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.
In the oral examination, I was asked in detail about my field of specialization.
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.