黙認

• Reading: もくにん
• Romaji: mokunin
• Kanji breakdown: 黙 (moku/dama) — silence, mute; 認 (nin/mito) — recognise, approve
• Pronunciation: /mo̞kɯnin/

Meaning

Tacit consent; acquiescence; turning a blind eye; implicit approval through silence.

A する-verb (黙認する) meaning to accept or allow something by saying nothing, without formally approving it. Implies that an authority figure knows of something but chooses not to object — either deliberately or passively. Often carries a slightly negative connotation of complicity or dereliction of oversight duty.

Examples

1. 上司が部下の小さな違反を黙認し続けた結果、大きな問題が生じた。 As a result of the boss continually turning a blind eye to minor violations by subordinates, a major problem arose.
2. 政府が不正を黙認していたとの疑惑が浮上している。 Suspicions have surfaced that the government was tacitly condoning the misconduct.
3. 長年にわたる規則違反が組織に黙認されていた事実が明るみに出た。 The fact that years of rule violations had been tacitly approved by the organization came to light.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, workplace, journalism

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Compound of 黙 (silence) and 認 (to recognise, approve). The combination literally means to recognise or approve through silence — consent expressed by the absence of objection.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal