協約|きょうやくkyouyaku[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbpact; convention; agreement
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 協約する（きょうやくする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 協約します（きょうやくします） |
| Negative (nai) | 協約しない（きょうやくしない） |
| polite (masen) | 協約しません（きょうやくしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 協約せず・協約せぬ（きょうやくせず・きょうやくせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 協約した（きょうやくした） |
| polite (mashita) | 協約しました（きょうやくしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 協約しなかった（きょうやくしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 協約しませんでした（きょうやくしませんでした） |
| Te form | 協約して（きょうやくして） |
| Potential | 協約できる（きょうやくできる） |
| Passive | 協約される（きょうやくされる） |
| Causative | 協約させる（きょうやくさせる） |
| Causative passive | 協約させられる（きょうやくさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 協約すれば（きょうやくすれば） |
| tara | 協約したら（きょうやくしたら） |
| Volitional | 協約しよう（きょうやくしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 協約しましょう（きょうやくしましょう） |
| Imperative | 協約しろ（きょうやくしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym取り決めとりきめNeutralAgreed matters settled by arrangement; used in formal settings too, with the focus on what was decided. 「協約」 mostly means a written pact between groups.
- Synonym協定きょうていNeutralAn arrangement negotiated between states or organizations; simpler in form than a treaty, as in 「貿易協定」.
- Synonym合意ごういNeutralThe parties reaching one mind — consensus itself, which need not be put in writing.
- Synonym申し合わせもうしあわせNeutralAn understanding worked out in advance among several parties, stressing consensus reached internally; 「協約」 is the more formal term.
- Synonym約定やくじょうFormalA contractual stipulation, as in 「約定金利」; leans legal and financial.
- Synonym協商きょうしょうWrittenA pact between states, as in 「英仏協商」; a historical diplomatic term.
- Synonym契約けいやくFormalA contract; stresses legal binding force, mostly between individuals or companies.
- SynonymアグリーメントNeutralLoanword for an agreement or arrangement; business-oriented, and not necessarily a formal pact between organizations.
- Related折り合いおりあいNeutralMutual concession and compromise; also covers personal relations, as in 「折り合いが悪い」. The emphasis is on compromise.
- Related条約じょうやくFormalA treaty between states, or between a state and an international body — the most solemn in form. 「協約」 too can denote a pact between states, as in 「日英協約」.
- Related約束やくそくNeutralA promise or arrangement, the most common everyday word; need not be put in writing.
- Related議定ぎていWrittenDeciding by joint deliberation; written style and little used, stressing the process of deciding rather than a document.
Use 「協約」 for a pact negotiated and concluded between groups or states, as in 「労働協約」 and 「日英協約」. Between states, 「条約」 and 「協定」 are also common. For ordinary agreements pick 「取り決め」 or 「約束」, and for legal contracts 「契約」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
