合ごう法ほう的てき

ご

う

ほ

う

て

き

Meanings

1

legal; lawful; legitimate

Describes actions, methods, or things that are permitted by law or conform to rules. Often used in contrast with illegal or shady alternatives.

合ごう法ほう的てきな手しゅ段だんで問もん題だいを解かい決けつする。
We will resolve the issue through legal means.
この取とり引ひきは完かん全ぜんに合ごう法ほう的てきです。
This transaction is completely lawful.

See all 13 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

合ごう法ほう的てきな〈事こと〉a legal (method/means/way of doing something)
合ごう法ほう的てきな手しゅ段だんで問もん題だいを解かい決けつした。
We solved the problem using legal means.
〈事こと〉を合ごう法ほう的てきに行おこなうto carry out something in a legal way
その会かい社しゃは事じ業ぎょうを合ごう法ほう的てきに行おこなっている。
That company conducts its business legally.

Kanji

合fit, suit, join
法method, law, rule
的bull's eye, mark, target

Related words

合ごう法ほうN1
合法 is the plain noun/na-adjective for 'legality', while 合法的 is the more descriptive na-adjective form typically used to modify nouns like 手段 or 方法.
適てき法ほう
適法 is a more formal, legalistic term for 'lawful' often used in legal writing, whereas 合法的 is the everyday word for describing legal actions or methods.

Opposites

違い法ほうN1
違法 means 'illegal' or 'unlawful', the direct opposite of 合法的.
非ひ合ごう法ほう
非合法 describes something done outside the law, often with a sense of clandestine or underground activity, contrasting with the open legality of 合法的.

Built from

合ごう法ほう+的てき

Etymology

Compound of 合法 (gōhō, 'legality') + 的 (-teki, '-like, -al'). 合法 is from Middle Chinese-derived elements 合 (gō, 'fit, suit') and 法 (hō, 'law').