Creating Domain-Specific Japanese Glossaries From Source Texts

Core examples: 用語集, 専門用語, 定義, 共起表現, 出典, 例文, 法務, 医療, 金融, 料理, 手続き, 略語.

A word list is not a glossary

A learner studying municipal Japanese writes:

申請 = application 窓口 = counter 対象者 = eligible person 必要書類 = required documents

This is a start, but not enough. A real glossary explains how terms behave in source texts.

For example:

申請する 申請書を提出する 申請期限 電子申請 申請が必要です 申請対象外

Now the learner sees procedure, collocation, and contrast.

The key principle is:

A domain glossary should teach terms as they function inside real documents.

用語集

用語集

glossary.

A good glossary includes:

• term,
• reading,
• domain definition,
• plain-language explanation,
• collocations,
• example sentence,
• source,
• register,
• related terms,
• warning/caution note.

A word list has meanings. A glossary has usage.

専門用語

専門用語

technical/specialist term.

Domains:

法務 legal affairs

医療 medical care

金融 finance

料理 cooking

手続き procedure

Specialist terms may look ordinary. For example:

処分

can mean disposal, disposition, administrative penalty, or punishment depending domain.

Learner action: domain label is essential.

定義

定義

definition.

A glossary definition should not always be a direct English translation.

Example:

Term:

対象者

Plain definition:

A person who falls under the conditions of a notice, application, benefit, event, or program.

This is more useful than “target person.”

Learner action: write definitions in plain Japanese or plain English that explain function.

共起表現

共起表現

collocating expression / co-occurring phrase.

Examples:

申請書を提出する submit application form

対象者に該当する fall under eligible category

保険料を納付する pay premium

薬を服用する take medicine

Collocations are what make a glossary production-ready.

出典

出典

source.

Record where the term came from:

• official form,
• news article,
• company page,
• manual,
• restaurant menu,
• textbook,
• law,
• white paper,
• review,
• transcript.

Learner action: a source note prevents domain drift.

例文

例文

example sentence.

Good example:

対象者には通知を送付します。 Notices will be sent to eligible persons.

This shows grammar and usage.

Bad example:

対象者です。 It is an eligible person.

Too vague.

略語

略語

abbreviation.

Domain glossaries need abbreviations:

NPO nonprofit organization context

FAQ help page

UI software interface

PTA school/community organization

科研費 科学研究費助成事業

Learner action: expand abbreviations and explain domain.

Building from source texts

Do not invent a glossary from memory. Build from 5–10 real sources.

Example domain: immigration forms.

Sources:

1. official immigration checklist,
2. application form,
3. school guidance page,
4. employer explanation,
5. residence-card notice,
6. FAQ page.

Recurring terms:

在留資格 在留期間 更新 変更 許可 申請人 提出書類 証明書

Now terms are grounded.

Group terms by function

Instead of alphabetical only, group by what terms do.

For municipal notices:

Functional grouping helps reading.

Add near-synonyms

Glossaries should include boundary notes.

Example:

申請 application, active request for approval/benefit/service.

Related:

届出 notification/report to authority; may not request approval.

申込 registration/application for event/service.

登録 registration.

Learner action: near-synonyms prevent false confidence.

Add caution notes

High-stakes domains need warnings:

Legal:

義務 is duty/obligation. Check source and legal relationship.

Medical:

禁忌 means contraindication. Do not ignore.

Finance:

手数料 means fee. Check timing and amount.

Immigration:

申請 is application, not approval.

Food allergy:

同じ工場で製造 can signal cross-contact risk.

Example glossary entry

Term:

提出書類

Reading:

ていしゅつしょるい

Domain:

municipal/immigration/school applications

Plain definition:

Documents that must be submitted as part of a procedure.

Collocations:

提出書類一覧 提出書類を確認する 提出書類に不備がある

Example:

提出書類に不備がある場合、受付できません。 If required documents are incomplete, they cannot be accepted.

Source:

municipal application guide.

Caution:

Check original/copy, issue date, and whether translation is required.

Example bank walkthrough

用語集

Glossary.

Learner action: structured term resource.

専門用語

Technical term.

Learner action: domain-specific meaning.

定義

Definition.

Learner action: plain function.

共起表現

Collocation.

Learner action: natural term use.

出典

Source.

Learner action: evidence and domain.

例文

Example sentence.

Learner action: usage context.

法務

Legal affairs.

Learner action: high-stakes domain.

医療

Medical.

Learner action: safety caution.

金融

Finance.

Learner action: money/risk terms.

料理

Cooking.

Learner action: method and ingredient terms.

手続き

Procedure.

Learner action: action and documents.

略語

Abbreviation.

Learner action: expand and define.

Glossary-building workflow

1. Choose one domain.
2. Collect 5–10 real Japanese sources.
3. Mark recurring terms.
4. Group terms by function.
5. Write plain definitions.
6. Add readings.
7. Add collocations.
8. Add one real example.
9. Add source.
10. Add near-synonym/caution notes.
11. Review by reading new source texts.

Glossary entry standard

A serious domain glossary entry should include:

This turns a list into a research tool.

Functional grouping

Group terms by what they do.

For a procedure glossary:

Functional grouping helps readers act on texts.

Caution-note requirement

Every glossary in 法務, 医療, 金融, immigration, safety, and public administration should include caution notes. Example:

申請 is application, not approval.

That one note prevents a serious misunderstanding.

A strong tool for this article would turn source texts into glossary entries.

Suggested columns:

1. Term.
2. Reading.
3. Domain.
4. Function group.
5. Plain definition.
6. Collocations.
7. Example sentence.
8. Source.
9. Related terms.
10. Caution note.
11. Production/recognition status.

Final rule

A serious Japanese glossary is built from source texts.

用語集 is structure. 専門用語 needs domain. 定義 explains function. 共起表現 teaches use. 出典 keeps evidence. 例文 shows grammar. 略語 need expansion. 法務, 医療, 金融, 料理, and 手続き each shape meaning.

Do not collect words. Build a domain map.