passive vocabulary; receptive vocabulary
Linguistics term for words a person can understand when reading or listening but may not actively use. Contrasts with 表現語彙 (active/productive vocabulary).
See also: 表現語彙
In second-language learning, passive vocabulary is usually larger than active vocabulary.
表現語彙 refers to active/productive vocabulary (words one can produce), while 理解語彙 is passive/receptive vocabulary (words one can recognize).
Compound of 理解 (understanding) and 語彙 (vocabulary). A modern linguistics term.