NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2026年1月勉強分③

2026-01-30ニュースで学ぶ現代英語ニュース記事

パンダ 半世紀ぶり国内ゼロ頭に

< 見出し>JAPAN’S LAST PANDAS TO BE RETURNED TO CHINA

Zoos in Japan will soon have no giant pandas for the first time in half a century.

Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government says it’s returning the final pair to China next month.

Four-year-old twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei live at the city’s Ueno Zoo.

The animals are set to return to China by the end of next month, as the agreement loaning them to Japan expires in February.
・(be) set to ～：～することになっている、～することが決まっている
・loan：(動)貸す、貸与する　※borrowとの違いについて下記豆知識参照

Tokyo has asked Beijing to loan other pandas but has so far received no response.

In 1972, China presented a pair of giant pandas to Japan to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic ties.
・commemorate：記念する、祝う
・diplomatic：外交の、外交上の [dìpləmǽtik]

The animals often play a role in Chinese diplomacy.
・diplomacy：外交関係 [diplóuməsi]

The impending end of panda presence in Japan comes amid fallout over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Taiwan comments last month.
・impending：差し迫った、迫り来る
・fallout：（不祥事や危機などが及ぼす）悪影響、余波

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru was asked if Japan’s government plans to ask China for more of them.
・Chief Cabinet Secretary：官房長官

He says it looks forward to continuing bilateral exchanges through pandas.



【 豆知識："borrow" と “loan" の違い 】
・borrow：十分なお金を手元に持っている気軽に親しい相手から気軽に「借りる」
・loan：金額が大きかったり、返済が正式な手続きになるような状況での「貸付」取引のイメージ

米タイム誌“ことしの人”にAI設計者たち

< 見出し>TIME PICKS AI LEADERS AS '2025 PERSON OF THE YEAR’

TIME has named leading figures in artificial intelligence development as its “2025 Person of the Year.”
・name A as B：Ａ（人など）をＢとして選ぶ、指名する、任命する
・figure：人物、大人物、大立者

The U.S. magazine released a cover image with the title “The Architects of AI” on Thursday.

It features an illustration based on an iconic photograph of New York City in the 1930s.
・feature：特徴とする、目玉とする
　※重要な要素として持つ・含むということから。参考：「豆知識："feature" の基本的な意味」

The image includes eight CEOs of high-tech firms, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.

TIME says the Trump administration has encouraged AI investments.

The magazine also describes how Trump wields AI in diplomacy, such as using Nvidia’s chips as leverage in trade negotiations with China, and for strengthening ties with the Middle East.
・wield：（武器や道具などを）使う、（権力や武力などを）行使する
・diplomacy：外交関係、外交術
・leverage：有利な手段、影響力

TIME states that “AI emerged as arguably the most consequential tool in great-power competition since the advent of nuclear weapons.”
・emerge：出現する、浮かび上がってくる、はっきりする
・arguably：ほぼ間違いなく、おそらく～である [ɑ́ːgjuəbli]
　※多くの場合、最上級（ここではthe most）の前に使う。
・consequential：重大な、重要な（影響をもたらす）
・great-power：大国、強国
・advent：到来、誕生

It mentions improved workplace productivity and convenience, but also some of AI’s negative aspects, such as job losses and addiction to the technology.

米ベネズエラを攻撃 大統領夫妻拘束

< 見出し>TRUMP: VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT MADURO CAPTURED

President Donald Trump says the U.S. military has captured the president of Venezuela after carrying out a strike against the country.
・strike：攻撃、爆撃
・carry out a strike：攻撃を実行する

In a statement on social media early Saturday, Trump said President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been flown out of the country.
・fly ～：～を空輸する

The Venezuelan government issued a statement before Trump’s announcement, saying a series of military and civilian facilities had been hit, and blamed the U.S.
・a series of ～：一連の～

The government said it denounces and rejects the military aggression which is a clear violation of the UN Charter.
・denounce ～：～を非難する、糾弾する　※語源について下記GPT欄参照
・aggression：敵意を持って先に攻撃すること、侵略
・clear：確実な、疑う余地のない
・violation：違反
・charter：憲章

Trump has accused the Maduro administration of involvement in drug smuggling into the U.S.

The Trump administration last year carried out several strikes on vessels that it claimed were transporting drugs.
・it claimed：（～の）主張したところでは

It also seized oil tankers that had left port in Venezuela.
・seize：拿捕（だほ）する、捕まえる [síːz]


※今回の放送回の学習ポイント「日本語にはない不思議な言葉・関係代名詞」（関係代名詞 “that" と “which" について）は、以前からまとめている内容と同じだったので、そちらを参照。
豆知識：関係代名詞のthatとwhichの使い分け
豆知識：カンマやポーズの有無による意味の変化
AI英会話アプリ「スピーク」スピークチューターへの質問（使い分けについて）

“コミックマーケット”50周年

< 見出し>TOP JAPANESE MANGA EVENT COMIKET MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

One of Japan’s largest events for lovers of manga and anime has opened in Tokyo’s Koto Ward.
・Tokyo’s Koto Ward：江東区は特別区であることから、区のホームページなどはKoto Cityとしている。
　※wardとcityについて下記GPT欄参照

And this year, the Comic Market, also known as Comiket, is marking its 50th anniversary.

More than 12,000 groups are showcasing and selling self-published works.
・showcase：（魅力的に見えるように）展示する、披露する

These include ones based on popular anime characters as well as original creations.

A section has been set up for visitors to write messages commemorating the event’s anniversary.

Some expressed hope Comiket will continue for many years to come.
・express hope：そうなってほしいという気持ちや期待を（書いたり述べたりして）表現する
・for many years to come：この先何年も、今後も長期にわたって

This man says his father cosplayed at the event more than 20 years ago and he feels great to take part in the milestone.

One of the organizers reflected on why the event has endured.
・endure：長く存在し続ける [endúər]

“I believe Comiket has lasted all these years as it creates new styles, new comics, and new encounters every time it is held. I hope that it will continue past our 100th anniversary.”
・past ～：～を過ぎて、～を超えて