N2 · 40 words

Meetings, negotiating and deciding

How proposals are made, argued over, agreed or turned down.

A Japanese meeting often confirms a decision rather than making it. The real work happens beforehand in 根回(ねまわ)し, quietly sounding out everyone involved, and a direct no is often avoided: a proposal is 保留(ほりゅう), put on hold, or 先送(さきおく)り, put off until later. Listen for the strength of a word as well as its meaning — 要望(ようぼう) is a request, 要求(ようきゅう) a demand, and 妥協(だきょう) can sound like giving in where English "compromise" is neutral.

The words

Verb (5)

歩み寄るto meet halfwayVerbN2

双方(そうほう)が少(すこ)しずつ歩(あゆ)み寄(よ)れば、合意(ごうい)できるはずだ。If both sides each give a little ground, we should be able to agree.

Literally to walk towards each other.

持ち越すto carry over (to a later date)VerbN2

時間(じかん)が足(た)りず、結論(けつろん)は次回(じかい)の会議(かいぎ)に持(も)ち越(こ)された。We ran out of time, so the decision was carried over to the next meeting.

取りまとめるto compile; to pull togetherVerbN2

皆(みな)さんの意見(いけん)を取(と)りまとめて、来週(らいしゅう)報告(ほうこく)します。I'll pull everyone's views together and report next week.

切り出すto broach; to bring upVerbN2

なかなか値上(ねあ)げの話(はなし)を切(き)り出(だ)せなかった。I just couldn't bring myself to raise the subject of a price increase.

受け入れるto acceptVerbN2

厳(きび)しい条件(じょうけん)だったが、受(う)け入(い)れるしかなかった。The terms were harsh, but we had no choice but to accept them.

This list belongs to Work and careers — nine lists and 356 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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