Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "暇", "暇な", "無償", "逍遥"
All represent the core concept "free", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
暇
ひま (hima)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
暇な
ひまな (himana)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
無償
むしょう (mushō)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
逍遥
しょうよう (shouyou)
C2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "free" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "暇", "暇な", "無償", "逍遥" based on context.
- 暇 (ひま (hima) - Level: N5): Maps to "free time, leisure; to be free" and is used when な-adjective.
- 暇な (ひまな (himana) - Level: N4): Maps to "free (time); not busy" and is used when Used to describe having free time or not being busy. It is a な-adjective, so it takes な before a noun.
- 無償 (むしょう (mushō) - Level: N2): Maps to "free of charge, without compensation, gratuitous" and is used when Indicates that something is provided or done without expecting payment, reward, or compensation. Often used for volunteer work or charitable acts..
- 逍遥 (しょうよう (shouyou) - Level: C2): Maps to "free and easy wandering" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C2 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "暇"
今日は暇だから、映画を見に行きます。
I'm free today, so I'll go to see a movie.
Context for "暇な"
週末は暇なので、映画を見に行きます。
Since I'm free on the weekend, I'm going to watch a movie.
Context for "無償"
彼は地域社会のために無償で奉仕している。
He volunteers his services to the local community free of charge.
Context for "逍遥"
私は逍遥に興味があります。
I am interested in free and easy wandering.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "今日は ＿＿＿ だから、映画を見に行きます。" (Meaning: "I'm free today, so I'll go to see a movie.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "暇" is correct here because it represents "free time, leisure; to be free" in the context: "I'm free today, so I'll go to see a movie.".