団結（だんけつ、danketsu）
- unity

The Japanese word 団結 (だんけつ, danketsu) primarily means "unity," "solidarity," "to unite," or "to band together." It refers to the act of people coming together, forming a cohesive group, and working towards a common goal or purpose. This often implies a sense of shared values, interests, and mutual support. 団結 emphasizes the strength that comes from a group acting as one.

⚫︎労働組合は、労働者の権利を守るために団結した。 Translation: The labor union united to protect the rights of workers. ⚫︎チームは団結して試合に臨んだ。 Translation: The team went into the game with unity. ⚫︎私たちはこの困難な状況を乗り越えるために団結する必要があります。 Translation: We need to unite to overcome this difficult situation.

団結 is used in formal and informal contexts. It's suitable for describing actions taken by groups of people, organizations, or even abstract concepts like ideas or efforts. You can use it when discussing group efforts, teamwork, social movements, or any situation where people come together for a shared cause. The word often carries positive connotations, implying strength, cooperation, and shared purpose.

団結 is written in kanji as 団結. The reading is だんけつ (danketsu) in hiragana. It is not typically written in katakana. There are no variations in the okurigana. The word often appears as a suru-verb, which means it can be combined with する (to do) to create the verb 団結する (danketsu suru), meaning "to unite," "to band together," or "to join forces." Conjugated forms include 団結しました (danketsu shimashita, "united/banded together") and 団結すれば (danketsu sureba, "if we unite").

⚫︎ 協力 (きょうりょく, kyōryoku) - cooperation ⚫︎ 結束 (けっそく, kessoku) - solidarity, unity ⚫︎ 連帯 (れんたい, rentai) - solidarity, association ⚫︎ 協同 (きょうどう, kyōdō) - cooperation, collaboration

⚫︎ 分裂 (ぶんれつ, bunretsu) - split, division ⚫︎ 対立 (たいりつ, tairitsu) - confrontation, opposition ⚫︎ 孤立 (こりつ, koritsu) - isolation ⚫︎ 離反 (りはん, rihan) - defection, betrayal

学生たちは学園祭を成功させるために、団結して準備を進めた。 ・Translation: The students united and prepared to make the school festival a success. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how 団結 is used to describe a group working together towards a specific goal.

私たちは困難に直面したとき、お互いを支え合い、団結することが重要です。 ・Translation: It is important for us to support each other and unite when we face difficulties. ・Explanation: This example emphasizes the importance of 団結 in overcoming challenges.

The kanji 団 (dan) means "group," "association," or "round." The kanji 結 (ketsu) means "to tie," "to bind," or "to unite." Therefore, the word 団結 literally means "to unite a group," reflecting its core meaning of unity and coming together.