Abstract
This paper aims to show the quantitative transparency tendency of two-character Sino-Japanese words and to obtain useful information for teaching Japanese language through a survey and analysis of high frequency words in the written language. The transparency degree of two-character Sino-Japanese words is divided into three groups: transparent, half-transparent, and opaque. For examining transparency, descriptions of words in Japanese dictionaries are used to retain the objectivity of examining. The survey results indicate the following: 1. Each group accounts for a ratio of high frequency words; 2. The ratio of transparent words is higher in the intermediate and above intermediate levels than in the elementary level for words appearing in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. However, the ratio of opaque words is higher in the elementary level than in the intermediate and above intermediate levels. 3. The survey results obtained from using description of words in Japanese dictionaries have similarities to those obtained from using questionnaires to Japanese university students. Therefore, in this paper, the quantitative transparency tendency is useful information for teachers in considering contents of teaching two-character Sino-Japanese words.
