The Meaning of chūritsu [中立] In Japanese

中立
ちゅうりつ
Romaji: chūritsu N3

What does 中立 mean?

Translation and Meaning

neutrality, impartiality, nonalignment

Definition

What does 中立 mean? It denotes a position of not taking sides in a dispute or competition, maintaining an even-handed, unbiased stance. It is used for individuals, organizations, or states to indicate not aligning with any party.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Neutral stance in politics, diplomacy, or competition
  • Impartiality or objectivity in reporting, judging, or research
  • Not affiliated with any side or faction

Etymology

中 middle, 立 to stand; together they describe standing in the middle, not leaning toward a side, which over time came to signify neutrality.

Origin

Early usage appears in classical Chinese texts adopted into Japanese discourse; in modern Japan the term gained prominence in diplomacy, journalism, and public administration from the Edo through Meiji periods onward.

Composition

  • 中 = middle; 立 = to stand; together they form a pictorial idea of standing in the middle, which metaphorically yields neutrality

Usage

Used as a noun to express neutrality in formal contexts such as diplomacy, policy debates, and journalism; the adjectival form 中立的 describes a neutral state or approach, with common collocations including 中立の立場 and 中立を保つ.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a balanced scale with the word 中立 at the center; to stay neutral you must stand in the middle and not tilt toward either side.

Variations

  • 中立性 (ちゅうりつせい, chūritsusei) — neutrality
  • 公正さ (こうせいさ, kouseisa) — fairness, impartiality
  • 偏向 (へんこう, henkou) — bias
  • 偏見 (へんけん, henken) — prejudice

Example Phrases

  • 会議で 私は 中立を 保つ ように 努めた。
    kaigi de watashi wa chūritsu o tamotsu yō ni tsutometa.
    I tried to maintain neutrality at the meeting.
    Lista:
    • 会議で (kaigi de) – at the meeting
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 中立を (chūritsu o) – neutrality
    • 保つ (tamotsu) – to maintain
    • ように (yō ni) – in order to
    • 努めた (tsutometa) – tried
    核心点: 「中立を保つ」 significa manter a neutralidade; を marks o objeto de 保つ; 「ように」 indica propósito (‘in order to’), aqui ligada a 努めた.
中立