対応
Meaning in Englishdealing with
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 対応 mean? It refers to the act of responding to a situation, task, or request. The core concept is recognizing a need or condition and providing an appropriate response, adjustment, or service across contexts such as customer service, software and hardware compatibility, or everyday problem solving.
Main meanings
- response to a request or issue, typically in service or customer support
- the act of handling or dealing with a situation or task
- compatibility, suitability, or ability to work with another system or condition
- adjustment or adaptation to meet a requirement or standard
How to use it
Used as a noun meaning a response or handling, and as the verb form 対応する to respond, deal with, or accommodate; in formal contexts such as business, IT, and government it denotes appropriate action or compatibility, while in casual speech it describes simply dealing with a situation or adjusting to conditions.
Variants and close terms
- 応対 (おうたい, outai) — response, reception
- 適応 (てきおう, tekiou) — adaptation, compatibility
- 対処 (たいしょ, taisho) — dealing with, handling
- 対応する (たいおうする, taioosuru) — verb form meaning to respond or to handle
Composition
- 対: facing, addressing an issue; implies turning toward something
- 応: respond, comply; implies giving a response or action
Etymology
taiō is the on'yomi reading of 対応; The word is a Sino-Japanese compound formed from 対 (face, oppose) and 応 (to respond). Its pronunciation traces to Chinese duì yìng and was adapted into Japanese as 対応.
Word class
Noun, suru-verb (名詞、サ変動詞)