Military words are back in the headlines after Russia launches an invasion of Ukraine

Harrowing scenes from Ukraine proceed to make headlines as Russia reveals no indicators of stopping its march into the impartial nation. That has meant a whole lot of protection on the information and a whole lot of new vocabulary.

The primary kanji you may be noticing extra is 露 (tsuyu/ro/rō). The character represents “dew,” “tears” and “publicity,” and you could have seen it in phrases like 露見 (roken, discovery [of a plot/misdeed]) or 披露宴 (hirōen, reception [for weddings]). Nevertheless, this kanji additionally represents “Russia.”

Check out this headline from the Sankei Shimbun: 露の「非友好国」指定に日本抗議 (Ro[shia] no “hiyūkō koku” shitei ni Nihon kōgi, Japan protests “unfriendly nation” designation by Russia). Through the use of the 露 kanji by itself, reasonably than spelling out ロシア (Roshia, Russia), the headline author saves house.

Katakana is primarily used to put in writing the names of international international locations, however neighboring nations and people with historic significance to Japan even have kanji variations. It’s necessary to notice that Ukraine is being written in katakana as ウクライナ (Ukuraina).

ロシアとウクライナの緊張は、プーチンが旧ソ連諸国への影響力を示すことによってエスカレートした (Roshia to Ukuraina no kinchō wa, Pūchin ga kyū Soren shokoku e no eikyōryoku o shimesu koto ni yotte esukarēto shita, Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin sought to claim his affect over the previous Soviet republic).

武力紛争を避けるために様々な国が外交的手段を尽くしてきた (Buryokufunsō o sakeru tame ni sama-zama na kuni ga gaikōteki shudan o tsukushite-kita, Varied international locations have tried utilizing diplomacy as a strategy to keep away from an armed battle).

However regardless of these efforts, ロシアの軍事侵攻が始まってしまった (Roshia no gunji shinkō ga hajimatteshimatta, Russia’s army invasion [of Ukraine] was nonetheless began).

When studying concerning the present battle, it may be good to have a dictionary useful. One time period that comes up pretty usually is 外交的 (gaikōteki, diplomatic). Within the sentence above, the phrase 外交的手段 (gaikōteki shudan, diplomatic means) is being translated as “diplomacy.” You might have seen the time period 外交的ボイコット (gaikōteki boikotto, diplomatic boycott) used previous to the Beijing Olympics, although, as many countries refused to ship representatives to the opening ceremony in protest of China’s report on 人権 (jinken, human rights).

In response to the 軍事侵攻 (gunji shinkō, army invasion), the USA and the European Union have imposed 経済制裁 (keizai seisai, financial sanctions) on Russia which have to date included measures such because the 資産凍結 (shisan tōketsu, belongings freezing) of プーチン大統領 (Pūchin daitōryō, President Putin) and the 承認停止 (shōnin teishi, suspension of approval) of the 天然ガスパイプライン「ノルドストリーム2」 (ten’nen gasu paipurain norudosutorīmu tsū, Nord Stream 2 fuel pipeline). 経済制裁, 天然ガスパイプライン, I instructed you there can be a whole lot of new vocabulary.

Because the battle continues, so will the onslaught of phrases used to explain it: 撃つ (utsu, to shoot), 攻撃 (kōgeki, assault), 襲撃 (shūgeki, assault), 銃撃 (jūgeki, gunfire), 撃墜 (gekitsui, taking pictures down [aircraft]). The kanji you wish to keep in mind right here is 撃 (geki/u[tsu]). It’s outlined as 強く打ち当てる (tsuyoku uchiateru, to hit onerous), and should you see it in a Japanese phrase, it’s possible that the phrase has to do with some form of an assault.

撃 phrases are sometimes paired with the verb する (suru, to do), as in 銃撃音がする (jūgekion ga suru, there are sounds of gunfire), or with the verb 受ける (ukeru, to obtain), as in ウクライナは今ロシアから襲撃を受けている (Ukuraina wa ima Roshia kara shūgeki o ukete-iru, Ukraine is now below assault from Russia).

Whereas Putin has mentioned that solely 軍事施設 (gunji shisetsu, army amenities) can be focused, ウクライナの民間人の犠牲者は日に日に増え続けている (Ukuraina no minkanjin no giseisha wa hini-hini fuetsuzukete-iru, the variety of civilian casualties in Ukraine continues to develop day-to-day).

Based on the UNHCR, greater than 2 million Ukrainians have fled to neighboring international locations. However, ウクライナの避難民は400万人に増えるという試算もある (Ukuraina no hinanmin wa yonhyakuman-nin ni fueru to iu shisan mo aru, some estimates say the variety of Ukrainian evacuees will rise to 4 million).

That’s why 日本政府もウクライナの避難民を受け入れると表明した (Nihon seifu mo Ukuraina no hinanmin o ukeireru to hyōmei shita, the Japanese authorities has introduced that it’ll additionally settle for Ukrainian evacuees [into this country]).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6UL5kHxKf8

Chatting with ANN information, 日本在住のウクライナ人の一人はできるだけ早く、簡単な手続きで多くの避難民を受け入れて欲しいと言った (Nihon zaijū no Ukuraina-jin no hitori wa dekirudake hayaku, kantanna tetsuzuki de ōku no hinanmin o ukeirete hoshii to itta, one Ukrainian resident residing in Japan mentioned that [he] hopes [Japan] will settle for many evacuees as quickly as attainable by a simple course of).

Dwelling in Japan, even in peaceable instances, you could have come throughout phrases comparable to 避難民 (hinanmin, evacuee) or 難民 (nanmin, refugee) earlier than since these phrases are used when 災害 (saigai, disasters) happen.

The ultimate time period that you simply’re more likely to see pop up extra usually within the subsequent few months is 戦争 (sensō, conflict), comprising the kanji 戦 (sen/ikusa/tataka[u], conflict/battle) and 争 (sō, araso[u], contend/dispute/argue).

In the mean time, Ukraine is placing up fierce resistance in opposition to Russia, however 争いが続くと、悲しみも続いて、先が見通せない (arasoi ga tsuzuku to, kanashimi mo tsuzuite, saki ga mitōsenai, if the combating continues, so will the unhappiness, and it’s inconceivable to see what lies forward).

Video footage from NHK confirmed many Ukrainian residents within the capital metropolis of キエフ (Kiefu, Kyiv) taking shelter in a subway station that additionally serves as a 防空壕 (bōkūgō, air raid shelter).

「地下に子供もたくさんいてひどい状況です」 (“Chika ni kodomo mo takusan ite hidoi jōkyō desu,” “It’s horrible, what number of children are there [underground]”), one girl taking refuge instructed NHK.

「暴力と残酷な行為が早く終わることを願っています」 (“Bōryoku to zankokuna kōi ga hayaku owaru koto o negatte-imasu,” “I hope all this violence and cruelness ends quickly”).