How to Say "Covenant" in Japanese

契約

keiyaku[ke̞ːja̠kɯ̟]

The English word "covenant" is translated into Japanese as 契約 (keiyaku).

契約 is the standard term used for legal contracts, business agreements and formal covenants.

Meaning: agreement to do or not to do (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 契約 refers to a formal or legal agreement, 約束 is used for a casual promise between individuals.

keiyaku

In Japan, the act of signing a 契約 is often accompanied by the use of a 印鑑, a personal seal stamp, which is legally more significant than a handwritten signature.
If a covenant is broken, one might say they 'violated' the agreement using the verb 破る (yaburu), which is the same verb used for tearing paper or breaking a physical object.
In Japanese business culture, a covenant is often preceded by a period of 'nemawashi', a process of quiet informal consultation to build consensus before any formal 契約 is signed.

私たちは契約を守るべきです。
We should abide by the covenant.
その条約は二国間の盟約です。
The treaty is a covenant between the two countries.
新しい契約を結びました。
Atarashii keiyaku o musubimashita.
I signed a new contract.
契約の内容を確認してください。
Keiyaku no naiyou o kakunin shite kudasai.
Please confirm the details of the agreement.
その契約はまだ有効です。
Sono keiyaku wa mada yuukou desu.
That contract is still valid.

Misaki and Hiroto are discussing a business deal at a cafe.

美咲 Misaki

新しい契約の準備はできましたか？
Atarashii keiyaku no junbi wa dekimashita ka?
Is the new contract ready?
大翔 Hiroto

はい、美咲さん。全て揃っています。
Hai, Misaki-san. Subete sorotte imasu.
Yes, Misaki. Everything is ready.
美咲 Misaki

大翔さん、一度内容を見せてください。
Hiroto-san, ichido naiyou o misete kudasai.
Hiroto, please let me see the contents once.
大翔 Hiroto

もちろんです。今渡しますね。
Mochiron desu. Ima watashimasu ne.
Of course. I will hand it to you now.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