(さんどうしゃ)

さんどうしゃ
noun
supporter; person who agrees (with a proposal); backer
1. a person who publicly agrees with or endorses a proposal, cause, or opinion
Someone who supports a plan, campaign, petition, or stated position — not necessarily a financial backer, but someone whose agreement counts. Common in contexts such as petitions, crowdfunding, open letters, and policy proposals, where the number of supporters is often named and counted.
賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(つの)る。
To solicit supporters.
この提案(ていあん)にはすでに(おお)くの賛同者(さんどうしゃ)がいる。
This proposal already has many supporters.
署名(しょめい)運動(うんどう)(みじか)期間(きかん)数千人(すうせんにん)賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(あつ)めた。
The signature campaign gathered thousands of supporters in a short period.
(あたら)しい環境(かんきょう)政策(せいさく)には、政府(せいふ)関係者(かんけいしゃ)だけでなく企業(きぎょう)一般(いっぱん)市民(しみん)賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(ひろ)がっている。
Support for the new environmental policy is spreading not only among government officials but also among businesses and ordinary citizens.

Composed of 賛同(さんどう) (agreement; approval of a proposal) + (しゃ) (person). A productive noun pattern: any 賛同(さんどう)する (to agree with; endorse) action has its corresponding 賛同者(さんどうしゃ).

CORE USAGE:
賛同者(さんどうしゃ) emphasizes public or recorded agreement with a specific proposal or cause, not just private approval. A person who quietly thinks a plan is good but does nothing about it is not typically called a 賛同者(さんどうしゃ). Signing a petition, donating to a campaign, speaking publicly in favor, or adding one's name to a list all qualify.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(つの)る: to solicit supporters
  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(あつ)める: to gather supporters
  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)()える: the number of supporters grows
  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)(かず): the number of supporters
  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)になる: to become a supporter
  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ)一同(いちどう): all the supporters (as a group)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 賛同(さんどう): agreement; endorsement (the act or attitude)
  • 賛同(さんどう)する: to agree with; to endorse
  • 賛成(さんせい): approval; agreement — a more general word for "agree" or "vote yes."
  • 反対(はんたい)(しゃ): opponent; person against the proposal (the antonym pattern)
  • 支持者(しじしゃ): supporter (of a politician, idea, or cause) — a stronger, more enduring kind of support
  • 協力(きょうりょく)(しゃ): collaborator; cooperator — someone who actively helps, not just endorses

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 賛同者(さんどうしゃ): specifically someone who endorses a proposal or cause.
  • 支持者(しじしゃ): a supporter, especially of a politician or ongoing cause; implies more durable commitment.
  • 賛成者(さんせいしゃ): someone who votes in favor; used in formal meetings and votes.
  • ファン: fan — for entertainers, athletes, and popular figures rather than causes or proposals.

TYPICAL CONTEXTS:

  • Petitions and signature campaigns
  • Crowdfunding and community projects
  • Open letters and manifestos
  • Policy debates and civic movements
  • Environmental and social causes