NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2024年10月勉強分②

結婚のきっかけ マッチングアプリが最多

< 見出し>MORE JAPANESE USE DATING APPS TO FIND MARRIAGE PARTNER

A government survey shows that dating apps are now the most common way for young people in Japan to find a spouse.


This has officials considering how to tap social networks as a way to encourage more people to get married.

・have ~ ・・・ing:~を・・・する状態にさせる(haveの使役用法)
 ※想定と異なる結果によって当局が対策を検討せざるをえない状況にさせられた、というニュアンスを含む。参考「豆知識:使役の “have + 過去分詞"
・tap:利用する、活用する
 ※tap human resources:人材を活用する

The Children and Families Agency last month polled 20,000 people aged from 15 to 39 about marriage.

Children and Families Agency:「こども家庭庁」
・poll:聞き取り調査をする、世論調査をする

It was the first such survey by the agency.


One of the questions for married people was how they met their spouse.


Roughly a quarter said they found their partner through dating apps, which are known as matching apps in Japan.


Just over 20 percent said they met their spouse through work and almost 10 percent at school.


The government sees the survey results as a sign that social media is playing a bigger role in bringing young couples together.


Promoting safe matchmaking through social media is just one of the measures officials plan to discuss.

・matchmaking:出会いの仲介。結婚の仲介

They also aim to expand support for marriage counseling conducted by the private sector and local governments.

private sector:民間(部門)
 ※cf. public sector:公共(部門)



【 豆知識:地方自治体を表す語彙の違い 】
local government:地方政府、地方自治体
municipality:地方自治体だが、こちらは多くの場合「市町村」という意味で使われる。


敦賀原発2号機 初の不合格

< 見出し>TSURUGA NUCLEAR REACTOR FAILS EARTHQUAKE SAFETY REVIEW
・reactor:原子炉
・review:審査

Japan’s nuclear watchdog has decided not to restart a reactor in Fukui Prefecture after it failed an earthquake safety review.

watchdog:監視機関、規制機関、監督官庁(ここでは、原子力規制委員会)

Officials said reactor No. 2 of the Tsuruga nuclear power plant fell short of the safety standards due to concerns of a fault under the building.

・fall short of ~:~に達しない、~に及ばない
fault:断層
 ※層が完全に固まることに「失敗」して元の位置からずれてしまったもの、地面の中が不完全な状態なものという連想かららしい。

Since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan no longer allows facilities where safety is critical to be built over active faults.

active fault:活断層
 ※cf. active volcano:活火山

It’s the first time the regulatory body has failed a reactor in its restart review since it was established.

・regulatory body:規制機関
・fail ~:~を不合格にする

The screening process had been suspended repeatedly over inaccuracies and mishandling of data in reports submitted by the plant’s operator, the Japan Atomic Power Company.

・screen:(動)検査する、ふるいにかける、審査する、選考を行う
 ※cf. screening for colorectal cancer:大腸がん検査
・inaccuracy:不正確さ

The operator plans to apply for a fresh screening, but it’s not clear when.


The regulator says it needs to assess over 100 faults in and around the plant.


トヨタとBMW 燃料電池車で協力強化へ

< 見出し>TOYOTA, BMW EXPAND COLLABORATION ON FUEL-CELL VEHICLES
・fuel-cell vehicle / fuel cell vehicle:燃料電池車(略称 FCV)
 ※燃料電池は、燃料(一般的には水素)と酸素を化学反応させて発電する装置。

Toyota Motor and BMW are stepping up collaboration on fuel cell vehicles.

・step up:促進する、増進する、強化する
 ※進行形にして、予定を表している。

The Japanese carmaker is supplying key components to its German counterpart.


The automotive powerhouses first formed the ties in 2012 and have been co-developing hydrogen tanks, motors, and other basic systems for fuel cell vehicles.

powerhouse:強い力や影響力をもった組織や国、企業
 ※cf. economic powerhouse:経済大国

Sources say joint efforts are expanding, and that Toyota will supply important parts such as tanks and fuel cells to BMW.


Fuel cell vehicles are also known as FCVs and use hydrogen to generate electricity.


