人間関係・コミュニケーション

二人の関係かんけいは友達ともだち以上恋人こいびと未満だ。

The two of them are more than friends but not quite a couple.

Usage 関係 covers relationships and connections of every kind: 人間関係 (relationships), 関係がある / ない (be related / unrelated), 関係者 (people involved), 〜に関係なく (regardless of).

Remember it 関 (barrier, connection) + 係 (to link) → what links two things.

知り合いしりあいの紹介しょうかいで仕事しごとを見みつけた。

I found a job through an introduction from an acquaintance.

Usage 知り合い is someone you know but aren't close to, weaker than 友達. 知り合う = to get to know each other. 知人 (ちじん) is the formal equivalent.

Remember it 知る (to know) + 合う (mutually) → people who know each other, and no more.

同僚どうりょうと協力きょうりょくしてプロジェクトを進すすめた。

I worked with my colleagues to move the project forward.

Usage 同僚 is a colleague at your level. Ranked relationships are 上司 (boss) and 部下 (subordinate). 同期 (どうき) are people who joined the company the same year as you.

Remember it 同 (same) + 僚 (companion) → someone in the same boat as you.

先輩せんぱいに仕事しごとの進め方すすめかたを教おしえてもらった。

A senior colleague taught me how to go about the work.

Usage 先輩 is anyone who joined your school, club or company before you, regardless of age. You use polite language with them, and they look after you. The pair is 先輩 / 後輩.

Remember it 先 (ahead) + 輩 (fellow) → a fellow who arrived ahead of you.

後輩こうはいの面倒めんどうを見みるのが先輩せんぱいの役目やくめだ。

Looking after your juniors is a senior's job.

Usage 後輩 is someone who joined after you. 後輩の面倒を見る (look after juniors) is the senior's side of the bargain. 後輩ができた = I have juniors now.

Remember it 後 (behind) + 輩 (fellow) → the fellow who came in after you.

二人ふたりは性格せいかくの違いちがいから離婚りこんした。

The two of them divorced because of their different personalities.

Usage 離婚する = to divorce: 離婚届 (divorce form), 離婚率 (divorce rate). Most Japanese divorces are 協議離婚, agreed between the couple without going to court.

Remember it 離 (to separate) + 婚 (marriage) → the marriage comes apart.

毎朝まいあさ近所きんじょの人ひとに挨拶あいさつするようにしている。

I make a point of greeting my neighbors every morning.

Usage 挨拶 is a greeting, and also a short formal speech at a wedding or ceremony: 挨拶する, 開会の挨拶 (opening address). Greeting properly is basic manners in Japan.

Remember it 挨 (to push close) + 拶 (to press) → pressing close to someone to greet them. Both kanji live almost only in this word.

政府せいふの政策せいさくを批判ひはんする声こえが高まっているたかまっている。

Criticism of the government's policies is growing louder.

Usage 批判 is criticism, usually negative: 批判する, 批判を受ける (face criticism), 批判的 (critical). 批評 is balanced critique, like a review. 批判的思考 = critical thinking.

Remember it 批 (to judge, strike) + 判 (to judge) → judgment, twice over.

長年ながねんの信頼しんらい関係を築きずいてきた。

We've built a relationship of trust over many years.

Usage 信頼 = trust: 信頼する, 信頼関係を築く (build trust), 信頼を得る / 失う (gain / lose trust). 信用 (しんよう) is credibility, often financial: 信用がある.

Remember it 信 (to believe) + 頼 (to rely on) → believing in someone and leaning on them.

親友しんゆうの裏切りうらぎりに深ふかく傷ついたきずついた。

I was deeply hurt by my best friend's betrayal.

Usage 裏切り = betrayal: 裏切る (to betray), 裏切り者 (traitor). Also used for expectations: 期待を裏切る (let down), and positively: いい意味で期待を裏切る (better than expected).

Remember it 裏 (back side) + 切る (to cut) → cutting someone from behind.

同僚どうりょうの成功せいこうを嫉妬しっとしてしまった。

I couldn't help being jealous of my colleague's success.

Usage 嫉妬 = jealousy or envy: 〜に嫉妬する, 嫉妬深い (jealous by nature). In casual speech, やきもち (やきもちを焼く). うらやましい is milder envy.

Remember it 嫉 and 妬 both carry 女 on the left, both meaning jealousy. An old, unflattering association the word has long outgrown.

長ながい争いあらそいの末すえ和解わかいすることができた。

After a long dispute, we were able to reconcile.

Usage 和解 = reconciliation or a settlement: 和解する, 和解が成立する (a settlement is reached). In court, 和解 is an out-of-court settlement. 仲直り (なかなおり) is making up between friends.

Remember it 和 (harmony) + 解 (to untie) → untying a conflict back into harmony.

結婚式けっこんしきに招待しょうたいしていただき光栄こうえいです。

I'm honored to be invited to your wedding.

