請負

• Reading: うけおい
• Romaji: ukeoi
• Kanji breakdown: 請 (sei/u) — request, receive; 負 (fu/o) — bear, undertake, owe
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ke.o.i/

Meaning

Contract work; a contracting arrangement where a party undertakes to complete a specified piece of work for an agreed price.

A noun referring to a specific contract type (請負契約) under Japanese civil law in which the contractor (請負人) undertakes to deliver a completed work product, not merely effort. Distinguished from 委任契約 where the process itself is compensated. The contractor bears the risk of non-completion. Common in construction, manufacturing, software development, and public works.

Examples

1. 建設工事は元請けと下請けの請負構造で進められることが多い。 Construction projects are often carried out through a contracting structure of general contractors and subcontractors.
2. 請負契約では完成物の引き渡しが報酬の条件となる。 Under a contract for work, delivery of the completed product is the condition for receiving payment.
3. 請負業者に外壁の修繕を依頼した。 I commissioned a contractor to repair the exterior walls.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, contracts, business, law

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 請 (uke — receive, accept) and 負 (oi/fu — bear, undertake). Together they express the act of accepting and bearing responsibility for completing a task.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional