1.
oral examination; viva voce
An examination conducted through spoken question-and-answer rather than in writing. In Japan, commonly used for university entrance interviews, thesis defenses, and certain certification exams.
口頭試問を受ける。
To take an oral examination.
大学院の入試には口頭試問がある。
The graduate school entrance exam includes an oral examination.
口頭試問で専門分野について詳しく聞かれた。
In the oral examination, I was asked in detail about my field of specialization.
博士論文の口頭試問は二時間ほど続いた。
The oral examination for my doctoral dissertation lasted about two hours.
Composed of 口頭 (oral, verbal) + 試問 (examination, questioning). A formal term used in academic and testing contexts, distinct from the English loanword インタビュー (interview). 口頭試問 emphasizes evaluation through direct questioning, typically by a panel of examiners.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 口頭試問を受ける: to take an oral examination
- 口頭試問に臨む: to face an oral examination
- 口頭試問に合格する: to pass the oral examination
- 口頭試問の対策: preparation for the oral examination
- 博士論文口頭試問: doctoral thesis defense
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 面接: interview — broader; used for both job interviews and general academic interviews
- 試験: exam, test — general term; can be written or oral
- 論文審査: thesis examination — the formal review of the thesis document, often paired with 口頭試問
- 口述試験: oral test — alternative term with the same basic meaning
USAGE:
In the Japanese academic context, 口頭試問 is a key step in graduate-school admissions and the granting of advanced degrees, functioning as the Japanese equivalent of a "viva voce" or thesis defense.