To Get Accepted
To Succeed, 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 succeed or to pass, often in the context of a test or an exam.
This is an intransitive verb, meaning it happens on its own. The かる ending is a hint, because verbs with かる as okurigana (kana added to the kanji) are usually intransitive.
Watch out: whereas in English we'd say "to pass an exam", in Japanese it's 試験に受かる, or "to pass in an exam." That's why it's intransitive in Japanese, even though we might make it transitive in the English translation!
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.
高校に受かる
to get into high school
試験に受かる
to pass an exam
大学に受かる
to get into university
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.