How to say "pact" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 協定きょうていnoun, suru verbAn arrangement or pact that parties conclude through negotiation; use it when 'pact' means an agreement the sides have worked out together.
- 条約じょうやくnounA treaty: a pact or convention concluded between nations. When 'pact' refers to an international agreement of this kind, this is the word.
- 協約きょうやくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA pact or convention agreed between parties; very close to 協定 in meaning, it presents the terms as something the sides have settled on jointly.
- 盟約めいやくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA pact with the nuance of a pledge or covenant; a formal or literary term, so it is not the word for an ordinary agreement.
- 約束やくそくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA promise or arrangement between people; one's word. Use it when 'pact' means a personal pledge or understanding rather than a formal pact between parties.
条約 is the word for treaties between nations; 協定 and 協約 both mean a pact or agreement concluded between parties; 盟約 is a solemn, formal covenant; 約束 is a personal promise rather than a formal pact.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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