Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "意見" vs "説明"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
意見
いけん (iken)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
説明
せつめい (setsumei)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 意見 and 説明 are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
意見 (いけん (iken)) represents "opinion, view" (Level: N4) and typically represents Used to express one's thoughts or views on a matter. Often paired with verbs like 言う.
On the other hand, 説明 (せつめい (setsumei)) translates to "explanation, description" (Level: N4) and is used for The act of clarifying or describing something. Often used with する. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "意見"
皆さんの意見を聞かせてください。
Please let me hear everyone's opinions.
Bilingual Sentence for "説明"
先生が新しい文法を説明しました。
The teacher explained the new grammar.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "皆さんの ＿＿＿ を聞かせてください。" (Meaning: "Please let me hear everyone's opinions.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "意見" fits here because it represents "opinion, view" in the context: "Please let me hear everyone's opinions.".