The Meaning of ryōritsu [両立] In Japanese

両立
りょうりつ
Romaji: ryōritsu N3

What does 両立 mean?

Translation and Meaning

twofold, balance; to balance two goals at once; coexistence of two aims

Definition

両立 means the state or act of maintaining two goals, tasks, or conditions at the same time, ensuring that neither is sacrificed.

Type

noun (suru noun)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Two aims can coexist in daily life or planning without one negating the other.
  • It emphasizes compatibility and the practical effort required to reconcile competing commitments.
  • Common collocations include balancing work and family or study and work in both personal and organizational contexts.

Etymology

From the on’yomi readings ryō of 両 and ritsu of 立, merged to form a Sino-Japanese compound expressing two-sided standing.

Composition

  • 両: two, both; marks duality
  • 立: to stand, establish
  • Together they convey the sense of standing for both sides or maintaining two aims at once

Usage

Used across formal and informal registers to describe the act or habit of balancing two obligations or objectives; common in personal life discussions and policy or academic writing; typical in expressions that pair two domains such as work and family or study and career.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine two goals standing side by side on a balance scale; as long as both stay upright, you’re practicing 両立.

Variations

  • 共存 — coexistence (kyōzon)
  • 並存 — coexistence or parallel existence (heizon)
  • 矛盾 — contradiction, incompatibility (mujun)

Example Phrases

  • 仕事と家事を両立するのは難しいです。
    Shigoto to kaji o ryōritsu suru no wa muzukashii desu.
    It’s difficult to balance work and housework.
    Lista:
    • 仕事 (shigoto) – work
    • と (to) – and
    • 家事 (kaji) – housework
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 両立する (ryōritsu suru) – to balance / to coexist
    • の (no) – nominalizer
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 難しい (muzukashii) – difficult
    • です (desu) – polite copula
    Ponto-chave: 「両立」 significa equilibrar duas coisas; neste contexto, está ligado a 仕事と家事 com を para indicar balanceá-las.
両立