How to say "formation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 形成けいせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbFormation as a gradual process of shaping or developing something — character formation, habit formation — where the emphasis is on something taking form over time rather than on a finished arrangement.
- 成立せいりつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbFormation as coming into existence or establishment: the moment an agreement, cabinet, or plan materializes, rather than any ongoing process of shaping.
- 構成こうせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbFormation as the makeup or composition of something — the way its parts are put together into a whole. It points to the resulting structure rather than to any act of forming it.
- 組織そしきnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbBasically 'organization': as 'formation' it fits the forming of a group or association from people or elements; for the shaping, coming-into-existence, or makeup senses it is seldom the word you want.
- 編成へんせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbFormation as a deliberately arranged whole: members or units organized into a set structure. It stresses the arranging itself — how a group is composed and staffed — rather than what the group then does.
For 'formation', use 形成 for a process of taking shape, 成立 for something coming into existence, 構成 for the makeup of a whole, 組織 for organizing a group, and 編成 for arranging members into a structured body.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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