How to say "sanction" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 決裁けっさいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe common word for this sense: a superior's final approval or decision on a proposal or document within a company or organization; think of a manager's sign-off on a plan.
- 裁許さいきょnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA less common, formal term for official approval granted by a higher authority; it has a legal and administrative flavour and is at home in official documents rather than everyday speech.
- 裁可さいかnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAlso a less common formal word for official approval by a superior or authority, close in meaning to 裁許; it suits legal and administrative writing, not casual requests for permission.
- nounThe katakana loanword, less common as a word: in Japanese it points chiefly to the punitive sense — economic or political sanctions imposed on a country — rather than to sanction as approval.
- 准許じゅんきょnounA rare, stiff word for permission or approval; for 'sanction' it is seldom the word you want, and learners will almost never meet it outside formal writing.
Use 決裁 for a superior's approval of a plan or document; 裁許 and 裁可 are less common formal terms for official authorization; 「サンクション」 is the loanword for punitive sanctions; 准許 is seldom the word you want.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
