討論する

• Reading: とうろんする
• Romaji: touron suru
• Kanji breakdown: 討 (tou) — discuss, attack; 論 (ron) — argument, theory
• Pronunciation: /toː.ɾoɴ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To debate; to have a formal discussion. To argue opposing viewpoints on a topic.

The suru-verb form of 討論, used when emphasizing the action of debating rather than the event itself. Takes the particle について (about) or を for the topic being debated. More formal than 話し合う (talk things over) and more confrontational than 議論する (discuss).

Examples

1. 学生たちは移民政策について討論した。 The students debated immigration policy.
2. この問題をもっと討論すべきだと思う。 I think this issue needs to be debated more.
3. 専門家がテレビで教育制度について討論していた。 Experts were debating the education system on TV.

Usage Guide

Context: academics, politics, meetings

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Verb form created by combining the Sino-Japanese noun 討論 (touron, debate) with する (to do). A standard pattern for creating verbs from Sino-Japanese nouns.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated