Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 賛成する | sansei suru | |
| 同意する | dōi suru | |
| 同じる | dōjiru | [do̞ːʑiɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 一致する | itchi suru |
In Japanese, the choice of word for 'agree' depends on whether you are supporting a proposal, agreeing to a legal term or describing two things that match. Use 賛成する to express support for a specific opinion, plan or proposal, implying you are 'for' it. Use 同意する when you are agreeing to a term, a contract or a specific statement. Use 一致する when two things, such as opinions or data, match or coincide perfectly.
Which one should you use?
賛成する is used to show support for an idea or plan. 同意する is used for formal or legal contexts like agreeing to terms or conditions. 一致する is used when things like opinions or data coincide or match. 同じる is also a form of the verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I agree' politely in a discussion, you can use the noun form with the copula: 賛成です. A very natural way to express that opinions match is to use the phrase 意見が一致する.
How do you pronounce it?
sansei suru
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 賛成する to mean 'to be in the same mood or feeling'. Instead, choose between supporting an idea with 賛成する or matching an opinion with 一致する.
When do people say it?
When agreeing in conversation, you can use several different responses. A basic and common way to say 'yes' is はい. In formal discussions, you can say そうですね to mean 'That's right' or 'I agree'. In casual settings, うん is a conversational way to say 'yeah' or 'uh-huh', while そうだね is an informal way to agree. If you have a sudden realization or agreement, you might say ああ、そうだ.
Did you know?
- In Japanese social dynamics, people often use そうですね to signal agreement even when they do not actually agree with the speaker's opinion. This serves as a social lubricant to maintain harmony and avoid direct conflict.
- In formal Japanese meetings, a person might express agreement by saying おっしゃる通りです, which literally means 'it is exactly as you say' rather than using a direct verb for 'agree'.
- The word 賛成 used in 賛成する is composed of two kanji meaning 'assist' and 'correct'. This reflects a nuance of supporting the correctness of a proposal.
Examples in context
- お二人に同意するわ。I agree with both of you.This sentence shows how to express agreement with two people using 同意する.Tatoeba #10159852 by small_snow, translation #5187455 by CK
- 私は条件付きで提案に同意する。I will conditionally agree to the proposal.This sentence demonstrates agreeing to a proposal conditionally using 同意する.Tatoeba #155799 by bunbuku, translation #12547344 by pip
- 彼女とはたいてい意見が一致する。She and I usually agree.This sentence illustrates how to say that opinions match using 一致する.Tatoeba #95116 by bunbuku, translation #308590 by CK
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Hiroto are discussing where to eat dinner.
- 陽葵 Himari今日の夕飯はイタリアンにしない？Kyō no yūhan wa itarian ni shinai?Shall we have Italian for dinner today?
- 大翔 Hirotoいい考えだね。僕もそれに賛成するよ。Ii kangae da ne. Boku mo sore ni sansei suru yo.That's a good idea. I agree with that.
- 陽葵 Himariよかった。駅前の新しい店に行こう。Yokatta. Ekimae no atarashii mise ni ikō.Great. Let's go to the new shop in front of the station.
- 大翔 Hiroto賛成！すぐに出発しよう。Sansei! Sugu ni shuppatsu shiyō.Agreed! Let's leave right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “agree” translations and entries 同じる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
