自浄作用

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 自浄作用 (じじょうさよう) is a process that reduces contamination or wrongdoing through internal mechanisms rather than direct outside intervention.
• Basic usage: A river naturally reduces pollutants; an organization uses internal checks to correct misconduct.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Environmental purification and institutional self-correction
  • 川が持つ自浄作用 is ecological or physical purification, while 組織の自浄作用 figuratively means detecting and correcting internal wrongdoing. The second does not imply literal pollutants.