交渉

• Reading: こうしょう
• Romaji: koushou
• Kanji breakdown: 交 (kou) — to exchange, to interact; 渉 (shou) — to ford, to cross, to negotiate
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɕoː/

Meaning

Negotiations; bargaining; discussions; talks. The process of discussing terms to reach an agreement.

A noun and suru-verb meaning to negotiate or hold discussions. 交渉 is used in business, diplomatic, and everyday contexts where parties are trying to reach an agreement. Common collocations include 交渉する (to negotiate), 価格交渉 (price negotiation), and 交渉が成立する (negotiations succeed).

Examples

1. 給料について会社と交渉した。 I negotiated with the company about my salary.
2. 交渉の結果、契約が決まった。 As a result of the negotiations, the contract was finalized.
3. 相手と粘り強く交渉することが大切だ。 It's important to negotiate persistently with the other party.

Usage Guide

Context: business, diplomacy, contracts

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 交 (to mix, to exchange, to interact) and 渉 (to ford, to cross over, to negotiate). The combination conveys the idea of interacting and crossing over differences to reach agreement.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal