相談 vs 話し合い
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 相談
Listen to 話し合い
| 相談 | 話し合い |
|---|---|
SOU-dan noun / verb (する) | はなしあい noun / verb (する) |
| to consult; to talk something over and seek advice | discussion; conversation to exchange views |
How they differ
話し合い means a mutual discussion and places more emphasis on both sides exchanging opinions. 相談 often suggests one person asks another for advice or help, so it is less symmetrical than 話し合い.
When to use each
When to use 相談: Use 相談 when one person is bringing a problem or question to someone for advice.
When to use 話し合い: Use 話し合い when everyone is actively discussing the issue together as equals.
Side-by-side examples
- 仕事の悩みを友人に相談した。
(I talked to a friend about my work problems and asked for advice.) - 家族で今後のことを話し合った。
(We discussed our future as a family.)
Register & nuance: 話し合い is neutral and widely used; compared with 相談, it sounds more like a shared discussion than a request for advice.