The correct answer is **認める (みとめる)**. In the context of a sentence like 「彼は自分の間違いを＿＿＿た。」 (He ___ his mistake.), **認める** means 'to admit' or 'to acknowledge' a fault or fact. This verb perfectly captures the act of accepting responsibility for one's error. **認める** has two main meanings relevant to the N2 level: 1. **To admit/acknowledge:** Used for facts, faults, defeat, etc. (e.g., 事実を認める - to admit the fact; 敗北を認める - to admit defeat). 2. **To recognize/approve:** Used for ability, value, qualifications, etc. (e.g., 彼の能力を認める - to recognize his ability; 正式な書類として認める - to approve it as an official document). Both meanings align with the provided English translation 'to recognize, to admit,' making it the ideal choice. Common Mistakes / Nuances: ❌ : **許す (yurusu)** means 'to forgive' or 'to permit'. It is incorrect here because one typically forgives *someone else's* mistake, or is forgiven by someone else. The sentence is about the subject acknowledging their *own* mistake. Saying 「自分の間違いを許す」 (to forgive one's own mistake) is grammatically possible but contextually strange; the natural expression is to 'admit' it. * **Correct usage:** 「友人の過ちを許す」 (I forgive my friend's mistake.) / 「外出を許す」 (to permit going out). ❌ : **疑う (utagau)** means 'to doubt' or 'to suspect'. This is the opposite of admitting. If you admit a mistake, you accept it as true. If you doubt it, you are questioning whether it was really a mistake. Therefore, it is logically incorrect in this context. * **Correct usage:** 「彼の話を疑う」 (I doubt his story.) / 「警察は彼を犯人だと疑っている」 (The police suspect he is the culprit). ❌ : **確かめる (tashikameru)** means 'to confirm' or 'to make sure'. This verb describes the action of verifying information or checking facts. While you might 'confirm' that you made a mistake (間違いを確かめる) *before* admitting it, the act of admission itself is **認める**. The sentence describes the final act of acknowledgement, not the preceding investigation. * **Correct usage:** 「予約が取れているか確かめる」 (I'll confirm if I have a reservation.) / 「火の元を確かめる」 (to make sure the gas is off).

正解は**認める（みとめる）**です。「彼は自分の間違いを＿＿＿た。」のような文脈において、**認める**は、自分の過ちや事実を「その通りであると判断して受け入れる」という意味を表します。自分の誤りを率直に受け入れる、という状況に最適な言葉です。 **認める**には、N2レベルで重要な意味が主に二つあります。 1. **認める (admit/acknowledge):** 事実、過ち、敗北などを受け入れること。（例：事実を認める、敗北を認める） 2. **認める (recognize/approve):** 能力、価値、資格などを評価し、正しいと判断すること。（例：彼の能力を認める、正式な書類として認める） 問題の英訳「to recognize, to admit」の両方の意味をカバーしており、この文脈に最もふさわしい選択肢です。 Common Mistakes / Nuances: ❌ : **許す (yurusu)** means 'to forgive' or 'to permit'. It is incorrect here because one typically forgives *someone else's* mistake, or is forgiven by someone else. The sentence is about the subject acknowledging their *own* mistake. Saying 「自分の間違いを許す」 (to forgive one's own mistake) is grammatically possible but contextually strange; the natural expression is to 'admit' it. * **Correct usage:** 「友人の過ちを許す」 (I forgive my friend's mistake.) / 「外出を許す」 (to permit going out). ❌ : **疑う (utagau)** means 'to doubt' or 'to suspect'. This is the opposite of admitting. If you admit a mistake, you accept it as true. If you doubt it, you are questioning whether it was really a mistake. Therefore, it is logically incorrect in this context. * **Correct usage:** 「彼の話を疑う」 (I doubt his story.) / 「警察は彼を犯人だと疑っている」 (The police suspect he is the culprit). ❌ : **確かめる (tashikameru)** means 'to confirm' or 'to make sure'. This verb describes the action of verifying information or checking facts. While you might 'confirm' that you made a mistake (間違いを確かめる) *before* admitting it, the act of admission itself is **認める**. The sentence describes the final act of acknowledgement, not the preceding investigation. * **Correct usage:** 「予約が取れているか確かめる」 (I'll confirm if I have a reservation.) / 「火の元を確かめる」 (to make sure the gas is off).