How to say "cooperative" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 協同組合きょうどうくみあいnounThe common word for a cooperative as an organization or association — a jointly run enterprise. For the adjective sense describing a helpful attitude, use 協力的 instead.
- nounA katakana loanword covering the same ground as "cooperative" and "partnership". Far less common than 協同組合, it is seldom the word you want unless you are deliberately using English-style terminology.
- 協力的きょうりょくてきna-adjectiveThe adjective for a cooperative attitude: describes people or groups willing to help and work with others, as when staff are described as very cooperative. This is the usual choice for the helpful sense.
- 協調的きょうちょうてきna-adjectiveAlso an adjective, but nearer "conciliatory": it characterizes a stance of working harmoniously with another party rather than confronting them, often in political or negotiating contexts.
- 生活協同組合せいかつきょうどうくみあいnounA cooperative of a specific kind: a consumers' cooperative, usually shortened to 生協, that buys and sells goods for its members. Use it only for this co-op sense, not for cooperatives in general.
Use 協同組合 for a cooperative as an organization, 生活協同組合 for a consumers' co-op, 協力的 for a helpful cooperative attitude, 協調的 for a conciliatory stance, and 「コーポラティブ」 only when deliberately using the loanword.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
