How to say "consensus" in Japanese

• コンセンサスCommon
  nounCovers the same sense as English 'consensus': general agreement reached by a group. A direct loanword, natural in business, meetings, and committee talk when discussing whether a group has reached agreement.
  今後こんごは、新しん事業じぎょう創造そうぞうによる経済けいざいの活性化かっせいかという観点かんてんから、国民こくみんのコンセンサスに基もとづいた早急さっきゅうな内圧ないあつ型がた規制緩和きせいかんわが推進すいしんされなければなるまい。↗

  Therefore, they cannot catalyze deregulation without "external pressure".
• 総意そういCommon
  nounRefers to the collective will or opinion of a group as a whole — what its members collectively want. Suits talk of a community's or nation's shared wishes rather than agreement reached in a meeting.
• 合意ごういJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCenters on agreement or consent between parties — the act or state of coming to terms. It matches 'consensus' only loosely; in negotiations, contracts, and formal dealings it is really the word for 'agreement'.
  彼かれらは休戦きゅうせん条件じょうけんで合意ごういした。↗

  They agreed on cease-fire terms.
• 世論よろんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounReally means public opinion — the voice or sentiment of society at large. Its link to 'consensus' is thin: choose it for what the public thinks, not for agreement reached within a group or meeting.
  世論よろんは非常ひじょうに重要じゅうようである。↗

  Public opinion counts for much.

Use 「コンセンサス」 for group agreement in meetings and organizations, 総意 for a group's collective will, 合意 when parties reach an agreement, and 世論 only for public opinion rather than decision-making consensus.

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

• コンセンサスconsensus
• 総意そういconsensus
• 合意ごうい(coming to an) agreement
• 世論よろんpublic opinion
• 統一見解とういつけんかいcollective view