配慮
Meaning in Englishconsideration, concern, forethought
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
配慮 means showing consideration for others or a situation by taking their needs into account, aiming to prevent trouble or offense and to respond sensitively and appropriately.
Main meanings
- Consideration for others, ensuring actions take others' needs and feelings into account.
- Thoughtful planning or accommodation in policies, events, or communication to avoid problems.
- Social tact and sensitivity in everyday interactions, avoiding offense through mindful language or behavior.
How to use it
Used in formal and semi-formal contexts in Japanese, including business, education, healthcare, and public policy; often combined with する to form 配慮する; common in official documents, meeting notes, and polite conversation; preferred over more casual terms when signaling attentiveness to others.
Variants and close terms
- 思いやり (omoiyari) — consideration for others
- 慎重さ (shinchōsa) — prudence, carefulness
- 配慮不足 (hairyō fusoku) — lack of consideration
- 配慮する (hairyo suru) — the verb form meaning to show consideration
Composition
- 配: distribute, allocate; to set in place
- 慮: think, consider, mind
- Together they convey the act of giving mindful attention to others or circumstances
Etymology
配 means to distribute, allocate; 慮 means to think or mind; the combination uses Sino-Japanese readings that merged into hairyo, yielding the current pronunciation.
Word class
noun (suru-verb)