotowari)
Common compounds:
- 理論 (りろん, riron) – theory
- 理科 (りか, rika) – science (school subject)
- 管理 (かんり, kanri) – management

4. 論 (ron) – argument, theory

On'yomi: ろん (ron)
Kun'yomi: あげつらう (agetsurau)
Common compounds:
- 理論 (りろん, riron) – theory
- 議論 (ぎろん, giron) – discussion, debate
- 論文 (ろんぶん, ronbun) – thesis, paper

5. 研 (ken) – polish, study

On'yomi: けん (ken)
Kun'yomi: とぐ (togu)
Common compounds:
- 研究 (けんきゅう, kenkyū) – research
- 研修 (けんしゅう, kenshū) – training
- 研磨 (けんま, kenma) – polishing, grinding

6. 究 (kyū) – research, investigate

On'yomi: きゅう (kyū)
Kun'yomi: きわめる (kiwameru)
Common compounds:
- 研究 (けんきゅう, kenkyū) – research
- 究極 (きゅうきょく, kyūkyoku) – ultimate
- 探究 (たんきゅう, tankyū) – inquiry, exploration

7. 析 (seki) – analyze, split

On'yomi: せき (seki)
Kun'yomi: (rarely used alone)
Common compounds:
- 分析 (ぶんせき, bunseki) – analysis
- 解析 (かいせき, kaiseki) – analysis (math/tech)
- 析出 (せきしゅつ, sekishutsu) – precipitation (chemistry)

8. 証 (shō) – evidence, proof

On'yomi: しょう (shō)
Kun'yomi: あかし (akashi)
Common compounds:
- 証明 (しょうめい, shōmei) – proof, certification
- 証拠 (しょうこ, shōko) – evidence
- 実験証 (じっけんしょう, jikkenshō) – experimental evidence

Mini Examples

Japanese	Romaji	English
実験の結果を分析する。	Jikken no kekka o bunseki suru.	Analyze the results of the experiment.
この理論は証明された。	Kono riron wa shōmei sareta.	This theory was proven.
研究論文を書いている。	Kenkyū ronbun o kaite iru.	I am writing a research paper.
証拠に基づいて議論する。	Shōko ni motozuite giron suru.	Discuss based on evidence.

Common Mistake

❌ Confusing 研究 (kenkyū) and 研修 (kenshū)

研究 = research (academic or scientific investigation)
研修 = training (practical skill development)

Example mistake:
❌ 大学で研修をしています。 (I am doing training at university.)
✅ 大学で研究をしています。 (I am doing research at university.)

Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct kanji from this lesson.

この___験 (じっけん) は成功した。
→ Answer: 実
データを___析 (ぶんせき) する必要がある。
→ Answer: 分
新しい___論 (りろん) を___究 (けんきゅう) している。
→ Answer: 理, 研
___明 (しょうめい) された___拠 (しょうこ) はない。
→ Answer: 証, 証

Summary and Next Step

You learned 8 key N2 kanji for science and research: 実, 験, 理, 論, 研, 究, 析, 証. These appear frequently in academic articles, news, and technical documents.

Next step: Practice reading short science news headlines in Japanese. Look for these kanji in context. Try writing one sentence per kanji compound using a dictionary.