便宜(べんぎ)

べんぎ
noun
convenience, accommodation
formalwrittenabstractsociety
1. convenience, expediency
The quality of being convenient or practical. Often used in the phrase 便宜上(べんぎじょう) (for convenience's sake).
便宜上(べんぎじょう)、AとBに分(わ)ける。
For convenience, we divide them into A and B.
便宜上(べんぎじょう)、この名前(なまえ)を使(つか)う。
For the sake of convenience, we'll use this name.
説明(せつめい)の便宜上(べんぎじょう)、簡単(かんたん)な例(れい)を使(つか)って話(はな)します。
For the convenience of explanation, I'll speak using a simple example.
2. special accommodation, favorable treatment
Giving someone special treatment or making an exception for their benefit.
便宜(べんぎ)を図(はか)る。
To arrange special accommodation.
知人(ちじん)に便宜(べんぎ)を図(はか)った。
I arranged favorable treatment for an acquaintance.
公務員(こうむいん)が特定(とくてい)の業者(ぎょうしゃ)に便宜(べんぎ)を図(はか)ったとして問題(もんだい)になった。
It became a problem when a public servant was found to have given special treatment to a specific contractor.

Common patterns

  • 便宜上(べんぎじょう) (for convenience's sake — very common set phrase)
  • 便宜(べんぎ)を図(はか)る (to arrange accommodation/favorable treatment)
  • 便宜(べんぎ)を供与(きょうよ)する (to provide accommodation — formal/legal)

Usage

Sense 1 (便宜上(べんぎじょう)) is neutral and widely used in academic, business, and everyday contexts. Sense 2 (便宜(べんぎ)を図(はか)る) often appears in news about favoritism or corruption, though it can also be used innocently.

Watch out

Do not confuse with 便利(べんり) (convenient). 便宜(べんぎ) is more about expediency or special treatment, while 便利(べんり) describes general usefulness.

general
Added 2026.2.9 0:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10500/10658_bengi