合格（ごうかく、goukaku）
- pass (exam)

The Japanese word 合格 (ごうかく, gōkaku) primarily means "passing" or "success." It signifies achieving a desired result, especially in exams, tests, or competitions. It can also imply approval or acceptance. The word conveys a sense of fulfillment after successfully meeting a standard or requirement.

⚫︎試験に合格しました。 Translation: I passed the exam. ⚫︎大学に合格できますように。 Translation: I hope I can get accepted into university. ⚫︎合格通知を受け取りました。 Translation: I received the acceptance notice.

合格 is used to describe the positive outcome of a process, usually a test or evaluation. ⚫︎It's common to use it after receiving results. ⚫︎You can use it to express congratulations to someone who has succeeded. ⚫︎It can also be used as a verb: 合格する (gōkaku suru - to pass). ⚫︎It can also be used as a noun, like “合格者” (gōkakusha - successful person).

合格 is typically written in kanji. ⚫︎The reading is ごうかく in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no common katakana version. ⚫︎The okurigana is fixed; the verb form is 合格する, which means "to pass."

⚫︎受かる (ukaru) - to pass (informal) ⚫︎成功 (seikō) - success ⚫︎達成 (tac）成) - achievement

⚫︎不合格 (fugōkaku) - failing ⚫︎落ちる (ochiru) - to fail (informal) ⚫︎失敗 (shippai) - failure

彼は難しい試験に合格した。 ・Translation: He passed the difficult exam. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone successfully passing a challenging test.

彼女は第一志望の学校に合格して喜んだ。 ・Translation: She was happy to be accepted into her first-choice school. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the joy of being accepted by the school of one's preference.

The word 合格 is composed of two kanji: ⚫︎合 (gō) - meaning "to fit," "to match," or "to combine." ⚫︎格 (kaku) - meaning "standard," "status," or "grade." Together, they signify "to match the standard" or "to meet the required grade," therefore "to pass."