Japanese word

生協

Pronunciation

Romajiseikyō

Meaning

  • nounco-op

Example

近所の生協で野菜を買います。kin jo no sei kyō de ya sai o ka i ma su

I buy vegetables at the local co-op.

Illustration for 生協 (co-op)

More examples

生協の組合員証を見せると、割引になります。sei kyō no kumi ai in shō o mi se ru to waribiki ni na ri ma su

You get a discount when you show your co-op membership card.

Core concept

Describes a member-run organization that pools resources to provide everyday goods or services for its community.

Common phrases

  • 生協で注文するsei kyō de chū mon su ru

    order from a co-op

  • 生協の宅配sei kyō no taku hai

    co-op delivery

  • 生協に申し込むsei kyō ni mō shi ko mu

    sign up with a co-op

Similar words

コープkōpu: A familiar name for a consumer cooperative and the stores or services it operates.

Definition in Japanese

組合員が出資して共同で運営し、生活に必要な商品やサービスを提供する協同組合。kumi ai in ga shus shi shi te kyō dō de un ei shi sei katsu ni hitsu yō na shō hin ya sā bi su o tei kyō su ru kyō dō kumi ai

Word origin

生協 (seikyō) is a shortened form of 生活協同組合 (seikatsu kyōdō kumiai), combining 生活 (seikatsu, "daily life"), 協同 (kyōdō, "cooperation"), and 組合 (kumiai, "association").

Usage tips

  • In Japan, 生協 (seikyō) can mean not only a co-op store but also the member organization behind services such as home delivery.

Word lists with this word