SURVIVE! ~part.1~

Have you seen the video in my previous article?
I'll pick up one phrase from that video and explain it.

So, today's phrase is...

おれなんて英検(英検)3級(きゅう)。
As for me, what I have is just 3rd grade of the English proficiency test.

英検/EI-KEN/ is one of major English proficiency test in Japan. Many students try this test. The highest grade is 1級(いっきゅう), and the lowest one is 5級(ごきゅう). The level of 3rd grade is junior high school graduates (of Japanese school).

At first, you have to choose one of the grade you'd like to take. Then, pay for the exam fee. It depends on the grade you'll take how much you must pay. The fee for 3rd grade is 2,500 yen. If you want to try 1st grade, you need to pay 7,500 yen. Do you think it's too expensive?

Above 3rd grade, there are two stages in the test. The first stage is paper test (vocab, reading, listening) and the second stage is an interview (speaking).

OK, if you passes the exam and got the 2nd grade, you can say:

英検2級に受(う)かった！

英検2級を取(と)った！

英検2級を持(も)ってる。

※受かる(pass)、取る(get)、持つ(have)

Or, simply say わたし英検2級。 You know, Japanese doesn't necessarily need any verbs.

Let's look on the phrase again.

おれ/なんて/英検3級。

おれ is a personal pronounce used by men (very informal). なんて has several meanings, but in this case, he put なんて after おれ to emphasis he only has 3rd grade.

For example:

A：昨日、彼女と別れたんだ・・・
I broke with my girlfriend yesterday.

B：元気出せって。おれなんて28年彼女無しだぜ？
Come on, lighten up. As for me, I've been single for 28 years.