相談

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 進路について先生に相談しました。▶ —
   I consulted with the teacher about my career path.
2. 何かあったら相談してください。▶ —
   If anything comes up, please consult me.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Soudan (相談) is the Sino-Japanese "consultation, discussion" — 相 (mutually) + 談 (talk) = "talking together." Noun or suru-verb. Japanese society has a rich soudan cluster: jinsei soudan (life counseling, newspaper / radio columns), soudan madoguchi (consultation desk at companies / offices), nayami soudan (worry consultation), kazoku soudan (family consultation). Soudan aite (consultation partner) names a trusted confidant. Compare: giron (argument / debate), hanashiai (discussion in meetings), kaunseringu (counseling, loanword, psychological / professional). Soudan sits between formal and friendly registers. The 相 (mutual) root emphasizes reciprocity, missing in some English translations.

Quick check

1. Loanword for psychological / professional counseling?

   • Kaunseringu — loanword counseling
   • Soudan — general consultation
   • Giron — argument
   • Hanashiai — meeting discussion