To Get Accepted
To Pass
intransitive verb, godan verb
This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji 受 means accept and this verb is related. It means to get accepted, usually into something good like a university or a new job. It can also mean to pass, often in the context of a test or an exam.
This is an intransitive verb, so no direct objected needed. A hint for this is that it ends with okurigana that rhyme with ある, and those kinds of verbs tend to be intransitive. Also, be careful: in English you'd use the transitive expression "pass a test," but in Japanese you'd say 試験に受かる. Kind of like saying you pass in the exam — so it's still intransitive!
Since this word has okurigana (hiragana attached to the kanji) you know that it's probably going to be the kun'yomi reading. Here's a little mnemonic to help ya remember:
To get accepted into this program, you have to juggle unis (う)—yes, those spiky sea urchins! Handling uni is tough, but if you want to pass the test and get accepted, you've got to master the uni challenge.
大学に受かる
to get into university
試験に受かる
to pass an exam
高校に受かる
to get into high school
やった！シアトル市の大学に受かったよ！
Yay! I got accepted into a university in Seattle!
次回受からなければ、医者になれるチャンスは少なくなるよ。
If you don't pass next time, you'll have fewer chances of becoming a doctor.
試験に受かるまで週末は出かけないって決心したんだ。
I made a resolution that I won't go out on weekends until I pass my exams.