Translation and Meaning of: 組織 - soshiki

The Japanese word 組織 (そしき, soshiki) is a common term in everyday and professional vocabulary in Japan. Its primary meaning is "organization," but it carries nuances that range from corporate structures to biological tissues. In this article, we will explore what makes this word so versatile, its origin, how it is used in different contexts, and even tips for memorizing it effectively.

If you are learning Japanese or are curious about how the Japanese perceive concepts like hierarchy and cooperation, understanding 組織 is essential. Furthermore, we will see how this word appears in real situations, from companies to scientific discussions, and why it is so relevant in Japanese culture.

Meaning and Uses of 組織

In modern Japanese, 組織 can refer to both a social organization, such as a company or group, and a biological tissue, like cells or muscles. This duality of meaning is not accidental – the idea of "structure" permeates both uses. For example, 会社の組織 (kaisha no soshiki) means "the organizational structure of a company," while 筋肉組織 (kinniku soshiki) refers to "muscle tissue."

The term also appears in more abstract contexts, such as 社会組織 (shakai soshiki, "social organization") or 犯罪組織 (hanzai soshiki, "criminal organization"). This flexibility makes 組織 a high-frequency word in newspapers, political debates, and even in TV series that cover corporate dramas or police investigations.

Origin and composition of kanjis

The word 組織 is formed by two kanjis: 組 (so), which means "group" or "to unite," and 織 (shiki), which translates to "weave" or "interlace." Together, they create the image of something constructed by the union of smaller parts, whether it's a work team or biological fibers. This etymology reflects well the Japanese concept of collective harmony, where individuals "interlace" to form a cohesive whole.

It is worth noting that 組織 is an example of how kanjis borrowed from Chinese were adapted to express modern ideas during the Meiji period (1868-1912). While in China the term retains a meaning closer to the original ("fabric"), in Japan it acquired administrative and scientific connotations, demonstrating how the language evolved with industrialization.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to anchor 組織 is to associate it with concrete situations. For example, think of how a company (会社) is an "organization" where people work together – just like threads form a fabric. This visual analogy helps to remember both the meaning and the kanjis that make up the word.

Another tip is to pay attention to compound terms that use 組織, such as 組織改革 (soshiki kaikaku, "organizational restructuring") or 組織培養 (soshiki baiyō, "tissue culture"). These combinations are common in news and academic documents, so recognizing them can be useful for those studying advanced Japanese or working in Japanese professional environments.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 団体 (Dantai) - Organization, social group or collective.
• 体制 (Taisei) - Structure, organizational or administrative system.
• 機関 (Kikan) - Institution or agency that performs a specific function, often associated with government or administration.
• 結社 (Kessha) - Association or group formed by people with a common goal.
• 組 (Kumi) - Group, collective, or category of people.
• 結集 (Ketsujū) - Meeting of various parts into a whole, focusing on unity and collaboration.
• 結合 (Ketsugō) - Combination or joining of elements to form a whole.
• 結成 (Kessei) - Formation or establishment of an organization or group.
• 編成 (Hensei) - Structuring or formatting a group or organization.
• 編集 (Henshū) - Editing or compiling content, often related to publications.
• 編制 (Hensei) - Internal organization or structure of a group, often in administrative contexts.
• 構成 (Kōsei) - Composition or arrangement of parts that form a whole.
• 構造 (Kōzō) - Structure or composition that supports the functionality of a system.
• 構築 (Kōchiku) - Construction or development of a structure, often in a figurative sense.
• 体系 (Taikei) - Organized system of interrelations, concepts, or elements.
• 組成 (Kosei) - Composition or formation of a set, highlighting the elements that constitute it.
• 組織化 (Soshikika) - Process of organizing or systematizing a set of parts into a cohesive whole.
• 組織的 (Soshitekiko) - Regarding organization, emphasizing systematic or structural aspects.
• 組織上 (Soshiki-jō) - Organizational aspect or related to the structure of an entity.

組織

Romaji: soshiki
Kana: そしき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: organization; system; construction

Meaning in English: organization;system;construction

Definition: A system or organization that consists of multiple people and things being organized and integrated in sequence.

Example Sentences - (組織) soshiki

See below some example sentences:

この組織は強力な力を持っています。

Kono soshiki wa kyōryoku na chikara o motteimasu

This organization has a powerful force.

This organization has powerful power.

• この - this
• 組織 - organization
• は - Topic particle
• 強力な - strong, powerful
• 力 - strength
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - Land, possess

国連は世界平和と安全を促進するための重要な組織です。

Kokuren wa sekai heiwa to anzen o sokushin suru tame no juuyou na soshiki desu

The United Nations is an important organization for promoting world peace and security.

• 国連 (Kokuren) - 国際連合 (こくさいれんごう)
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 世界 (sekai) - world
• 平和 (heiwa) - peace
• と (to) - grammatical particle that connects words or phrases with the same meaning
• 安全 (anzen) - security
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 促進する (sokushin suru) - promote, encourage
• ための (tame no) - expression indicating the purpose of something
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 組織 (soshiki) - organization
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form