JLPT 2 sufficient for scientific texts?

With JLPT 2, how well can one understand japanese scientific texts (for undergraduate level)?

Is JLPT 1 really needed to understand a Quantum Mechanics (量子力学) textbook printed in Japanese?

I've browsed through japanese physics & chemistry textbooks (Senior High level) at a local Kinokuniya bookstore & the text wasn't totally cluttered with kanji as I had expected .

For example, 'mokuji' (contents) is printed in hiragana. Katakana is extensively (though not totally) used for scientific terms.

A lot of people ask questions like this, and it puzzles me every single time.

To state the obvious, you don't "need" JLPT level *anything* to read *any* kind of texts. Nor does passing a particular level of the JLPT mean that you've automatically gained the ability to read texts of a certain level of difficulty. I would imagine that even among all people passing a particular level of JLPT, there's going to be quite a large degree of variation in their actual reading abilities.

If you want to read about quantum mechanics in Japanese, and the text doesn't seem so difficult, why not just go ahead and read it? If it starts to get confusing at some point, look up some of the words you don't know.

The JLPT really shouldn't (and doesn't) have anything to do with it.

I'd say that having JLPT 2 is sufficient in reading normal textbooks. However, the JLPT 1 is recommended for reading longer novels and academic papers. The JLPT 1 grammar covers quite a lot of the expressions used in novels, and the 10000words needed would be a good collection to start with in your quest to learn the ultra-technical kanji compounds in some academic papers.

Well, to give you an idea, 1-kyu is usually required for foreign students entering Japanese universities. However, none of the JLPT tests cover the specific scientific vocabulary that you would need to know to understand a textbook like that.

The whole idea of the JLPT is that if you can pass a certain level of the test, then you probably have a certain level of skill with the language. If you can pass level 2, then you can probably sit down with the book and a good dictionary and figure out everything. It will take you longer than someone with more vocabulary knowledge, but you'll be able to do it if you take the time. And once you're done, you will probably have learned new vocabulary and kanji.

m477 said:

Well, to give you an idea, 1-kyu is usually required for foreign students entering Japanese universities.

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That's not so they can be assured of being able to _read_ Japanese though. It's on the assumption that at that level they will be able to hand in Japanese work which the _professors_ can read.

Roughly speaking the _kanji_ recognition / reading ability for JLPT 1 would be useful, but the vocabulary and grammar required for JLPT 1 isn't needed to read technical books.

PaulTB said:

That's not so they can be assured of being able to _read_ Japanese though. It's on the assumption that at that level they will be able to hand in Japanese work which the _professors_ can read.

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I'm not so sure that I agree with this, seeing as how the JLPT has sections that specifically test reading comprehension, vocabulary, etc. (i.e. passive understanding of Japanese) and nothing at all that tests essay-writing (active _production_ of Japanese). I could easily envision someone "cramming" and passing 1-kyuu without having the skills to write a reasonably intelligent academic paper in Japanese.

Cryptnotic said:

The whole idea of the JLPT is that if you can pass a certain level of the test, then you probably have a certain level of skill with the language.

::snip::

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I don't know if this was a response to my post, but I'll answer anyway because this is a pet peeve of mine.

Yes, this is the _idea_, but this is more important to (for example) universities and companies trying to figure out who they can accept/employ than it is to the _individual_ who is learning Japanese. Sure, studying the grammar, vocab, etc. that is on the JLPT is one way to improve your Japanese, but it's not the only way by any means, and actually _taking_/passing the test is not a prerequisite to reading anything.

You'd hardly believe it from the way people talk the JLPT, but there are plenty of people who have achieved a very high level of Japanese ability without ever worrying about taking a proficiency test.

The bottom line: if you want to read something, just read it -- you can figure out for yourself whether or not it's within your abilities.

jt_ said:

I'm not so sure that I agree with this, seeing as how the JLPT has sections that specifically test reading comprehension, vocabulary, etc. (i.e. passive understanding of Japanese) and nothing at all that tests essay-writing (active _production_ of Japanese). I could easily envision someone "cramming" and passing 1-kyuu without having the skills to write a reasonably intelligent academic paper in Japanese.

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I didn't say it was a _good_ assumption.

I agree with a lot of what has been said above about the JLPT.

In response to your original question, I think the answer is both yes and no.

Yes: JLPT level 2 will probably give you a sufficient level of grammar to understand most scientific texts without recourse to a reference. The grammar in Level 1 tends to be much more arcane and more likely to be found in social science / arts related texts.

The other thing is that if you are already familiar with the subject matter in question, it is going to be much easier for you to figure things out from context. For example, I am a Christian and a member of a Japanese church. You can't find any modern texts or even dictionaries that cover the specialist vocabulary or forms that are used by this group. However, since I know the Bible and can follow in my copy in English, it does not take too many leaps of imagination to figure out what the pastor is talking about. Over the years, I have built up my knowledge of this specialist vocabulary so that now I have no difficulty.

No: JLPT level 2 (or even level 1) will not give you a sufficient level of vocabulary or kanji in any specialist field. However, this is easily solved by a dictionary - assuming you can find one that covers the specialty you are interested in. Jim Breen has a great set of links to dictionaries here that makes a good starting point - Jim Breen's Japanese Page

I hope this helps.

I'm a translator and I've never taken JLPT 1, though I did pass JLPT 2 a couple years back.

When you are talking about a specific field like Quantum mechanics then your ability to read the text is probably going to be equally dependent on your understanding of the subject matter in your native langauge as it is on your Japanese ability. With a complex subject like that I'm guessing that your average person, even one who has passed JLPT 1, probably isn't going to be able to make much sense of it. Reading textbooks is much more difficult than reading novels or newspapers. If you are an expert at quantum mechanics and already understand the basic principles involved then you might be OK. If you are a complete novice then you are going to have your work cut out for you.