対処

たいしょ

deal with, cope

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 対処 (たいしょ) means "to deal with" or "to cope with" a situation, problem, or condition. It is often used in formal or business contexts when discussing how to handle difficulties or emergencies.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see 対処 used when talking about problem-solving, emergency responses, or managing stress. It implies an active approach to handling something rather than ignoring it.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 対処する: to deal with or cope with something.
  • 問題に対処する: to deal with a problem.
  • 緊急事態に対処する: to respond to an emergency.
  • ストレスに対処する: to cope with stress.

Register and Nuance

This word is generally neutral to formal and is suitable for written and spoken Japanese in professional or serious contexts. It is less common in casual conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 対処 with 処理 (しょり), which also means "processing" or "handling." 対処 focuses more on coping or responding to a situation, while 処理 often refers to processing tasks or data. Remember 対処 is about managing situations or problems effectively.

Example Sentences

もんだいがはっせいしたとき、れいせいにたいしょすることがたいせつです。

When a problem occurs, it is important to deal with it calmly.

きんきゅうじたいにたいしょするためのマニュアルをさくせいしました。

We created a manual to cope with emergency situations.

かれはストレスにうまくたいしょできるひとです。

He is someone who can cope well with stress.