譲歩 — meaning in English: Concession

Usage

Native speakers often use 譲歩 (jōho) during negotiations, whether in business meetings or personal discussions, to express a willingness to compromise. For example, in a corporate setting, a manager might say, 'If we increase our budget, we can make some concessions on the timeline.'

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym is 妥協 (dakkyō), which means 'compromise', but 譲歩 carries a more formal tone, often used in official contexts. You might choose 譲歩 when you want to emphasize the act of yielding in a negotiation, whereas 妥協 might imply a more casual agreement.

Culture

The word 譲歩 is deeply rooted in the cultural practice of wa (和), which emphasizes harmony and compromise within Japanese society. Interestingly, the kanji 譲 (jō) means 'to yield' or 'to give up', while 歩 (ho) signifies 'step', reflecting the idea that making concessions is a step toward building relationships and achieving mutual understanding.

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