Usage 招待する = to invite formally: 結婚式に招待する, 招待状 (invitation), 招待客 (guest). For casual invitations, 誘う (さそう): 飲みに誘う.

Remember it 招 (to beckon) + 待 (to wait for, entertain) → beckoning a guest and waiting to welcome them.

誕生日たんじょうびパーティーを開ひらいてもらって嬉うれしかった。

I was so happy that they threw me a birthday party.

Usage パーティー is a party: パーティーを開く (throw a party). The typical Japanese gathering is a 飲み会 (drinking party), plus seasonal ones like 忘年会 (year-end party).

Remember it From English 'party'.

二人ふたりの口論こうろんに仲裁ちゅうさいに入はいった。

I stepped in to mediate the two people's argument.

Usage 仲裁 is stepping in to settle a dispute: 仲裁に入る (step in to mediate), 喧嘩を仲裁する. 仲介 is brokering a deal; 仲裁 is resolving a conflict.

Remember it 仲 (middle) + 裁 (to judge) → judging from the middle.

チームチームの協調きょうちょうがあってこそ良いよい結果けっかが生うまれる。

Good results come only when a team works together in harmony.

Usage 協調 is cooperating harmoniously: 協調性 (ability to work with others, a key trait on Japanese evaluations), 国際協調 (international cooperation). 協力 is cooperation in general.

Remember it 協 (together) + 調 (in tune) → staying in tune together.

困難こんなんな時期じきには連帯れんたいして乗のり越こえることが大切たいせつだ。

In hard times, it's important to stand together and pull through.

Usage 連帯 = solidarity: 連帯感 (sense of solidarity), 連帯責任 (collective responsibility), 連帯保証人 (joint guarantor, a risky role in Japan).

Remember it 連 (to link) + 帯 (belt) → linked by one belt.

転勤てんきんしてから友人ゆうじんと疎遠そえんになってしまった。

Since I was transferred, I've drifted apart from my friends.

Usage 疎遠 = estranged, drifting apart: 疎遠になる, 親戚と疎遠だ. Its opposite is 親密 (しんみつ, intimate).

Remember it 疎 (sparse, distant) + 遠 (far) → sparse and far apart.

過度かどな束縛そくばくは相手あいてを苦くるしめる。

Excessive control makes the other person suffer.

Usage 束縛 is restriction, often a controlling partner: 束縛する, 束縛が激しい (very possessive), 時間に束縛される (be tied down by time).

Remember it 束 (bundle) + 縛 (to tie up) → tied up in a bundle.

他人たにんの生活せいかつに干渉かんしょうするのは失礼しつれいだ。

Interfering in other people's lives is rude.

Usage 干渉 = interference: 干渉する, 内政干渉 (interference in internal affairs), 干渉しないで (stay out of it). おせっかい is the casual 'busybody'.

Remember it 干 (to meddle) + 渉 (to wade into) → wading into something that isn't yours.

文化ぶんかの違いちがいが摩擦まさつを生うんでいる。

Cultural differences are causing friction.

Usage 摩擦 is friction, literal and figurative: 摩擦が生じる (friction arises), 貿易摩擦 (trade friction). Physically, 摩擦で熱が出る (friction produces heat).

Remember it 摩 (to rub) + 擦 (to scrape) → rubbing and scraping.

遠慮えんりょしないで、もっと食べてたべてください。

Don't hold back, please have some more.

Usage 遠慮 is holding back out of consideration: 遠慮しないで (don't be shy), 遠慮なく (feel free). On signs, ご遠慮ください is a polite 'please don't': 喫煙はご遠慮ください.

Remember it 遠 (far) + 慮 (thought) → thinking far ahead about others, so you hold back.

高齢者こうれいしゃへの配慮はいりょが足たりていると思おもいますか。

Do you think there's enough consideration for elderly people?

Usage 配慮 is thoughtful consideration: 〜に配慮する, 配慮が足りない (lacking consideration), 環境に配慮した (eco-friendly). 気遣い (きづかい) is the everyday word.

Remember it 配 (to distribute) + 慮 (thought) → spreading your thoughts to everyone involved.

夫婦ふうふ円満えんまんの秘訣ひけつは話し合いはなしあいだと思おもう。

I think the secret to a happy marriage is talking things through.

Usage 円満 is harmonious and trouble-free: 円満な家庭, 夫婦円満, 円満解決 (amicable settlement), 円満退社 (leaving a company on good terms).

Remember it 円 (circle, round) + 満 (full) → full and round, with no sharp edges.

対話たいわを通とおじて理解りかいを深ふかめる努力どりょくが必要ひつようだ。

We need to make an effort to deepen understanding through dialogue.

Usage 対話 is dialogue, often between parties with different views: 対話を重ねる, 対話型AI (conversational AI). 会話 (かいわ) is everyday conversation.

Remember it 対 (facing) + 話 (talk) → talking face to face.

部署ぶしょ間の軋轢あつれきが問題もんだいになっている。

Friction between departments has become a problem.

