Degrees, papers, conferences and the people who supervise them.
Practise this list
From these 41 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Academic Japanese leans on a few kanji that keep returning, above all 学 and 論: 論文, 学会, 学説, 学位. Two words trip English speakers. 研究室 is not just a laboratory: it is a professor's research group, and students of literature belong to one too. And 奨学金 is translated "scholarship", although many of them are loans that have to be paid back.
The words
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Verb (1)
論じるto discuss; to argueVerbN2
この本は、言語と社会の関係を論じている。This book discusses the relationship between language and society.
Noun (40)
学術scholarship; academic (study)NounN2
学術論文は、専門外の人には読みにくい。Academic papers are hard going for people outside the field.
Mostly before a noun: 学術論文, 学術会議.
論文paper; thesis; dissertationNounN3
締め切りまでに論文を書き上げなければならない。I have to finish writing my paper before the deadline.
教授professorNounN3
田中教授の講義はいつも満席だ。Professor Tanaka's lectures are always full.
A title after a name; to their face, 先生.
研究室laboratory; a professor's research groupNounN2
四年生になると、研究室に所属して卒論を書く。In their fourth year, students join a research group and write a graduation thesis.
Both the room and the group of students under one professor.
学会academic society; academic conferenceNounN2
来月、京都で開かれる学会で発表する。Next month I am presenting at a conference in Kyoto.
奨学金scholarship; student loanNounN2
奨学金を借りながら大学に通っている。I am going to university on a student loan.
Many have to be paid back, so "student loan" is often the better translation.
准教授associate professorNounN2
彼女は三十代で准教授になった。She became an associate professor in her thirties.
助教assistant professorNounN2
彼は助教として母校に採用された。He was taken on as an assistant professor at his old university.
Below 准教授 and, where the post exists, a lecturer (講師).
修士master's (degree)NounN2
働きながら修士課程を修了した。I completed a master's course while working.
博士doctorate; doctor (title)NounN2
彼は物理学の博士号を持っている。He has a doctorate in physics.
Read はくし for the degree; はかせ is the everyday word for a learned person.
学位academic degreeNounN2
学位を取るために、三年かけて研究を続けた。I spent three years on my research to get the degree.
卒論graduation thesisNounN2
卒論のテーマがなかなか決まらない。I just cannot settle on a topic for my graduation thesis.
Short for 卒業論文.
指導教員academic supervisorNounN2
指導教員に論文の構成を見てもらった。I had my supervisor look over the structure of my thesis.
履修taking (a course)NounN2
今学期は十科目を履修している。I am taking ten courses this term.
Registering for a course is 履修登録.
学問learning; scholarship; disciplineNounN2
学問に近道はない。There are no shortcuts in learning.
Learning as a pursuit, not studying for a test (勉強).
文系humanities and social sciencesNounN2
高校二年で、文系か理系かを選ぶことが多い。Students often choose between arts and sciences in their second year of high school.
理系sciencesNounN2
理系の学生は実験が多くて忙しい。Science students are kept busy with lots of lab work.
参考文献references; bibliographyNounN2
論文の最後には、参考文献を必ず載せること。A paper must always end with a list of references.
引用quotation; citationNounN2
他人の文章を引用するときは、出所をはっきり書く。When you quote someone else's writing, you state clearly where it comes from.
Also a verb: 引用する.
先行研究previous research; the existing literatureNounN2
まず先行研究を調べて、まだ分かっていないことを探す。First you go through the existing research and look for what is still unknown.
査読peer reviewNounN2
その論文は査読を経て専門誌に掲載された。The paper was published in a specialist journal after peer review.
学説theory (held by scholars)NounN2
この学説は、今では誤りだったとされている。This theory is now considered to have been wrong.
分野field; areaNounN3
彼はこの分野の第一人者だ。He is the leading authority in this field.
知見findings; insightNounN2
この研究から、新しい知見が得られた。This study produced new findings.
学者scholar; academicNounN2
この問題については、学者の間でも意見が分かれている。Even scholars are divided on this question.
研究費research fundingNounN2
研究費が削られて、実験を続けられなくなった。Our research funding was cut and we could no longer continue the experiments.
考察discussion; examinationNounN2
結果を並べるだけでなく、考察を加えなければならない。You must not just list the results; you have to discuss them.
In a paper, the discussion section.
要旨abstract; summaryNounN2
発表の要旨を四百字以内でまとめてください。Please summarise your talk in an abstract of no more than four hundred characters.
序論introduction (of a paper)NounN2
序論では、研究の目的をはっきり示す必要がある。The introduction needs to set out the aim of the research clearly.
教養general education; cultureNounN2
一年生のうちは、教養科目が中心だ。In the first year, the courses are mostly general education.
Also being cultivated: 教養のある人.
生涯学習lifelong learningNounN2
父は退職してから、生涯学習センターで歴史を学んでいる。Since retiring, my father has been studying history at an adult education centre.
講座course (of lectures); chairNounN2
市の文化センターで、中国語の講座に申し込んだ。I signed up for a Chinese course at the city cultural centre.
盗用plagiarism; misappropriationNounN2
論文の盗用が発覚し、学位が取り消された。The plagiarism in the thesis came to light, and the degree was withdrawn.
学長university presidentNounN2
入学式で学長が挨拶をした。The president of the university spoke at the entrance ceremony.
学科department; course of studyNounN2
姉は大学で英文学科に進んだ。My sister went on to study in the English department at university.
共同研究joint researchNounN2
海外の大学と共同研究を進めている。We are carrying out joint research with a university abroad.
講演lecture; public talkNounN2
有名な作家の講演を聞きに行った。I went to hear a talk by a famous writer.
A public talk; a university lecture is 講義.
院生graduate studentNounN2
研究室には院生が五人いる。There are five graduate students in the research group.
Short for 大学院生.
出典source (of a quotation or figure)NounN2
この図には出典が書かれていない。This figure does not give its source.
執筆writing (a book or article)NounN2
教授は今、新しい本を執筆している。The professor is currently writing a new book.
