Meaning and Usage
"独占" (どくせん) means "monopoly" or "exclusive possession." It is used when one person, company, or group completely controls or occupies a market, resource, or opportunity, leaving no room for others.
Common Contexts
It often appears in business or legal contexts, such as describing a company that dominates a market or a person who monopolizes a certain opportunity.
Collocations and Patterns
- 独占する: to monopolize or exclusively possess something.
- 独占禁止法: Antimonopoly Act, a law to prevent monopolies.
- 市場を独占する: to monopolize the market.
Register and Nuance
The term is formal and often used in news, business, and legal discussions. It can carry a negative connotation when referring to unfair or illegal monopolies.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 独占 with 占有 (せんゆう), which means possession but not necessarily exclusive control. 独占 implies exclusivity and often a sense of control or dominance.