Kanji Homophone Battle
Pronunciation Trap: "いらい (irai)"
Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.
Kanji Option A
依頼
いらい (irai)
N3 / CEFR
VS
Kanji Option B
以来
いらい (irai)
N3 / CEFR
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "いらい (irai)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.
- 依頼 (Level: N3): Translates to "request, commission, ask (someone to do something)" and is used when Often used when asking a favor or task, especially in a business or formal context, but also applicable in daily life. Can be used as a noun.
- 以来 (Level: N3): Maps to "since (a certain event/time), ever since" and carries the nuance of Indicates continuity from a specific past point in time or event up to the present. Often used in the pattern 'X 以来 Y'.
Bilingual Context for "依頼"
仕事の依頼がありました。
There was a request for work.
Bilingual Context for "以来"
日本に来て以来、毎日日本語を勉強しています。
Since coming to Japan, I've been studying Japanese every day.
Kanji Selection Quiz
Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?
Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "仕事の ＿＿＿ がありました。" (Meaning: "There was a request for work.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Correct! "依頼" is used for "request, commission, ask (someone to do something)" in the context: "There was a request for work.".