1.
mutual aid; mutual support; reciprocal assistance
The principle of members of a group supporting each other, especially as an organizing principle for cooperatives, insurance systems, and social organizations.
相互扶助の精神が大切だ。
The spirit of mutual aid is important.
保険は相互扶助の仕組みで成り立っている。
Insurance operates on the principle of mutual aid.
農村では昔から相互扶助の伝統が根付いている。
In farming villages, the tradition of mutual support has been deeply rooted since long ago.
Composed of 相互 (mutual, reciprocal) + 扶助 (support, assistance). A formal compound often used in institutional, legal, and social contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 相互扶助の精神 — spirit of mutual aid
- 相互扶助の仕組み — mutual aid system
- 相互扶助制度 — mutual aid system/scheme
- 相互扶助の原理 — principle of mutual aid
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 共助 — mutual assistance (more commonly used in disaster preparedness contexts)
- 助け合い — helping each other (everyday expression)
- 扶助 — support, assistance (one-directional help, not necessarily mutual)
- 互助 — mutual aid (shorter synonym, often in 互助会 — mutual aid association)
REGISTER:
Formal. Common in written Japanese, institutional documents, and discussions of social systems. In casual conversation, 助け合い is more natural.