Word
共通
Meaning in Englishcommon, shared, mutual
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 共通 mean? It denotes something shared or common to two or more items or people. In Japanese usage it frames traits, objectives, or properties that are held by a group and relevant across contexts, such as shared goals, points of similarity, or collective understandings.
Main meanings
- Shared by multiple items or people in a group
- In mathematics or logic, the element or attribute that is common to several sets or concepts
- Describing features, norms, or understandings that are generally held within a community or domain
How to use it
Used in formal and written contexts to express shared attributes, such as 共通の目的, 共通の理解; in everyday speech it explains similarities across items, groups, or ideas. It commonly appears with の when modifying a noun (共通の…).
Variants and close terms
- 同一性 (dōitsusei) — sameness
- 一致 (icchi) — agreement, consistency
- 共有 (kyōyū) — shared ownership
- 異なる (kotonaru) — different, antonym
Composition
- 共: shared, together; common
- 通: to pass through, to connect; used in compounds to convey throughness or connectivity, contributing to the sense of something that is shared or common
Etymology
共 kyō + 通 tsū → kyōtsū, illustrating how the two on'yomi readings fuse to produce the pronunciation of the compound.
Word class
noun, used as a na-adjective when modifying nouns (共通の)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
見通し
mitooshi
perspective, unobstructed view, prospect
N1
融通
yuuzuu
adaptability, versatility, finance
N1
流通
ryuutsuu
circulation of money or goods, distribution
N2
～通
～tsuu
counter for letters
N2
～通り
～toori
in accordance with ~; following ~; ~ street, ~ avenue
N2
大通り
oodoori
main street
N2
開通
kaitsuu
opening, open
N2
共産～
kyousan～
communist ~
N2
公共
koukyou
public, community, communal