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Quintuple VS

Synonym Boundary: "おかず", "脇", "側面", "副作用", "肩を持つ"

All represent the core concept "side", but require precise selection.

Japanese Option A

おかず

おかず (okazu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B

わき (waki)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C

側面

そくめん (sokumen)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D

副作用

ふくさよう (fukusayou)
B2 / CEFR
Japanese Option E

肩を持つ

かたをもつ (katawomotu)
C1 / CEFR

Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences

When expressing "side" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "おかず", "脇", "側面", "副作用", "肩を持つ" based on context.
  • おかず (おかず (okazu) - Level: N4): Maps to "side dish (to be eaten with rice)" and is used when Refers to any food item that accompanies rice in a Japanese meal, excluding the rice itself, soup, or pickles. It's the main accompaniment to rice..
  • (わき (waki) - Level: N3): Maps to "side; armpit; beside" and is used when Refers to the side of a person's body.
  • 側面 (そくめん (sokumen) - Level: N2): Maps to "side, aspect, flank" and is used when Refers to a particular aspect or facet of something, especially when discussing a complex issue from different angles. Can also mean the literal 'side' of an object..
  • 副作用 (ふくさよう (fukusayou) - Level: B2): Maps to "side effect" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
  • 肩を持つ (かたをもつ (katawomotu) - Level: C1): Maps to "to side with" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus..
Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!
Context for "おかず"
今晩のおかずは魚です。
Tonight's side dish is fish.
Context for "脇"
彼は本の脇にメモを挟んだ。
He put a note beside the book.
Context for "側面"
その計画には、いくつかの重要な側面がある。
That plan has several important aspects.
Context for "副作用"
私は副作用に興味があります。
I am interested in side effect.
Context for "肩を持つ"
毎日、日本語を練習するために肩を持つ。
Every day, I side with to practice Japanese.

Synonym Mastery Challenge

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "今晩の ___ は魚です。" (Meaning: "Tonight's side dish is fish.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "おかず" is correct here because it represents "side dish (to be eaten with rice)" in the context: "Tonight's side dish is fish.".

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