説得
settoku[se̞t̚to̞kɯ̟]
The English phrase 'persuasion' is translated into Japanese as 説得 (settoku).
説得 is used when someone is trying to change another person's mind or behavior through logical reasoning or argument.
Meaning: the act of persuading (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 説 (to explain/theory) and 得 (to obtain/gain), literally meaning to obtain through explanation.
Which one should you use?
While 説得 implies a logical or reasoned attempt to convince, it differs from terms like 勧誘, which implies an invitation or solicitation (like a sales pitch).
How do you pronounce it?
settoku
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific concept called 根回し (nemawashi), which is the process of quiet, informal persuasion before a formal meeting. While 説得 is the act of convincing, 根回し is the strategic groundwork that makes 説得 unnecessary.
- The kanji 説 is also the root for the word 小説, which means 'novel'. This suggests that in the Japanese mind, storytelling is fundamentally a form of explanation or theory.
- While 説得 focuses on logic, if you want to persuade someone through emotional appeal or 'heart-to-heart' connection, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 心を動かす, which means 'to move the heart'.
Examples in context
- 説得力のあるデータや具体的な例を使って、提案のメリットを説明したいと思います。I would like to explain the merits of the proposal using persuasive data and specific examples.
- この映画は本当におもしろいから、見てみない？This movie is really interesting, so why don't you watch it?
- まあ、それなら説得力があるよ。一緒に行こうかな。Well, that's persuasive. Maybe I'll go with you.
Example conversation
Misaki is telling Hiroto about a difficult task.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんを説得できましたか？Hiroto-san o settoku dekimashita ka?Were you able to persuade Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、説得に失敗しました。Iie, settoku ni shippai shimashita.No, the persuasion failed.
- 美咲 Misakiどうしてダメだったのでしょう。Dōshite dame datta no deshō.I wonder why it didn't work.
- 大翔 Hiroto彼が頑固だったからです。Kare ga ganko datta kara desu.Because he was stubborn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “persuasion” translations and entries 説得, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
