Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "合格" vs "不合格"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
合格
ごうかく (gōkaku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
不合格
ふごうかく (fugōkaku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 合格 and 不合格 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
合格 (ごうかく (gōkaku)) represents "passing an exam; eligibility" (Level: N3) and typically represents Refers to passing an exam or satisfying eligibility criteria. Can be used with する as a verb.
On the other hand, 不合格 (ふごうかく (fugōkaku)) translates to "failing an exam; rejection" (Level: N3) and is used for Refers to failing an exam or not satisfying eligibility criteria. Can be used with する as a verb. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "合格"
毎日勉強したおかげで、無事に日本語能力試験に合格しました。
Thanks to studying every day, I successfully passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Bilingual Sentence for "不合格"
残念ながら、今回の採用試験は不合格でした。
Regrettably, I failed the employment exam this time.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "毎日勉強したおかげで、無事に日本語能力試験に ＿＿＿ しました。" (Meaning: "Thanks to studying every day, I successfully passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "合格" fits here because it represents "passing an exam; eligibility" in the context: "Thanks to studying every day, I successfully passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.".