How to say "co-op" in Japanese

• コープCommon
  nounThe loanword for 'co-op' or 'co-operative'; use it for a co-operative in general, with no particular type or setting implied.
• 生協せいきょうCommon
  nounAn abbreviation for a consumers' cooperative, a co-op whose members buy goods through it together; use it when that is specifically the kind of co-op you mean.
  母ははは生協せいきょうに入はいっていました。↗

  My mother attached herself to a cooperative society.
• 購買こうばいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounAn abbreviation that really means a school store or canteen; its 'co-op' sense is confined to that school setting, so it is seldom the word you want for a co-op in general.

Use 「コープ」 for a co-operative in general, 生協 when you mean a consumers' co-op in particular, and 購買 only for the school store or canteen, not for co-ops at large.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コープco-op
• 生協せいきょうco-op
• 生活協同組合せいかつきょうどうくみあいconsumers' cooperative
• 購買部こうばいぶschool store
• 購買こうばいschool store