条約

• Reading: じょうやく
• Romaji: jouyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 条 (jou) — article, clause; 約 (yaku) — promise, agreement
• Pronunciation: /dʑoː.ja.kɯ/

Meaning

Treaty; pact; convention. A formal agreement between nations or parties.

A noun used in political, diplomatic, and legal contexts. 条約 refers specifically to formal agreements between countries or international bodies. Common collocations include 平和条約 (peace treaty), 条約を結ぶ (to conclude a treaty), and 条約を破る (to break a treaty). It differs from 契約 (contract), which applies to agreements between individuals or companies.

Examples

1. 両国は平和条約を結んだ。 The two countries signed a peace treaty.
2. その条約は来年から有効になる。 That treaty will go into effect next year.
3. 環境に関する国際条約が話し合われた。 An international treaty on the environment was discussed.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, international relations, law

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 条 (article, clause, strip) and 約 (promise, approximately). Together they refer to a binding agreement structured in articles or clauses.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal