Can I say 日本語程度 as an alternative for 日本語実力?


Or perhaps even 日本語実力程度? Although that seems overkill and double emphasising.




It depends on the context, but both 日本語程度 and 日本語実力 strike me as very noun
dense. It's much more natural to insert particles and make them a noun phrase,
like 日本語の程度 and 日本語の実力, unless it's used in a context that demands the noun
dense form, like 日本語実力検定試験 or as a newspaper title.

程度 can refer to the level neutrally, but it often carries the loaded meaning
of low level/rank and lack of mastery, such as 百姓程度で生意気な "how dare a farmer
say that!" So when I hear 日本語程度 I mentally picture a sentence to follow that
says something about Japanese not so blah blah, for example 日本語程度では苦労しないよ.

