1.
phenomenon
An observable fact or event.
自然現象
Natural phenomenon.
現象 refers to any observable event or occurrence, whether natural, social, or psychological. It is a formal, somewhat academic word used in both everyday and technical contexts.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 現象が起きる: a phenomenon occurs
- 現象を観察する: to observe a phenomenon
- 現象を説明する: to explain a phenomenon
- 不思議な現象: a strange phenomenon
COMMON TYPES:
- 自然現象: natural phenomenon
- 社会現象: social phenomenon
- 心理現象: psychological phenomenon
- 気象現象: weather phenomenon
WORD FORMATION:
現 (appear, manifest) + 象 (image, form) — literally "a manifested form."