NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2025年6月勉強分①
CIA 中国高官に機密提供呼びかけ
< 見出し>CIA VIDEOS URGE CHINESE OFFICIALS TO LEAK SECRETS
The CIA has released videos aimed at encouraging Chinese officials to leak secrets to the U.S.
The move comes as the intelligence agency puts increased focus on China.
・intelligence：諜報活動、諜報
・put focus on ～：～を重視する、～に注力する
The CIA posted two Chinese-language videos on social media on Thursday.
One depicts a fictional senior Chinese Communist Party official who’s risen through the ranks but risks being ousted.
・Chinese Communist Party：中国共産党
・rise through the ranks：出世する
・oust：追放する
He reaches out to the CIA in a desperate move to protect his family.
・reach out to ～：（助けや協力を求めて）～に連絡する、～に接触する
※支援などを提供する側と受け取る側の両方に使うことができ、相手に対して積極的にアプローチすることを表す。
It ends with contact details for the agency.
The video says the agency will secure the safety of informants.
・secure ～：～を保護する、保証する
・informant：情報提供者、密告者
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said on social media that one of the agency’s primary roles is to collect intelligence by recruiting assets that can help steal secrets.
・primary：（重要度や順位が）最上位の、首位の
・intelligence：機密情報
・assets：「価値のあるもの」→「情報提供者」
The New York Times reports that Ratcliffe told CIA officers last month that China is a top priority.
コンビニ 外国人観光客向けに英語表記
< 見出し>JAPANESE CONVENIENCE STORES CATER TO FOREIGN VISITORS
・cater to ～：～に応じる
Japan’s convenience stores are hoping to boost sales and they’re looking to a new demographic.
・demographic：（ここでは年齢や社会階層など何かの属性が似た人々の）層、（商品の）購買層、（雑誌の）読者層
That’s foreign tourists.
Seven-Eleven Japan is rolling out more products that have been a hit with visitors from overseas, including rice balls with spicy wasabi and sweets made with green tea.
・roll out：（新製品などを）公表する、提供を開始する、展開する
・be a hit with ～：～に人気がある、～に好評である
・made with：「豆知識：「～から作られた」"made ～" の整理」参照
Labels are now easier to understand for shoppers who don’t read Japanese.
“Inbound tourists are a major driving force for sales. We need to urgently create a shopping environment for such customers, including multilingual packaging.”
・driving force：原動力
FamilyMart has created a website with product information in English, Chinese, and other languages.
And Lawson has employees wear badges showing what languages they speak.
The Japanese population is on the decline, and the convenience store industry sees foreign travelers as a new opportunity for growth.
・(be) on the decline/decrease：低下しつつある、減少傾向にある、下り坂である
漫画“鬼滅の刃”が能狂言に
※参考「「鬼滅の刃」が能楽に」
< 見出し>CLASSICAL THEATER MEETS 'DEMON SLAYER’ IN HIT SHOW
・meet：融合する、コラボする
A group of actors specializing in the centuries-old Japanese styles of Noh and Kyogen have been packing the seats with young fans.
・specialize in ～：～を専攻する、～を専門とする
・have：a groupよりもactorsに注目しているので複数扱い
・pack the seats with ～：「～で座席を埋める」→「～で客席を満員にする」
Their secret – adapting the modern manga and anime “Demon Slayer.”
・adapt：適合する、（原作を）脚色する
※「豆知識：映画・舞台に関連する語彙」参照
・slay：殺す、モンスターを倒す
The show has been a hit in Osaka.
They started in 2022, with shows based on Gotouge Koyoharu’s popular series.
Set over a century ago in Taisho-era Japan, “Demon Slayer” tells the story of a teenager’s battles with otherworldly forces and his efforts to save his sister.
・otherworldly：超自然的な、異世界の
“It was amazing, impressive, and it was fun!”
Actor and producer Nomura Mansai plays the antagonist, a powerful demon named “Muzan.”
・antagonist：競争相手、敵対者、敵役
※protagonist：主役
He says Noh and Kyogen can mix classical performance with elements of whatever’s popular, no matter the time period.
・no matter the time period： 時代に関係なく、いつの時代であろうと
※ = no matter (what) the time period (is)
Organizers say they’re planning 20 more shows in major Japanese cities.
【 豆知識："adapt" の意味ごとの前置詞の違い 】
「適応する」の意味の場合は、続く前置詞は「to」
何かを変化させるわけではなく、新しい環境などに「対して」適応するため。
例
・He quickly adapted to college life.「彼はすぐに大学生活に適応した」
・Dinosaurs couldn’t adapt to the new environment, so they went extinct.「恐竜は新しい環境に適応できずに絶滅した」
「脚色する、作品を別のフォーマットに作り替える」の意味の場合は、続く前置詞は「into」
intoは状態の変化を表すため。
例
・The director is planning to adapt the award-winning novel into a movie.「その監督は、賞を受賞したその小説を映画化しようとしている」
・The video game was adapted into a TV drama series.「そのゲームはテレビドラマ化された」
ビル・ゲイツ氏 ほぼ全財産で貧困対策
< 見出し>BILL GATES PLANS TO DONATE MOST OF HIS WEALTH BY 2045
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he’ll give away virtually all of his wealth over the next 20 years to help vulnerable people.
・virtually：実質的には、事実上
・vulnerable：弱い、被害に遭いやすい [vʌ́lnərəbl]
In a statement released on Thursday, Gates said he intends to distribute more than 200 billion dollars through his charitable foundation, with plans to end its operation in 2045.
・distribute：分配する、分け与える
・charitable foundation：慈善財団、慈善団体
He said the donations will be used to reduce the deaths of mothers and children due to malnutrition, to prevent infectious diseases, and to combat poverty.
・malnutrition：栄養失調、栄養障害
・infectious disease：感染症
He noted that the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries around the world are cutting their aid budgets, and no philanthropic organization can make up the gulf in funding.
・philanthropic：慈善の [fìlənθrɑ́pik]
・gulf：深い溝、大きな差
Gates said his foundation has given away more than 100 billion dollars during the past 25 years but will double this over the next two decades.
【 豆知識：過去と現在の繋がりは現在完了形で表す 】
ニュース文
“Gates said his foundation has given away more than 100 billion dollars during the past 25 years but will double this over the next two decades."
で「has given away」の部分が過去に寄付した話なのに過去形ではなく現在完了形になっているのは、その後ろに「その額を2倍に増やす」という話があるので過去と現在が繋がっているニュアンスを表すため。