Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Passing" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "passing", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
合格
ごうかく (gōkaku)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
いきちがい
いきちがい (ikichigai)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "passing" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 合格 and いきちがい.
In Japanese, 合格 (ごうかく (gōkaku)) is typically associated with "passing an exam; eligibility" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to passing an exam or satisfying eligibility criteria. Can be used with する as a verb.
On the other hand, いきちがい (いきちがい (ikichigai)) maps to "passing each other; misunderstanding, cross-purpose" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Can refer to literally passing by someone without meeting, or more commonly, a communication breakdown or difference in understanding.. A literal translation of "passing" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context 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 Context for "いきちがい"
彼の説明と私の理解でいきちがいがあった。
There was a misunderstanding between his explanation and my understanding.
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 means "passing an exam; eligibility" in the context of: "Thanks to studying every day, I successfully passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.". "いきちがい" represents "passing each other; misunderstanding, cross-purpose".