互換性(ごかんせい)

互換性(ごかんせい) refers to the ability of systems, devices, or components to work together or be substituted for one another. Primarily used in technical, IT, and engineering contexts.

Forms

互換(ごかん) (interchangeability) + 性(せい) (quality/property).

Common collocations

• 互換性(ごかんせい)がある/ない: to have/lack compatibility
• 互換性(ごかんせい)を維持(いじ)する: to maintain compatibility
• 互換性(ごかんせい)を確保(かくほ)する: to ensure compatibility

Compounds

• 後方(こうほう)互換性(ごかんせい): backward compatibility
• 前方(ぜんぽう)互換性(ごかんせい): forward compatibility
• 上位(じょうい)互換(ごかん): upward compatibility
• 下位(かい)互換(ごかん): downward compatibility

Register

Technical/formal. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 使(つか)える (can use it) or 対応(たいおう)している (it supports/is compatible) rather than 互換性(ごかんせい)がある.