Meaning and Usage
The word 倒産 (とうさん) specifically refers to a company or business going bankrupt or becoming insolvent. It is a formal term often used in business contexts and news reports.
Common Contexts
倒産 is used when a company cannot pay its debts and must legally declare bankruptcy. It often appears in discussions about economic conditions, business failures, and employment issues.
Collocations and Patterns
- 倒産する: to go bankrupt
- 倒産した会社: a bankrupt company
- 倒産を防ぐ: to prevent bankruptcy
These phrases are common in business conversations and news.
Register and Nuance
倒産 is a neutral to formal term. It is not used for personal bankruptcy but strictly for companies or organizations. Learners should avoid using it for individuals.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 倒産 with 破産 (はさん), which can refer to both personal and corporate bankruptcy. 倒産 is company-specific, so use it only for businesses.