How to say "consultation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 相談そうだんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general word for consultation in the sense of discussing a matter with someone or asking them for advice, such as seeing a lawyer or teacher about a problem.
- 参考さんこうnounChiefly means reference — consulting books, documents, or other sources for information. For a consultation involving discussion with a person, this is not the word you want.
- 協議きょうぎnoun, suru verb, transitive verbConsultation or discussion between parties, typically formal deliberation aimed at a decision or agreement, as between organizations, companies, or negotiating sides.
- 参照さんしょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbRefers to consulting a source such as a dictionary, passage, or footnotes, often for comparison; it is not the word for discussing a matter with a person.
- 診察しんさつnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe medical sense only: a doctor's consultation, examination, or checkup of a patient. Use this when consultation refers to seeing a doctor, not to seeking advice in general.
Use 相談 for asking someone's advice, 協議 for formal discussion between parties, and 診察 for a doctor's consultation, while 参考 and 参照 refer to consulting sources or materials rather than talking with a person.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 相談そうだんconsultation
- 参考さんこうreference
- 協議きょうぎconference
- 参照さんしょうreference (e.g. to a dictionary, passage, footnotes)
- 診察しんさつmedical examination
- 諮問しもんconsultation
- 合議ごうぎconsultation
- 評定ひょうじょうcouncil
- コンサルテーションconsultation
- 諮議しぎconsultation
- 相談会そうだんかいconsultation
- 下問かもんenquiry
- 商議しょうぎconference
- 凝議ぎょうぎdeliberation
- 参酌さんしゃくcomparison and choosing the good
- 談語だんごdiscussion
- 参看さんかんreference (e.g. to a dictionary, passage, footnotes)
- 諮詢しじゅんquestion
- 談合だんごうconsultation
- 談義だんぎconsultation
See also
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