How to say "mediation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 媒介ばいかいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbMediation in the sense of serving as a medium or intermediary between two sides, not of settling their dispute. For quarrel- or conflict-settling mediation, this is not the word you want.
- 仲裁ちゅうさいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbMediation in the sense of stepping in to settle a quarrel or dispute between two parties, as when a third person intervenes to end an argument. The nuance is that of arbitrating the conflict.
- 調停ちょうていsuru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveMediation as a formal process of conciliation, in which a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach agreement; this is the term used in legal and labor dispute settings.
- 橋渡しはしわたしnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbFigurative 'bridge-building': mediation in the sense of linking two sides so that they can communicate or cooperate, as when a person or organization acts as go-between for countries or groups.
- 口利きくちききnounMediation through personal influence: someone with connections speaks to the right people behind the scenes to get things done; it also names such a person — really good offices or string-pulling, not formal mediation.
For settling disputes choose 仲裁 or 調停, the latter being the formal conciliation term; 媒介 is acting as a transmitting intermediary, 「橋渡し」 figuratively bridging two sides, and 「口利き」 intervention through personal influence.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
