深掘り · deep dive · N4 orthography
運 or 連, 動 or 働
Each wrong answer swaps one kanji for a near twin — check both characters.
60% of 104 answers were right — one of the hardest questions in the catalogue.
The question
Which kanji matches the underlined word?
けんこうのために、毎日 うんどうを して います。
- 運働
- 送動
- 運動✓ correct
- 連動
For my health, I exercise every day.
What it is testing
うんどう (exercise) is 運動. Both kanji have a look-alike, and the wrong answers use them.
運 (carry, luck) and 連 (link, take along) share the "moving" radical ⻌. What sits inside is the difference: 運 has 軍, 連 has 車. 連動 is a real word too — "linked movement" — which makes it more tempting.
動 (move) is 重 (heavy) plus 力 (power). 働 (work) is the same 動 with a person 亻 in front — a person moving is a person working.
The twins in context
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 運動 | うんどう | exercise |
| 運転 | うんてん | driving |
| 連絡 | れんらく | contact, getting in touch |
| 動物 | どうぶつ | animal |
| 働く | はたらく | to work |
Why the wrong answers are tempting
- ✕ 運働The first kanji is right, so the eye moves on. 働 is 動 with an extra person — there is no word 運働.
- ✕ 送動送 (send) has the same ⻌ radical. A quick look at the shape alone can mislead.
- ✕ 連動A real word (linkage, moving together), so it looks familiar — but it is not exercise.
More examples
- 毎朝三十分運動している。I exercise for thirty minutes every morning.
- 父は車の運転が上手だ。My father is a good driver.
- 着いたら連絡してください。Please get in touch when you arrive.
- 姉は病院で働いている。My older sister works at a hospital.
覚え方 · how to remember it
A person (亻) who moves (動) is working: 働. Exercise is just moving: 運動.