They do not emit carbon dioxide while in motion.

carbon dioxide:二酸化炭素
・(be) in motion:動いている、移動(運転)中である

Automakers are developing these as an environment-friendly option.


FCVs have long cruising distances like gasoline-powered cars and take only a short time to replenish hydrogen.

・cruising distance:航続距離(車などが一度の給油や充電で(一定の速度で)走行できる最大距離)
 ※船や飛行機の場合は、cruising rangeまたはcruising radiusと言う。(radious:範囲 [réidiəs])
・replenish:補充(補給)する、充てんする

But they are expensive relative to other types of vehicles.



独州議会選挙 “極右”政党が第1党に

< 見出し>FAR-RIGHT PARTY PROJECTED TO WIN GERMAN STATE ELECTION
・project to ~:~すると予測する、見込む

Moving now to Germany, where a party deemed to be far-right is set to win a state election for the first time since World War II.

deem to ~:~と見なす、考える、判断する
・be set to ~:~することになっている、~する見込みである

It’s a major blow for the ruling coalition government ahead of national elections next year.

・major blow:大きな打撃
coalition:連立、連合
・coalition government:連立政権
・ahead of ~:(時間的あるいは空間的に)~の前に
 ※= before

Provisional results in two former East German states have been announced.

provisional:暫定的な、仮の

They show the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has won about a third of the vote in Thuringia, securing a lead of nearly 10 percentage points.

alternative:(名)取って代わるもの、代替物、選択肢
・Alternative für Deutschland:(ドイツの政党名)「ドイツのための選択肢」(略称 AfD)
・win a vote:票を得る
secure:(動)確保する、確実にする
percentage point:パーセンテージポイント(2つのパーセント値の差)

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party has about 6 percent.

chancellor:(ドイツの)首相 [tʃǽnsələr]
・Social Democratic Party (of Germany):(ドイツの政党名)「社会民主党」(略称 SPD(ドイツ語の政党名Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlandsの英訳))

This is reportedly a record low for the party in a state election.

・record:(形)記録的な

In Saxony, the AfD has won about 30 percent.


It trails the largest opposition Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, by a small margin.

・trail:後を追う、後れを取る、(試合や競争などで)負けている

AfD politicians have made pro-Nazi comments and discriminatory statements about Muslims.

・pro-~:~支持、~賛成、親~

The party has gained support for its anti-immigrant policies.



宮崎駿監督にマグサイサイ賞

< 見出し>MIYAZAKI HAYAO WINS PRESTIGIOUS MAGSAYSAY AWARD

Japanese animation master Miyazaki Hayao has won this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, also known as “Asia’s Nobel Prize.”

・master:巨匠、名人

The Studio Ghibli co-founder is being recognized not only for his filmmaking but for what they say is his lifelong commitment to illuminating the human condition and inspiring the imagination of children.

・what they say is ~:人々が~と言うところのもの、彼らが~と言うところのもの
・lifelong:一生の
・illuminate ~:~に光を当てる
・the human condition:人間のあり方
inspire ~:(人を)動機づける、刺激する、奮い立たせる

The foundation praises Miyazaki for tackling complicated topics like environmental protection, peace advocacy, and women’s rights.

・praise 人 for ~:~について人を称賛する、褒めたたえる
・advocacy:推進、擁護、主張 [ǽdvəkəsi]

It credits the director for using his art to make these issues comprehensible to children.

・credit 人 for ~:~について(人を)認める
・comprehensible:理解できる、分かりやすい
 ※cf. incomprehensible:理解しがたい、訳が分からない、意味不明、ちんぷんかんぷんの

Miyazaki’s films often feature children and female characters who confront challenges.

confront:(問題や困難に)立ち向かう、直面する

His works are also known for their deep respect for nature and profound warnings against human arrogance.

profound:深い、意味深い、深遠な

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given every year to individuals and groups for tackling challenges in Asia.



【 豆知識:「映画」を表す語彙の違い 】
・film:撮影したフィルムを映写したことから「映画」という意味になった言葉で、若干フォーマルで芸術的なニュアンスがある。
・movie:主にアメリカ英語の「映画」として日常的に使われる単語で、大衆エンターテインメントとしてのニュアンスがある。
・cinema:主にイギリス英語で、「映画館」を念頭に置いたもの。