due diligence; reasonable care
Legal and formal phrase referring to the level of care or diligence that a reasonable person would exercise under the circumstances. Often used in contexts of liability, contracts, or professional responsibility.
See also: 相当 (そうとう)
Directors must perform their duties with due care.
The contract stated that they would respond with reasonable diligence.
注意義務 (duty of care) is the legal obligation itself, while 相当な注意 describes the standard of care required.
善管注意義務 (duty of care of a good manager) is a specific legal concept under Japanese civil law, often used in corporate and trust contexts, whereas 相当な注意 is a more general term for reasonable care.
Compound of 相当 (そうとう, 'appropriate, reasonable') + な (attributive form of copula) + 注意 (ちゅうい, 'care, attention'). The phrase is a direct translation of English legal terms such as 'due diligence' and 'reasonable care'.