Word
両立
Meaning in Englishcompatibility, coexistence, standing together
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
両立 means the state or act of maintaining two goals, tasks, or conditions at the same time, ensuring that neither is sacrificed.
Main meanings
- Two aims can coexist in daily life or planning without one negating the other.
- It emphasizes compatibility and the practical effort required to reconcile competing commitments.
- Common collocations include balancing work and family or study and work in both personal and organizational contexts.
How to use it
Used across formal and informal registers to describe the act or habit of balancing two obligations or objectives; common in personal life discussions and policy or academic writing; typical in expressions that pair two domains such as work and family or study and career.
Variants and close terms
- 共存 — coexistence (kyōzon)
- 並存 — coexistence or parallel existence (heizon)
- 矛盾 — contradiction, incompatibility (mujun)
Composition
- 両: two, both; marks duality
- 立: to stand, establish
- Together they convey the sense of standing for both sides or maintaining two aims at once
Etymology
From the on'yomi readings ryō of 両 and ritsu of 立, merged to form a Sino-Japanese compound expressing two-sided standing.
Word class
noun (suru noun)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N2
立ち止まる
tachidomaru
to stop, to halt, to stand still
N2
目立つ
medatsu
to be conspicuous, to stand out
N2
夕立
yuudachi
(sudden) evening shower (rain)
N2
両～
ryou～
both ~
N2
両側
ryougawa
both sides
N3
両替
ryougae
money exchange, currency exchange
N3
立ち上がる
tachiagaru
stand up, rise, start up
N3
立場
tachiba
position, standpoint, situation
N3
独立
dokuritsu
independence (e.g., Ind. Day), self-support
Kanji