Word
nemawashi
Phoneticsne·mawashi
/nɛmɑwɑʃi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the process of talking to people privately before a meeting to get their support for a new idea. It helps make sure everyone agrees before the official decision is made.
n. the informal process of quietly laying the foundation for some proposed change or project by talking to the people concerned and gathering support. Often used in a business context to describe consensus-building prior to formal decision-making.
Examples
“He did some nemawashi before the board meeting to ensure approval.”
“The manager spent the week performing nemawashi with department heads to ensure the new policy would not face resistance during the Friday summit.”
“Successful implementation of the merger required months of careful nemawashi, as the leadership sought to align the disparate interests of various stakeholders before any public announcement.”
Examples
simple
“He did some nemawashi before the board meeting to ensure approval.”
contextual
“The manager spent the week performing nemawashi with department heads to ensure the new policy would not face resistance during the Friday summit.”
complex
“Successful implementation of the merger required months of careful nemawashi, as the leadership sought to align the disparate interests of various stakeholders before any public announcement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “nemawashi” in context.
Verb
01. conduct nemawashi
“She conducted nemawashi with stakeholders before proposing the merger.”
verb + noun
02. engage in nemawashi
“He engaged in nemawashi for weeks before the vote.”
verb + prep + noun
03. master nemawashi
“Successful managers in Tokyo must master nemawashi.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. careful nemawashi
“Careful nemawashi with department heads prevented opposition at the board meeting.”
adj + noun
05. effective nemawashi
“Effective nemawashi turns controversial proposals into unanimous decisions.”
adj + noun
06. extensive nemawashi
“Extensive nemawashi ensured the restructuring plan was approved without debate.”
adj + noun
07. informal nemawashi
“Much informal nemawashi happens over lunch before the formal committee meets.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. art of nemawashi
“The art of nemawashi lies in building trust before seeking approval.”
noun + prep + noun
09. need for nemawashi
“She stressed the need for nemawashi before announcing the reorganization.”
noun + prep + noun
10. build consensus through nemawashi
“She builds consensus through nemawashi rather than open confrontation.”
11. conduct thorough nemawashi beforehand
“He conducted thorough nemawashi beforehand, so the meeting lasted ten minutes.”
12. do the groundwork through nemawashi
“He did the groundwork through nemawashi before the shareholders met.”
Usage
Often used as a loanword from Japanese in international business contexts; frequently paired with the verb 'to do' or 'to perform'.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese, where the term literally means 'digging around the roots'. It originally referred to the gardening practice of preparing a tree for transplanting by slowly cutting the roots over time to reduce shock.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
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