NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2025年12月勉強分③
日中間の緊張 長引くおそれ
< 見出し>JAPAN-CHINA TENSIONS MAY TAKE LONGER TO EASE
The view is growing in Japan that it could take a while to ease tensions with China.
Their rift began after a comment by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae about Taiwan earlier this month.
・rift：不和、仲たがい、亀裂
Tokyo says it’s trying to maintain dialogue to keep the situation from escalating.
・maintain：（現状を悪化させないように〕保つ、維持する
・dialogue：協議、対話
Japanese government sources say China has informed Tokyo it will effectively stop importing Japanese seafood.
・effectively：事実上
※effectively は「実質・効力の面では」という意味だが、日本語ニュースではそれを最も自然に表す定型語として「事実上」がよく選ばれる（by GPT）
It had just resumed imports after a two-year suspension.
Senior Japanese diplomat Kanai Masaaki met with Prime Minister Takaichi, and he briefed her on the outcome of his talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong.
・diplomat：外交官、外交団 /ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/
・meet with：GPT欄「「meet with」での「with」の有無での違い」参照
・brief：概要を伝える、ブリーフィングする
・outcome：結果、結末、成果
・counterpart：同等の機能を持つ組織、（異なる組織にいる）同じような立場にいる人
Government sources say Kanai lodged a strong protest against a social media post by the Chinese consul-general in Osaka.
・lodge a protest：抗議を申し入れる
・consul-general：総領事
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson says if Japan refuses to retract the prime minister’s remarks, or even continues “making these mistakes,” China will be forced to take “stern and resolute” countermeasures.
・stern：厳格な、厳重な
・resolute：断固とした、確固たる
・countermeasure：対抗措置、対応策
インド 野良犬収容命令で抗議集会
< 見出し>PUBLIC SPLIT OVER INDIAN COURT ORDER TO ELIMINATE STRAY DOGS
・eliminate：（望ましくないものを）撲滅する、廃絶する、（人や物を）排除する、除外する、取り除く
People in India have taken to the streets to protest a court direction to eliminate street dogs from public spaces.
・take to the streets：街頭に出て抗議活動をする、デモを行う
・direction：（特に裁判所や当局による）指示・命令・指図
The move was spurred by the rising number of injuries they cause to people.
・spur：駆り立てる、誘発する、促す、拍車をかける /spɝː/
・cause an injury to ～：～にけがを負わせる、危害を加える
Animal lovers claim the decision violates the animals’ dignity.
・dignity：尊厳
Animal aid groups demonstrated in the capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday holding signs saying, “Don’t be mean to dogs,” and “Stop the massacre.”
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered all states and territories to relocate stray dogs from public facilities, such as train stations and schools, to shelters.
Protesters say the order should be withdrawn immediately.
Others support the initiative, citing the threat posed by dog bites, including rabies.
・initiative：（問題解決に向けた）取り組み
・pose：（問題などを）引き起こす、もたらす
・rabies：狂犬病 /ˈreɪ.biːz/
It’s believed there are some 60 million stray dogs in India, with increasing reports of attacks on humans.
・some 数字：およそ～、約～ ※用法について下記GPT欄参照
“･･･ there are some 60 million stray dogs in India, ･･･." の「some」の用法
some + 数字：およそ、約、ざっと
「正確ではないが、相当な規模であること」を示すニュース用の「約」の意
ニュースで「some」が使われる理由
・正確な数字ではないから
（推計値だったり、出典によって差があったり、年度や調査方法で変動する）
・数の大きさを印象づけるため
（some には、「かなりの、相当な」という含みがある）
他の語彙との違い
about / around ← 中立・会話的
approximately ← 形式的・学術的
some ← ニュース的・やや強調
香港の高層住宅火災 当局批判を警戒
< 見出し>DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 151, MORE THAN 30 STILL MISSING
・tall：（事故や災害の）犠牲者、損害、死傷者数
Authorities in Hong Kong say the death toll from a fire last week at a high-rise residential complex has risen to 151.
・high-rise：高層の
They say more than 30 people remain unaccounted for.
・unaccounted for：行方不明である
The blaze started Wednesday and tore through seven buildings in the northern district of Tai Po.
Authorities suspect the fire began in the protective netting around scaffolding put in place for repair work.
・scaffolding：足場 /ˈskæf.əl.dɪŋ/
An official on Monday said authorities had confirmed some of the netting did not meet fire safety standards.
The official said the company carrying out the repair work had disregarded human life to save on cost.
・disregard：無視する、軽視する
・save on ～：～を節約する、～を倹約する
Investigative authorities have so far arrested more than 10 people, including senior officials from the company.
The Chinese government’s security agency in Hong Kong issued a statement with the apparent aim of stemming criticism of the government.
・stem：食い止める、せき止める
It warned people who use the disaster to conspire to disrupt Hong Kong will be severely punished under the national security law.
・conspire to ～：～しようと共謀する
・disrupt：混乱させる
世界の軍需産業の売上高 過去最高に
< 見出し>REPORT: WORLD’S TOP WEAPONS MAKERS POST RECORD REVENUE
・post：記録する、計上する
・revenue：（ここでは）売上高
A Swedish think tank says the world’s top weapons makers posted a record combined revenue last year.
It says this was primarily driven by rising geopolitical tensions around the world.
・drive：推進する
・geopolitical：地政学的な
※国の地理的な位置などが、政治、経済、軍事、社会にどう影響するかを考えること。
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released a report Monday on the 100 largest arms producers and military service firms of 2024.
It says their total revenue increased by 5.9 percent to 679 billion dollars.
Thirty-nine are based in the United States, including Lockheed Martin, which tops the list.
・top：(動)頂上にある、トップを占める
They account for about half of the total revenue.
Eight firms based in China are included.
Their sales declined from the year before, but they had the second-largest share of the total revenue.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fujitsu, and two other companies from Japan are on the list.
Their revenue surged 40 percent to 13.3 billion dollars.
The report says global arms sales soared in 2024 as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, geopolitical tensions, and “ever-higher military expenditure” boosted demand.