打診

• Reading: だしん
• Romaji: dashin
• Kanji breakdown: 打 (da/u) — strike, hit; 診 (shin/mi) — examine, diagnose
• Pronunciation: /da.ɕin/

Meaning

Sounding out; a preliminary inquiry or feeler to gauge another party's interest or opinion before making a formal proposal. Also means medical percussion in clinical contexts.

A noun used with する to form 打診する (to sound out, to approach informally). In everyday usage, the figurative meaning of gauging interest before committing to a proposal far outweighs the medical meaning. Common in business and political contexts when one side wants to test the waters without making a binding offer.

Examples

1. 合併の可能性について相手方に打診したが、色よい返事は得られなかった。 We sounded out the other party about the possibility of a merger, but did not receive a favourable response.
2. 転職の意向を上司に打診する前に、状況をよく見極めるべきだ。 Before sounding out your superior about your intention to change jobs, you should carefully assess the situation.
3. 党首は連立について水面下で打診を続けていた。 The party leader had been quietly sounding out coalition partners behind the scenes.

Usage Guide

Context: business negotiations, politics, job seeking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 打 (da — to strike) and 診 (shin — to examine, diagnose). Originates from medical percussion, the technique of tapping the body to diagnose internal conditions — metaphorically extended to mean tapping someone's stance to assess the situation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional