Translation and Meaning of: 問題 - mondai

The Japanese word 「問題」 (mondai) is widely used and has various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Generally, 「問題」 refers to a "problem," "issue," or "question." This term is common in both daily life and in academic and professional settings in Japan, often used in discussions and exams to describe questions or challenges to be solved.

The term 「問題」 is composed of two kanji: 「問」 (mon) and 「題」 (dai). The etymology of the kanji helps us understand better the meaning and origin of the word. The kanji 「問」 carries the sense of "to ask" or "question," reflecting the idea of inquiry or investigation. On the other hand, the kanji 「題」 means "subject" or "topic," and is often associated with the introduction of a specific theme or a field to be explored. Thus, the combination of both kanji results in the idea of a question that needs to be investigated or solved.

Historically, the word 「問題」 has its roots in academic use and Asian study traditions, where identifying and solving problems is a valued skill. During the Meiji period, when Japan modernized its educational institutions and introduced Western concepts, the word gained even more relevance and became extensively used to define test statements and intellectual challenges. However, the applicability of 「問題」 transcends the educational environment, being present in everyday contexts such as personal or social issues.

In addition to its common use, 「問題」 can appear in idiomatic phrases and cultural expressions, highlighting its flexibility and importance in Japanese communication. For example, the expression 「問題ない」 (mondai nai) means "no problem" or "it's all good," emphasizing a variation of the term that is often used to reassure a situation or person.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 課題 (Kadai) - Task or question to be resolved.
• トラブル (Toraburu) - Problem or incident that causes difficulty.
• 障害 (Shougai) - Obstacle or impediment that hinders the solution.
• 疑問 (Gimon) - Questioning or uncertainty about a subject.
• 論点 (Ronten) - Point of debate or discussion related to an issue.
• 課題点 (Kadaiten) - Specific points of a task that need attention.
• 問屋 (Tōya) - Wholesaler or store that deals with the sale of various items.
• 問答 (Mondō) - Dialogue based on questions and answers.
• 問い (Toi) - Question or inquiry that is made.
• 問い合わせ (Toiawase) - Inquiry or request for information.
• 問題点 (Mondaiten) - Problematic points that need to be addressed.
• 問題解決 (Mondai Kaiketsu) - Problem solving; approach to solving them.
• 問題解消 (Mondai Kaishō) - Elimination of problems; effective solution.
• 問題解決策 (Mondai Kaiketsusaku) - Strategy to solve a specific problem.
• 問題解決方法 (Mondai Kaiketsu Hōhō) - Problem-solving method.
• 問題解決手段 (Mondai Kaiketsu Shudan) - Means or tools to solve problems.
• 問題解決案 (Mondai Kaiketsu An) - Proposal or suggestion to solve a problem.
• 問題解決のための (Mondai Kaiketsu no tame no) - For problem-solving.
• 問題解決の手順 (Mondai Kaiketsu no Tejun) - Stages to solve a problem.
• 問題解決の方法 (Mondai Kaiketsu no Hōhō) - Method that should be followed for problem-solving.
• 問題解決のための方法 (Mondai Kaiketsu no tame no Hōhō) - Methods aimed at problem solving.

問題

Romaji: mondai
Kana: もんだい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: problem; question

Meaning in English: problem;question

Definition: Difficult situations, challenges, and concerns.

Example Sentences - (問題) mondai

See below some example sentences:

何の問題もない。

Nan no mondai mo nai

There's no problem.

No problem.

• 何の - interrogative pronoun meaning "which" or "that"
• 問題 - noun meaning "problem"
• も - particle that indicates inclusion, that is, "also"
• ない - negative form of the verb "aru" which means "not to exist"

余程難しい問題だった。

Yohodo muzukashii mondai datta

Foi um problema muito difícil.

• 余程 - advérbio que significa "muito", "bastante".
• 難しい - adjetivo que significa "difícil".
• 問題 - substantivo que significa "problema".
• だった - verbo "ser" no passado.

問題は解決策を見つけることです。

Mondai wa kaiketsusaku o mitsukeru koto desu

The problem is finding a solution.

• 問題 (mondai) - problem
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 解決策 (kaiketsusaku) - solução
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 見つける (mitsukeru) - find
• こと (koto) - abstract noun
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

増加する人口が社会問題となっている。

Zouka suru jinkou ga shakai mondai to natte iru

Population increase is becoming a social problem.

The growing population has become a social problem.

• 増加する - increasing
• 人口 - population
• が - (subject particle)
• 社会問題 - social problem
• と - (connection particle)
• なっている - is becoming

私はこの問題を調べる必要があります。

Watashi wa kono mondai o shiraberu hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to investigate this problem.

I need to figure this problem out.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• この (kono) - Japanese demonstrative adjective meaning "this"
• 問題 (mondai) - Japanese noun that means "problem"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 調べる (shiraberu) - Japanese verb that means "to investigate" or "to research."
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese noun that means "necessity" or "essential"
• が (ga) - partícula japonesa que indica o sujeito da frase
• あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to exist" or "there is"

私は多くの問題を抱えています。

Watashi wa ooku no mondai o kakaete imasu

I have a lot of problems to deal with.

I have a lot of problems.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 多くの (ooku no) - adjective that means "many"
• 問題 (mondai) - noun that means "problems"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "problems"
• 抱えています (kakaeteimasu) - verb that means "to have" or "to carry" and is conjugated in the affirmative present polite form

私たちは異なる観点から問題を見ることができます。

Watashitachi wa kotonaru kanten kara mondai o miru koto ga dekimasu

We can see the problem from a different perspective.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 異なる - "Diferente" in Japanese
• 観点 - "Perspective" in Japanese
• から - "De" in Japanese, indicating the origin of the action
• 問題 - "Problem" in Japanese
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
• 見る - "Ver" in Japanese
• こと - Suffix in Japanese indicating an action or event
• が - Particle in Japanese that indicates the subject of the sentence
• できます - "Can be done" in Japanese

私たちはこの問題に対処しなければなりません。

Watashitachi wa kono mondai ni taisho shinakereba narimasen

We need to deal with this problem.

We must deal with this problem.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• この問題に - "Este problema"
• 対処 - "Lidar com" in Japanese
• しなければなりません - "Must be done" in Japanese

私たちは話し合うことで問題を解決することができます。

Watashitachi wa hanashiau koto de mondai o kaiketsu suru koto ga dekimasu

We can solve the problem by discussing.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 話し合う - Verb "discuss"
• ことで - Entry that indicates means or method
• 問題を - Noun "problem" with particle "the" indicating direct object
• 解決する - Verb "resolve"
• ことが - particle that indicates subject
• できます - Verb "poder" in potential form

簡易な方法で問題を解決することができます。

Kani na hōhō de mondai o kaiketsu suru koto ga dekimasu

You can solve the problem in a simple way.

• 簡易な - means "simple" in Japanese.
• 方法 - means "method" or "way" in Japanese.
• で - is a Japanese particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done.
• 問題 - means "problem" in Japanese.
• を - is a Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 解決する - means "to resolve" in Japanese.
• ことができます - is a Japanese expression meaning "to be able to do something".