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.
彼はとても協力的です。
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.
彼はとても協力的だ。
He is very cooperative.
協力的な態度を見せてください。
Please show a cooperative attitude.
Verb meaning 'to cooperate'. Use when talking about the action of cooperating.
皆さん、協力してください。
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.
彼は素直に指示に従った。
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.
これは共同研究の成果です。
This is the result of cooperative research.
共同作業で問題を解決した。
We solved the problem through cooperative work.
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.
The standard term for a cooperative (co-op) in business or agriculture.
農業協同組合に所属しています。
I belong to an agricultural cooperative.
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.
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).
生協で買い物をする。
I shop at the co-op.