Unit 4 Study Notes (AP Japanese): Science, Technology, and Society

〜のおかげで

“Thanks to …” (expresses a positive result caused by something).

〜せいで

“Because of …” with a blaming/negative nuance (used when the result is bad).

〜によって

“Due to / by means of …” (neutral, often more formal; used for cause or method).

〜ようになる

“Come to be able to / come to do …” (shows a change over time in ability or habit).

〜てくる

“Has started to / has come to …” (a change that has progressed up to the present).

〜つつある

“Is in the process of …” (formal expression for an ongoing change).

一方で

“On the other hand …” (introduces a contrasting point to show balance).

〜だけでなく〜も

“Not only … but also …” (adds another point for a more nuanced explanation).

〜に比べて

“Compared to …” (used to make comparisons such as past vs. present or A vs. B).

通知（つうち）

Notification/alert (e.g., from apps or social media; can affect concentration and stress).

既読（きどく）

“Read” status in messaging apps (can create pressure to reply quickly).

個人情報（こじんじょうほう）

Personal information/data (privacy-related; can be collected, stored, or leaked).

拡散（かくさん）

Spreading/sharing widely online (information can spread quickly, including misinformation).

炎上（えんじょう）

Online backlash/“flaming” (a controversy that rapidly escalates on the internet).

手続き（てつづき）

Procedure/administrative process (e.g., completing government or service tasks via an app).

本人確認（ほんにんかくにん）

Identity verification (confirming who someone is; important for digital services).

情報漏えい（じょうほうろうえい）

Data leak/information breach (personal data is exposed due to weak security or mistakes).

規制（きせい）・ルール作り

Regulation/rule-making (society creates guardrails in response to new technology’s risks).

研究（けんきゅう）

Research (investigating a question in universities, labs, or companies).

開発（かいはつ）

Development (turning research results into a usable product or service).

実用化（じつようか）

Practical application (making a technology usable outside the lab in real life).

普及（ふきゅう）

Spread/adoption (when a technology becomes widely used in society).

〜によると

“According to …” (used to cite sources like articles or reports).

〜そうだ（伝聞）

Hearsay “I heard that … / it is said that …” (reported information; distinct from 〜そうだ meaning “it looks like”).

倫理的な問題（りんりてきなもんだい）

Ethical issue (debate about what is right/acceptable when technology affects people, society, or the environment).