Translation guide
The English verb "solicit" covers several distinct actions: asking for something (money, help, advice), seeking business or customers, and, in legal contexts, encouraging a crime. Japanese uses different verbs and phrases for each meaning.
To request money, donations, or support from people or organizations.
Common verb for soliciting donations, contributions, or participants. Often used in formal or organized contexts.
被災地への寄付を募っています。
We are soliciting donations for the disaster area.
Literally 'seek donations'. A straightforward phrase, slightly less formal than 募る.
彼らは街頭で寄付を求めていた。
They were soliciting donations on the street.
To solicit someone to join an organization, buy something, or participate. Often has a nuance of persuasion.
保険の勧誘電話がよくかかってくる。
I often get phone calls soliciting insurance.
To formally or actively ask someone for help, advice, feedback, or opinions.
General verb for seeking or asking for something abstract like advice, opinions, or help. Used in many contexts.
専門家の意見を求めました。
We solicited the opinion of an expert.
Specifically for soliciting opinions or feedback, often from a group or the public.
新製品について消費者の意見を募った。
They solicited consumer opinions about the new product.
Formal expression meaning to seek or ask for advice, often from a superior or expert.
弁護士に助言を仰いだ。
We solicited advice from a lawyer.
To actively seek customers, clients, or business opportunities, often in a commercial context.
General term for doing business, including soliciting clients or sales. Can be used for door-to-door sales or cold calling.
彼は新規顧客を営業して回っている。
He goes around soliciting new customers.
Also used for soliciting customers or members, especially when trying to persuade them to sign up or buy.
ジムの会員を勧誘している。
They are soliciting gym members.
Specifically for soliciting customers on the street, often for restaurants or bars. Can have a slightly negative nuance.
繁華街で客引きをしている店がある。
There are shops soliciting customers in the entertainment district.
To ask, encourage, or entice someone to commit a crime or illegal act. Often used in legal terminology.
Legal term for instigating or soliciting someone to commit a crime. Used in formal legal contexts.
彼は殺人を教唆した罪で起訴された。
He was charged with soliciting murder.
More general phrase meaning to incite or tempt someone to commit a crime. Less formal than 教唆する.
彼は友人をそそのかして万引きさせた。
He solicited his friend to shoplift.
In English, 'solicit' can mean offering sex for money. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific phrases like 売春の客引きをする (solicit for prostitution) or simply 客を取る. Using 募る or 求める in this context would be unnatural.
彼女は路上で客を取っていた。
She was soliciting on the street.
募る (つのる) is used for actively gathering or recruiting things from many people (donations, opinions, participants). 求める (もとめる) is more general for seeking or asking for something, often from a specific person or source. 募る implies a broader, often public, solicitation.