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Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "ふしん (fushin)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

不審

ふしん (fushin)
N3 / CEFR
VS
Kanji Option B

不振

ふしん (fushin)
N2 / CEFR

Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "ふしん (fushin)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.
  • 不審 (Level: N3): Translates to "suspicious; doubtful; shady; distrustful" and is used when Refers to being suspicious, doubtful, shady, or causing distrust in actions, appearance, or behavior. Often used as 不審な.
  • 不振 (Level: N2): Maps to "Stagnation, slump, poor performance" and carries the nuance of Describes a state where something is not performing well, such as business, economy, or sports teams. Often has a negative connotation..
Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!
Bilingual Context for "不審"
夜中に建物の周りをうろつく_______な人を見かけたので、すぐに警察に通報しました。
I saw a suspicious person loitering around the building at night, so I immediately reported it to the police.
Bilingual Context for "不振"
今年の売上は景気の悪化により不振だ。
This year's sales are in a slump due to the economic downturn.

Kanji Selection Quiz

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "夜中に建物の周りをうろつく_______な人を見かけたので、すぐに警察に通報しました。" (Meaning: "I saw a suspicious person loitering around the building at night, so I immediately reported it to the police.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "不審" is used for "suspicious; doubtful; shady; distrustful" in the context: "I saw a suspicious person loitering around the building at night, so I immediately reported it to the police.".

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