Meaning and Usage
"回収" (かいしゅう) primarily means "collection" or "recovery," often referring to gathering items back, such as products, documents, or materials. It is commonly used in contexts like recycling, product recalls, or collecting survey responses.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently seen in business and environmental contexts, such as 回収作業 (collection work) or 回収率 (collection rate). It implies an organized or official process of retrieving something.
Collocations and Patterns
- 回収する: to collect or recover something
- 回収作業: collection work or operation
- 回収率: collection rate, often used in recycling or finance
- 不良品回収: defective product recall
Register and Nuance
"回収" is a formal noun often used in written and business Japanese. It is neutral in politeness but fits well in official or technical contexts. When speaking casually, simpler words like "集める" (あつめる) might be used instead.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 回収 with 収集 (しゅうしゅう), which also means collection but often implies gathering for accumulation or hobby purposes, while 回収 emphasizes taking back or retrieving something that was previously distributed or used.