根回し
含义: Behind-the-scenes consensus building — privately discussing and gaining agreement from stakeholders before an official meeting or decision.
Originally a gardening term, 根回し is a deeply embedded practice in Japanese business culture. Before any important meeting, proposal, or decision, the person in charge is expected to individually consult each relevant party to ensure there will be no opposition. Meetings then become formalities where pre-agreed decisions are simply confirmed. While essential for smooth business operations in Japan, younger workers sometimes view it as inefficient.
例句
- 会議の前にちゃんと根回ししておかないと、絶対反対される。 开会之前不好好提前沟通的话,肯定会被反对。Si no haces bien el trabajo previo de consenso antes de la reunión, seguro que se oponen.회의 전에 제대로 네마와시 해놓지 않으면 반드시 반대당해.
- 部長への根回しは済んだ?明日のプレゼン大丈夫? 跟部长的事前沟通做好了吗?明天的演示没问题吧?¿Ya has tanteado al director de departamento? ¿La presentación de mañana va bien?부장님한테 네마와시는 끝났어? 내일 발표 괜찮아?
- 根回しなしで提案したら、その場で却下されたよ。 没有提前打招呼就直接提案,当场就被否了。Hice la propuesta sin preparar el terreno y me la rechazaron en el acto.네마와시 없이 제안했다가 그 자리에서 바로 기각당했어.
发音
/ne.ma.wa.ɕi/
用法指南
语境: workplace, business, politics
语气: strategic, pragmatic
✓ 正确说法
- 先に根回ししておいたから、会議はスムーズにいくと思う。 (I did the groundwork in advance, so I think the meeting will go smoothly.)提前做好了沟通,会议应该会很顺利。He preparado el terreno de antemano, así que creo que la reunión irá sobre ruedas.미리 네마와시 해놨으니까 회의가 순조롭게 진행될 거야.
- 根回しって面倒だけど、日本の会社では必須だよね。 (Consensus building is a pain, but it's essential in Japanese companies.)事前沟通虽然麻烦,但在日本公司是必不可少的。La construcción de consenso es un rollo, pero en las empresas japonesas es imprescindible.네마와시는 번거롭지만 일본 회사에서는 필수지.
✗ 错误说法
- 根回しを「裏工作」と同じ意味で使わない (Don't equate 根回し with 'scheming' — it's a legitimate and expected business practice in Japan)不要把根回し等同于'暗箱操作'——它在日本是一种正当且必要的商业惯例No equipares 根回し con «maquinación» — es una práctica empresarial legítima y esperada en Japón.根回し를 '뒷공작'과 같은 의미로 사용하지 않는다 — 일본에서는 정당하고 당연한 비즈니스 관행이다
常见错误
- Thinking 根回し is optional in Japanese business — skipping it often leads to proposals being rejected on the spot
- Confusing it with bribery or corruption — 根回し is a standard, transparent practice of building consensus
起源与历史
Originally a gardening term meaning to cut the roots of a tree before transplanting to help it survive. Applied to business contexts since the postwar era to describe pre-meeting consensus building.
文化背景
Era: Postwar business culture, term used since at least the 1960s
Generation: All ages in the workforce
Social background: White-collar workers, especially management
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A fundamental concept in Japanese organizational culture that foreign businesspeople often learn about early.
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