Translation guide
Describes a person, attitude, or action that is willing to work together or be helpful. Japanese uses different words depending on whether you mean a cooperative personality, a cooperative effort, or a cooperative business.
He is very cooperative.
Describing someone who is helpful, easy to work with, or not resistant.
The most direct and common translation for a cooperative person or attitude. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
He is very cooperative.
Please show a cooperative attitude.
Verb meaning 'to cooperate'. Use when talking about the action of cooperating.
Everyone, please cooperate.
Means obedient, docile, or meek. Can imply cooperativeness in a hierarchical context, but often carries a nuance of being compliant rather than actively helpful. Use with caution.
Not a direct equivalent. '素直' implies a lack of resistance, which can be seen as cooperative in some situations, but may sound like 'obedient' in others.
He obediently followed the instructions.
Describing an activity or project that involves people working together.
Used for joint or collaborative efforts, projects, research, etc. Often appears in compounds.
This is the result of cooperative research.
Similar to 共同, but often implies a more equal partnership or union. Commonly used in '協同組合' (cooperative association).
Refers to cooperation or coordination between groups, organizations, or systems. Often used in business or technical contexts.
Referring to a business owned and run by its members.
協力的 (きょうりょくてき) describes a person's attitude. 共同 (きょうどう) describes a joint activity. 協同 (きょうどう) is similar to 共同 but often used in formal names like 協同組合 (cooperative association).
協力的 is only for people or their attitudes. For cooperative efforts or organizations, use 共同, 協同, or 連携.
We solved the problem through cooperative work.
協同組合に加入する。
Join a cooperative association.
両社は緊密に連携している。
The two companies are cooperating closely.
Consumer cooperative, often shortened to 生協 (せいきょう).
I shop at the co-op.