(ごじょ)

ごじょ
noun
mutual aid; mutual assistance
1. mutual aid; mutual assistance
The practice of people helping each other. A formal term used for organized systems of mutual support, such as community aid groups, insurance cooperatives, and social welfare frameworks.
地域(ちいき)互助(ごじょ)大切(たいせつ)だ。
Mutual aid in the community is important.
互助(ごじょ)精神(せいしん)(たす)()いましょう。
Let's help each other in the spirit of mutual aid.
災害時(さいがいじ)には近隣(きんりん)住民(じゅうみん)互助(ごじょ)重要(じゅうよう)役割(やくわり)()たす。
During disasters, mutual aid among neighboring residents plays an important role.

USAGE:
Often appears in the context of Japan's disaster preparedness framework, which distinguishes between 自助(じじょ) (self-help), 互助(ごじょ)/共助(きょうじょ) (mutual/community aid), and 公助(こうじょ) (public assistance). Also used for mutual aid associations (互助会(ごじょかい)).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 互助(ごじょ)精神(せいしん) (spirit of mutual aid)
  • 互助会(ごじょかい) (mutual aid association)
  • 互助(ごじょ)制度(せいど) (mutual aid system)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 共助(きょうじょ): communal aid — similar but emphasizes community-level cooperation
  • 自助(じじょ): self-help — helping oneself
  • 公助(こうじょ): public assistance — government aid