斡旋

• Reading: あっせん
• Romaji: assen
• Kanji breakdown: 斡 (atsu) — facilitate, arrange; 旋 (sen) — revolve, arrange
• Pronunciation: /as.seɴ/

Meaning

Mediation; good offices; the arrangement or facilitation of an agreement between parties, or the act of finding someone a job or connection.

A noun also used as a verbal noun (斡旋する — to mediate or arrange). Appears in labour law, diplomacy, and business. It implies a neutral third party facilitating a deal or resolving a dispute. Distinguished from 仲裁 (arbitration) in that 斡旋 recommendations are not legally binding. The related phrase 斡旋業者 refers to an employment or matchmaking agency.

Examples

1. 労働委員会が労使間の斡旋に乗り出した。 The labour relations commission stepped in to mediate between management and workers.
2. 就職斡旋業者に登録して転職活動を始めた。 I registered with an employment agency and began my job search.
3. 両社の間で取引を斡旋してもらえないか相談した。 I consulted with them about whether they could act as an intermediary to arrange a deal between the two companies.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, labour relations, business, diplomacy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 斡 means to rotate or facilitate, and 旋 means to revolve or arrange. Together they suggest the turning of affairs to bring parties into agreement.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional