1.
group action; acting as a group; moving in a group
Behavior in which members of a group move or act together as a unit, rather than individually. Commonly used for school trips, tours, and situations where staying together as a group is expected or required.
An important concept in Japanese social life, often emphasized in schools, tour groups, and organizations. Literally 団体 (group) + 行動 (action/behavior).
Common collocations
- 団体行動を取る: to act as a group; to stay with the group
- 団体行動が苦手: not good at group activities
- 団体行動が得意: good at group activities
- 団体行動を乱す: to disrupt group discipline
- 団体行動の基本: the basics of group behavior
Similar words
- 集団行動: collective/group behavior — very similar; often used in educational or psychological contexts, especially in describing children's development
- 単独行動: acting alone; solo action — the antonym
- 協調性: cooperativeness — the personal quality of being able to cooperate with others
Cultural note
Japanese schools place strong emphasis on 団体行動, especially during school trips where students must stay together, eat together, and follow group schedules. Saying that someone is bad at 団体行動 is a common way to describe an independent or individualistic personality.