共同

• Reading: きょうどう
• Romaji: kyoudou
• Kanji breakdown: 共 (kyō) — together, shared; 同 (dō) — same
• Pronunciation: /kjoː.doː/

Meaning

Cooperation; collaboration; joint effort. Working together with others on a shared goal.

A noun, prefix, and suru verb (共同する). Extremely productive as a prefix: 共同研究 (joint research), 共同生活 (communal living), 共同作業 (collaborative work), 共同経営 (joint management). Emphasises the equal, shared nature of the collaboration, unlike 協力 (cooperation) which may imply one party assisting another.

Examples

1. 二つの大学が共同で研究を進めている。 Two universities are conducting research together.
2. この本は三人の作家が共同で書いたものだ。 This book was co-written by three authors.
3. 共同生活ではお互いのルールを守ることが大切だ。 In communal living, it's important to follow each other's rules.

Usage Guide

Context: business, academia, community

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 共 (kyō, together/shared) and 同 (dō, same). Together, 'sharing the same' — doing something as equals with a common purpose.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal