調停

• Reading: ちょうてい
• Romaji: choutei
• Kanji breakdown: 調 (chou) — arrange, adjust, investigate; 停 (tei) — stop, halt, settle
• Pronunciation: /t͡ɕoː.teː/

Meaning

Arbitration; conciliation; mediation. A formal process of resolving disputes through a neutral third party.

A noun and suru-verb primarily used in legal and institutional dispute resolution. In Japanese law, 調停 specifically refers to a court-supervised mediation process (家事調停, family mediation; 民事調停, civil mediation) where a third party helps the parties reach a voluntary agreement. Distinguished from 仲裁 (chuusai, arbitration) in that 調停 typically results in a voluntary agreement rather than a binding ruling. Common patterns include 調停を申し立てる (to file for mediation) and 調停委員 (mediation committee member).

Examples

1. 離婚の条件について家庭裁判所で調停を行った。 Mediation was conducted at family court regarding the terms of the divorce.
2. 近隣トラブルの解決に調停委員が関わった。 A mediation committee member was involved in resolving the neighborhood dispute.
3. 両国間の紛争は国際的な調停で解決された。 The dispute between the two countries was resolved through international mediation.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, international relations, dispute resolution

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 調 (chou, arrange/adjust/investigate) + 停 (tei, stop/halt/settle). Literally 'to arrange a settlement' — bringing conflicting parties to a point where the dispute stops.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional