What does "コンセンサス (konsensasu)" mean in business? Example sentences and paraphrases
Have you ever heard the term "コンセンサス (konsensasu)" in the business world? "コンセンサス" is one of the most commonly used terms in the Japanese business world. However, few people may have a detailed understanding of its meaning, usage, and paraphrased expressions.
This article details the meaning and usage of "コンセンサス," example sentences, paraphrases and thesauruses, English expressions, and examples of common misuses. Learn to use "コンセンサス" smoothly in business situations.
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What does "コンセンサス" mean?
The term "コンセンサス" means "agreement of many" or "consensus of all."
The phrase "コンセンサス" contains the nuance of "the agreement of many, not just one person." It also has the nuance of "through discussion, all parties involved agree and come to the same opinion.
In other words, "コンセンサス" does not mean simply deciding by majority vote, but rather that everyone discusses until they reach a consensus and reach a conclusion that everyone can agree on.
In the field of business, there are many cases in which this "コンセンサス" is required to be obtained when making important decisions. Without consensus building among all parties involved, it is difficult for things to proceed smoothly.
What is the English expression corresponding to "コンセンサス"?
"コンセンサス" is a katakanaized version of the English "consensus," so when you say it in English, you can just say "consensus" as it is.
Japanese katakana words often have different meanings from their English counterparts, but "コンセンサス" is used to mean almost the same thing as "consensus" in English.
If you dare to say it in another English, you can say "agreement" or something similar.
Paraphrases and thesauruses for "コンセンサス"
There are several expressions that have a similar meaning to "コンセンサス." By using these words in different ways depending on the situation, you will be able to express yourself more accurately and naturally in Japanese. Below are some typical paraphrases and thesauruses.
1. agreement, consent, consensus
The word "合意 (goui)" means "agreement of opinion" and has a meaning very close to that of "コンセンサス." 同意 (doui)" and "総意 (soui)" have similar meanings.
In particular, agreement has a strong nuance of "getting the other party to agree," while consensus is similar to "コンセンサス" in that "many people agree.
2. 根回し
"根回し (nemawashi)" means "to persuade in advance," another term that is related to コンセンサス.
However, 根回し does not refer to "コンセンサス (agreement)" itself, but to prior actions to obtain コンセンサス. For example, the common usage is ""根回しをしてコンセンサスを得る (To gain consensus by laying the groundwork)".
Please refer to the following article for a detailed explanation of the meaning of "根回し".
▶︎ What does "根回し (nemawashi)" mean in Business x Japanese? Paraphrases and English expressions are also explained.
Example sentences and usage of "コンセンサス" in business situations
How is "コンセンサス" used in actual business situations? Let's take a closer look at its usage through specific example sentences.
Example sentence 1: "取引先の会社からコンセンサスを得ました"
If, in discussions with a business partner, the company obtains understanding and support for its proposal or opinion, it is expressed as "取引先からコンセンサスを得た (Obtained consensus from business partners)".
When reporting to your supervisor, it is appropriate to say, "取引先の会社からコンセンサスを得ました (We obtained consensus from our business partner's company)". It would be appropriate to tell them, "We have obtained コンセンサス from the company with which we do business. From this example sentence, it is clear that コンセンサス means "agreement of many.
Example 2: "この会議はコンセンサス方式で行われます"
One of the decision-making methods of the meeting is the "コンセンサス方式 (Consensus method)". This refers to a method in which a proposal is adopted only if all members agree with it. If there is even one dissenting opinion, the proposal will not be adopted.
In the business world, it is good to keep in mind that the phrase "この会議はコンセンサス方式で行われます (This meeting will be conducted using the consensus method)". It is good to remember that this is often used as follows.
Examples of incorrect use and misuse of "コンセンサス"
"コンセンサス" is a word whose meaning and nuances are a bit difficult to grasp. As a result, there are some cases where it is used incorrectly. Here are some examples of common misuse.
Example of misuse 1: "私はその意見にコンセンサスします"
Although "コンセンサス" means "agreement," it is incorrect to say "I agree with that opinion" as "私はその意見にコンセンサスします".
The correct usage of the term "コンセンサス" is to use it in situations where many people come to an agreement. It is not used to express the agreement of a single individual.
Example of misuse 2: "あなたは私の意見にコンセンサスするべきです"
This is also considered an incorrect expression because it uses "コンセンサス" for "あなた (you)" as a single person. In this case, it is appropriate to rephrase it as "あなたは私の意見に同意するべきです (You should agree with my opinion)".
I think it is important to understand the meaning and usage of "コンセンサス" in order to use it correctly.
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summary
In this article, we have explained in detail the meaning, usage, example sentences, paraphrases and thesauruses, English expressions, and examples of misuse of "コンセンサス," which is commonly used in business situations.
"コンセンサス" is a katakana word derived from the English word "consensus," and it is used with almost the same meaning in both Japanese and English. It is a word that represents "agreement of many people," but in business settings, it is often used with related expressions such as "根回し (nemawashi: laying the groundwork)" and "コンセンサス方式 (consensus method)."
On the other hand, using it to express the agreement of a single individual or saying "〜にコンセンサスする" is considered misuse. It's important to properly understand the meaning and nuance of "コンセンサス" and use it appropriately in different contexts.
We hope that through this article, you will be able to smoothly use the term "コンセンサス" in business situations. We hope you will make use of it in your future business communications.
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