dantai

Dantai, written 団体 in kanji, is a Japanese term that means organization or group. It is used to refer to a wide range of organized bodies, from voluntary associations and clubs to companies, government bodies, religious groups, political parties, and international or intergovernmental organizations. The word emphasizes a collective body formed by members with shared aims or activities.

Etymology and usage notes: The characters 団 and 体 together convey the idea of a “body” composed of a group. In Japanese, the reading is dantai. Although closely related conceptually, the corresponding Chinese term is 团体, read tuántǐ in Mandarin, and the two languages use different pronunciations for the same concept. In other East Asian contexts, similar terms exist with local readings (for example, Korean 단체, danche). In contemporary Japanese, 団体 is used across sectors, including legal, civic, cultural, and academic contexts.

Typical examples and classifications: The word appears in many compound forms to specify the nature of the organization, such as 公益団体 (nonprofit or public-benefit organization), 政治団体 (political organization), 宗教団体 (religious organization), 学術団体 (academic association), and スポーツ団体 (sports association). In legal and administrative language, 団体 can denote a formal entity, including incorporated associations and foundations, especially when describing the organization itself rather than its members.

See also: The concept of団体 is distinct from other organizational terms in Japanese, such as 企業 (company) and 団体戦 (team competition), and its usage is influenced by context, formality, and legal status.