紳士協定

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 紳士協定, read しんしきょうてい, and it combines 紳士, meaning gentleman, with 協定, meaning agreement.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 紳士協定 is an agreement maintained through the parties' trust and honor rather than through a formal written instrument or enforcement mechanism.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An agreement resting on mutual trust
  • Both examples use the form 紳士協定. They emphasize that the agreement is unwritten and maintained by trust, not merely that an agreement exists.
• Formation between companies and continued observance
  • 両社は文書にしない紳士協定を結んだ。 — The two companies reached an unwritten gentlemen's agreement.
  • その紳士協定は互いの信頼によって守られていた。 — Mutual trust kept the gentlemen's agreement in force.