忖度力
含义: The ability to anticipate and act on someone's unspoken wishes — reading the room elevated to a measurable skill.
Built on 忖度 (sontaku), which became a political buzzword in 2017 during government scandals, 忖度力 adds 力 (ryoku, power/ability) to turn it into a quantifiable skill. In Japanese social and professional life, the ability to anticipate a boss's wishes, a client's needs, or a friend's feelings without being told is highly valued. 忖度力 frames this talent as something that can be developed, making it both a genuine compliment and a tongue-in-cheek commentary on Japan's indirect communication culture.
例句
- 日本社会で生き残るには忖度力が必要だよ。 要在日本社会生存下去,需要有揣度的能力。Para sobrevivir en la sociedad japonesa necesitas sontaku-ryoku.일본 사회에서 살아남으려면 忖度力(손타쿠력)이 필요해.
- 忖度力高すぎて逆に疲れるんだけど。 揣度能力太强了,反而累得不行。Tengo el sontaku-ryoku tan alto que me acabo agotando.忖度力が 너무 높아서 오히려 지치는데.
- 上司への忖度力がないと出世できないのが現実。 没有对上司的揣度能力就升不了职,这就是现实。La realidad es que sin sontaku-ryoku con el jefe no asciendes.상사에 대한 忖度力이 없으면 출세 못 하는 게 현실이야.
发音
/soɴ.ta.ku.rjo.ku/
用法指南
语境: workplace, social commentary, social media
语气: ironic, analytical
✓ 正确说法
- 忖度力ないと日本の会社ではやっていけない (You can't survive in a Japanese company without sontaku-ryoku)没有揣度能力在日本公司待不下去(在日本企业里没有揣度力根本活不了)忖度力ないと日本の会社ではやっていけない (Sin sontaku-ryoku no sobrevives en una empresa japonesa)忖度力ないと日本の会社ではやっていけない (손타쿠력이 없으면 일본 회사에서 살아남을 수 없어)
- 忖度力のテストとかあったら落ちる自信ある (If there were a test for sontaku-ryoku, I'd definitely fail)如果有揣度能力考试的话,我肯定挂科(要是有揣度力测试,我绝对有信心考不过)忖度力のテストとかあったら落ちる自信ある (Si hubiera un examen de sontaku-ryoku, seguro que suspendo)忖度力のテストとかあったら落ちる自信ある (손타쿠력 시험이 있으면 떨어질 자신 있어)
✗ 错误说法
- 外国人の同僚に「忖度力足りないね」は文化の押しつけ (Telling a foreign colleague they lack sontaku-ryoku is cultural imposition)对外国同事说'你揣度能力不够'是文化强加(对外国同事说'你缺乏揣度能力'是在强加文化观念)外国人の同僚に「忖度力足りないね」は文化の押しつけ (Decirle a un compañero extranjero que le falta sontaku-ryoku es imponer tu cultura)外国人の同僚に「忖度力足りないね」は文化の押しつけ (외국인 동료에게 '손타쿠력이 부족하네'는 문화 강요이다)
常见错误
- Not knowing the 2017 political scandal background of 忖度 — the word has serious political connotations beyond everyday usage
- Treating 忖度力 as purely positive — it can enable unhealthy power dynamics and yes-man culture
起源与历史
Based on 忖度 (sontaku, reading and deferring to someone's wishes), which became 2017's buzzword during government favouritism scandals. Adding 力 (power/ability) turned it into a coined compound treating anticipatory obedience as a measurable skill.
文化背景
Era: 忖度 became 2017 buzzword, 忖度力 emerged as a playful extension
Generation: Adults 20s and above
Social background: Professional and social commentary circles
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Reflects the Japanese emphasis on indirect communication and anticipatory behaviour in hierarchical relationships.
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