Yuka賛成 and 同感 both mean “I agree” — but they’re used in quite different situations. Let’s compare!
| Word | Reading | Core Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 賛成 | sansei | agreement / approval (of a proposal or plan) |
| 同感 | doukan | same feeling / I feel the same way |
賛成: Formal Agreement / Approval
賛成 (sansei) means to be in favor of or to approve of something — a proposal, plan, or decision. It’s more formal and often used in discussions or votes:
- 賛成です！ — I agree! / I’m in favor!
- その計画に賛成する。 — I approve of that plan.
- 賛成多数で決定した。 — Decided by a majority vote.
- 賛成？反対？ — In favor or against?
同感: Shared Feeling / Same Opinion
同感 (doukan) is more personal — it expresses that you share someone’s feeling or opinion, not necessarily a formal vote:
- その気持ち、同感だよ。 — I feel the same way.
- 全く同感！ — Totally agree! (about a feeling or opinion)
- 同感を覚える。 — To feel a sense of agreement / resonance.
ReiCan I use 同感 instead of 賛成 in a meeting?
YukaIt’s unusual — 賛成 is the standard for formal agreement. 同感 is more for personal, emotional agreement.
Comparison Table
| Feature | 賛成 | 同感 |
|---|---|---|
| Type of agreement | Approval of plan/idea | Shared feeling/opinion |
| Formality | Formal to casual | Casual to neutral |
| Voting/decisions | Common | Not used |
| Emotional | Less | More |
Quick Quiz
At a meeting, they ask “who agrees with this proposal?” What do you say?
- a) 同感です
- b) 賛成です
Answer: b) 賛成です — formal agreement in a decision-making context.
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