Usage 軋轢 is friction or discord between people or groups, a written word: 軋轢が生じる, 軋轢を生む. Usually seen in newspapers and essays.

Remember it Both kanji carry 車 (wheel): 軋 (to creak) + 轢 (to run over). Wheels grinding against each other.

義理ぎりのチョコは気持きもちの負担ふたんになることもある。

Obligatory chocolates can sometimes become an emotional burden.

Usage 義理 is social obligation: 義理を果たす (fulfill an obligation), 義理チョコ (obligation chocolate on Valentine's Day). As a prefix, it means in-law: 義理の母 (mother-in-law).

Remember it 義 (duty, righteousness) + 理 (reason) → what duty and reason require.

広ひろい人脈じんみゃくを活いかして仕事しごとの幅はばを広ひろげた。

I used my wide network of contacts to broaden the scope of my work.

Usage 人脈 is your network of contacts: 人脈が広い, 人脈を作る, 人脈を活かす (make use of your connections). コネ (connections) is the casual word.

Remember it 人 (people) + 脈 (vein) → the veins of people running out from you.

会議かいぎの前まえに関係者かんけいしゃへの根回しねまわしが欠かかせない。

Laying the groundwork with the people involved before a meeting is essential.

Usage 根回し is quietly securing agreement before a formal meeting, a key part of Japanese business culture. The meeting then simply confirms what was agreed.

Remember it 根 (root) + 回す (to go around) → digging around a tree's roots before moving it, so it survives the move.

育ててくれたそだててくれた親おやに恩返しおんがえしがしたい。

I want to repay my parents for raising me.

Usage 恩返し is repaying a kindness: 恩返しする, 恩返しがしたい. 恩 is a debt of gratitude: 恩人 (benefactor), 恩を仇で返す (repay kindness with harm).

Remember it 恩 (kindness, favor) + 返す (to return) → returning a favor.

あの二人は相性あいしょうがよくていつもいつも仲なかがいい。

Those two are very compatible, so they always get along.

Usage 相性 is how well two people or things go together: 相性がいい / 悪い. It is used for food pairings and devices too, and blood-type compatibility is a popular topic in Japan.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 性 (nature) → how two natures match.

職場しょくばでの馴れ合いなれあいは規律きりつを乱みだす原因げんいんになる。

Getting too cozy with each other at work undermines discipline.

Usage 馴れ合い is being too cozy, the kind of familiarity that leads to slackness or collusion: 馴れ合いの関係. Unlike 親しい, it is negative.

Remember it 馴れる (to get used to, tame) + 合う (mutually) → taming each other until no one keeps anyone in check.

最初さいしょは緊張きんちょうしていたが、話はなすうちに打ち解けたうちとけた。

I was nervous at first, but as we talked, we warmed up to each other.

Usage 打ち解ける = to open up and feel at ease with someone: すぐに打ち解ける, 打ち解けた雰囲気 (a relaxed atmosphere). なかなか打ち解けない = slow to open up.

Remember it 打ち (intensifier) + 解ける (to melt, come undone) → the ice melting between people.

遺恨いこんを残のこしたまま別れるわかれるのは辛つらい。

It's painful to part ways while still holding a grudge.

Usage 遺恨 is a lingering grudge, a formal word: 遺恨を残す, 遺恨を晴らす (settle a score). In sports, 遺恨試合 is a grudge match. 恨み (うらみ) is the everyday word.

Remember it 遺 (to leave behind) + 恨 (resentment) → resentment left behind.

二社にしゃの交渉こうしょうで仲立ちなかだちの役割やくわりを果はたした。

I acted as go-between in the negotiations between the two companies.

Usage 仲立ち is acting as a go-between who brings two sides together: 仲立ちをする. Traditionally, it also meant matchmaking. 仲介 is the business equivalent.

Remember it 仲 (between) + 立つ (to stand) → standing between two sides.

先生せんせいにはいつもお世話せわになっています。

My teacher has always been looking after me.

Usage 世話 is looking after someone: 世話をする, 犬の世話. お世話になっています is the standard greeting in business emails. 世話を焼く = to fuss over someone; 余計なお世話 = mind your own business.

Remember it 世 (the world) + 話 (talk) → the talk and bother of everyday life, done for others.

気兼ねきがねなく相談そうだんしてください。

Please feel free to consult me without hesitation.

Usage 気兼ね is holding back for fear of bothering someone: 気兼ねなく (without hesitation), 気兼ねする. 遠慮 is very close in meaning.

Remember it 気 (feelings) + 兼ねる (to hesitate, be unable) → feelings that hold you back.

口コミくちコミを参考さんこうにしてレストランレストランを選えらんだ。

I chose the restaurant based on word of mouth.

Usage 口コミ is word of mouth, and now online user reviews: 口コミサイト (review site), 口コミで広がる (spread by word of mouth). 評判 (ひょうばん) is reputation.

Remember it 口 (mouth) + コミ (from コミュニケーション) → communication by mouth.