The Power of Nonnegotiables 　Nonnegotiableの力

plum_mei

Aug. 31, 2025

The Power of Nonnegotiables 　Nonnegotiableの力

There are a number of English words that are difficult to translate directly into Japanese, and "nonnegotiable" is one of them. Its literal meaning is "not open to negotiation," so "絶対的な" or "話し合いの余地がない" could be its equivalents in Japanese. However, I feel that these translations do not fully capture its nuance.

I first came across this word when I was reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. He used it to explain how we can build habits by turning what we must do into nonnegotiables. For me, I also have several nonnegotiable activities in my daily life: a 10-minute workout, studying English, and practicing karate. Ever since I defined these activities as nonnegotiables, I have never skipped them, because I no longer even think “I don’t feel like it” or “I’ll do it later.”

Choices can often make us hesitate. Eliminating choices is the key. If we can set tasks at the right level, not too easy and not too difficult, and make them nonnegotiable, I believe they can carry us far in developing our abilities.

英単語の中で日本語に訳しにくい単語はいくつもあるけれど、nonnnegotiableもその一つだと思う。交渉できないということなので、日本語だと「絶対的な、話し合いの余地がない」というような訳語が当てはまると思うけれど、日本語にすると雰囲気が出ないと思う。この言葉を知ったのはジェームズ・クリアーの本『Atomic Habit』を読んだ時だと思う。やらなければいけないと感じていることをnonnnegotiableにすることで、習慣を形成していくということだったと思う。私にも一日の中でいくつか、nonnegotiableなことがある。10分間の筋トレ、英語の学習、空手の練習などがそうだ。これらのことをnonnegotiableという言葉で意味づけてからは、やりたくないとか今日はやめようとか思うことがなくなった。食べ物や髪形や服など、選択肢があると人は悩むものだ。選択肢をなくすことが近道になる。あまりにも簡単すぎるものや難しいものを設定してはいけないが、適切なnonnegotiableな課題を続けることで、様々なことの力をアップできると信じている。

en 3

Correct

Corrections

araigoshi

280

Its literal meaning is "not open to negotiation," so "絶対的な" or "話し合いの余地がない" could be its equivalents in Japanese.

plum_mei

Aug. 31, 2025

Thank you!

Paolo12

402

The Power of Nonnegotiables 　Nonnegotiableの力

There are a number of English words that are difficult to translate directly into Japanese, and "nonnegotiable" is one of them.

Its literal meaning is "not open to negotiation," so "絶対的な" or "話し合いの余地がない" could be its equivalents in Japanese.

However, I feel that these translations do not fully capture its nuance.

I first came across this word when I was reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.

He used it to explain how we can build habits by turning what we must do into nonnegotiables.

For me, I also have several nonnegotiable activities in my daily life: a 10-minute workout, studying English, and practicing karate.

Ever since I defined these activities as nonnegotiables, I have never skipped them, because I no longer even think “I don’t feel like it” or “I’ll do it later.” Choices can often make us hesitate.

Eliminating choices is the key.

If we can set tasks at the right level (or: at a sustainable level), not too easy and not too difficult, and make them nonnegotiable, I believe they can carry us far in developing our abilities.

Feedback

Well done! Personally, I think "nonnegotiables" could be translated as "譲れないこと", though it would also depend on the context.

plum_mei

Aug. 31, 2025

Thank you! Yes, it does make sense to consider "譲れないこと" as a translation of nonnegotiable, since 譲る is a verb that naturally follows the outcome of a negotiation. Hmm.

laleyou

The Power of Nonnegotiables 　Nonnegotiableの力

There are a number of English words that are difficult to translate directly into Japanese, and "nonnegotiable" is one of them.

Its literal meaning is "not open to negotiation," so "絶対的な" or "話し合いの余地がない" could be its equivalents in Japanese.

~~However, I feel~~My feeling is, however, that these translations do not fully capture its nuance.

Not quite accurate use of 'that'. I've changed 'feel' to to a topic, and shown how to keep 'however'.

I first came across this word wh~~en I was~~ile reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Redundant 'I'

He used it toin explaining how ~~we can~~, to build habits by, we can turn~~ing~~ what things we must do into nonnegotiables.

Rearranged the words a bit more expressively as they felt stilted.

For me, I also have several nonnegotiable activities in my daily life: a 10-minute workout, studying English, and practicing karate.

Eliminating choices is the key.

If we can set our tasks at the right level, not too easy ~~and not too~~nor difficult, and make them nonnegotiable, I believe they can carry us far in developing our abilities.

Feedback

To be clear nonnegotiable means 'you simply have to do it', and James is appealing to the experience most have of that being clarified as the meaning by their parents. It's the rejection of negotiability. I think it's helpful towards listening to others, and later we can have our own choices and ideals.

plum_mei

Aug. 31, 2025

Thank you. I find this very interesting, because I haven’t really considered the idea of negotiation between parents and children. What I’m trying to say is that the parent-child relationship I experienced as a child is likely different from the kind of relationship James Clear may have assumed as a premise in his book.

However, I feel that these translations do not fully capture its nuance.

~~However, I feel~~My feeling is, however, that these translations do not fully capture its nuance.

Not quite accurate use of 'that'. I've changed 'feel' to to a topic, and shown how to keep 'however'.