協力

きょうりょく

cooperation, collaboration

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"協力" (きょうりょく) means cooperation or collaboration, often implying working together towards a common goal. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Common Contexts

You will see "協力" used in workplace settings, community activities, or any situation where teamwork is essential. For example, police asking for public cooperation or colleagues collaborating on a project.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 協力する: to cooperate or collaborate
  • 協力を求める: to ask for cooperation
  • 協力なしには: without cooperation

These patterns help express requests, conditions, or actions involving cooperation.

Nuance and Register

"協力" is neutral and polite, suitable for formal and casual conversations. It emphasizes mutual effort rather than one-sided help.

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "協力" with "助ける" (to help). "協力" implies working together, while "助ける" can be one-sided assistance. Use "協力" when emphasizing teamwork.

Example Sentences

みんなできょうりょくしてプロジェクトをかんせいさせた。

Everyone cooperated to complete the project.

けいさつはしみんのきょうりょくをもとめている。

The police are asking for the cooperation of the citizens.

かれはチームのきょうりょくなしにはせいこうできなかった。

He couldn't have succeeded without the team's cooperation.