勧告

• Reading: かんこく
• Romaji: kankoku
• Kanji breakdown: 勧 (kan) — encourage, urge; 告 (koku) — inform, announce
• Pronunciation: /kan.ko.kɯ/

Meaning

Recommendation; advice; counsel; warning. An official suggestion or urging directed at an entity to take a particular action.

A noun and する verb used in formal and legal contexts. 勧告 is weaker than a binding order (命令) but stronger than mere advice (助言). International organisations, government agencies, and courts issue 勧告 to entities expected to comply voluntarily. Collocates with 勧告を受ける (receive a recommendation), 勧告に従う (comply with a recommendation), and 勧告を無視する (ignore a recommendation).

Examples

1. 国連の人権委員会から、制度改善に関する勧告が出された。 A recommendation regarding institutional improvements was issued by the UN Human Rights Committee.
2. 保健所の勧告に従い、施設は一時的に営業を停止した。 In accordance with the recommendation of the public health centre, the facility temporarily suspended operations.
3. 仲裁委員会の勧告を無視し続けたことが、外交問題に発展した。 Continuing to ignore the recommendation of the arbitration committee escalated into a diplomatic issue.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, international relations, administration

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 勧 (kan, encourage/urge) and 告 (koku, inform/announce). A classical Sino-Japanese compound used in administrative and legal Japanese to denote an official urging to act.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional