役人
A government official or a public servant who works in a public office. This term refers to people responsible for administrative duties in local or national government departments.
Examples
3 of 5私の父は町の役人です。
My father is a town official.
役人として、公平に判断しなければなりません。
As a government official, I must judge fairly.
あの役人、説明が分かりにくいね。
That official's explanation is hard to understand, isn't it?
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Yaku' (role/duty) + 'Nin' (person). A person with a specific public duty.
Quick Quiz
父は市役所で働く___です。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 役人
Examples
私の父は町の役人です。
everydayMy father is a town official.
役人として、公平に判断しなければなりません。
formalAs a government official, I must judge fairly.
あの役人、説明が分かりにくいね。
informalThat official's explanation is hard to understand, isn't it?
江戸時代の役人の役割を研究する。
academicI will study the roles of officials during the Edo period.
このプロジェクトについて、市の役人と相談します。
businessI will consult with city officials about this project.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
お役所仕事
bureaucratic red tape (literally: government office work)
役人根性
bureaucratic attitude
役人の位
official rank
Often Confused With
Yakunin is a more traditional/general term, while Koumuin is the modern legal and technical term for civil servant.
Usage Notes
While 'yakunin' is widely understood, in modern formal contexts or when talking about your own job, 'koumuin' (civil servant) is more common and polite.
Common Mistakes
Do not use 'yakunin' for elected politicians (seijika) or leaders like the Prime Minister; it specifically refers to administrative employees.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Yaku' (role/duty) + 'Nin' (person). A person with a specific public duty.
Word Origin
From the Japanese 'yaku' (duty/service) and 'nin' (person/human).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Japan, 'yakunin' can sometimes carry a nuance of being stiff or strictly following rules (bureaucracy).
Quick Quiz
父は市役所で働く___です。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 役人
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
顕著
C1Refers to something that is remarkable, striking, or highly conspicuous. It is used to describe trends, differences, or characteristics that are clearly visible and cannot be ignored, often in analytical or formal contexts.
妥当
C1Describes a decision, price, or conclusion that is appropriate, fair, and logically sound within a given context. It suggests that something is reasonable and justifiable based on common sense or established facts.
普遍
C1Universality; the quality of being applicable to all cases or distributed everywhere within a particular scope. It refers to truths, values, or phenomena that remain valid regardless of time, place, or individual circumstances.
概念
C1A general idea or abstract principle that represents the essential nature or characteristics of a category or phenomenon. It refers to the mental framework or understanding used to classify and interpret things in the world.
本質
C1The core essence or fundamental nature of something that makes it what it is. It refers to the underlying reality or truth of a situation or object, often contrasted with its superficial appearance or secondary characteristics.
推移
C1Refers to the gradual transition, movement, or change of a situation or state over time. It is primarily used to describe how a specific condition, value, or relationship progresses through different stages.
帰属
C1Kizoku refers to the state of belonging to a specific group, organization, or category, or the legal attribution of rights, property, or responsibility. It is frequently used in psychological contexts regarding identity and in legal contexts regarding ownership or jurisdiction.
派生
C1To derive or originate from a primary source, where a new element branches out from a foundational root. It is commonly used in technical contexts like linguistics, law, and science to describe how sub-concepts or variations develop from an original entity.
統合
C1The act of combining or integrating multiple separate parts, systems, or organizations into a single, unified whole. It implies creating a cohesive structure where the individual components work together harmoniously or function as one entity.
齟齬
C1A formal term describing a discrepancy, inconsistency, or lack of coordination between two or more elements such as opinions, facts, or plans. It specifically highlights a situation where things fail to mesh or align as they should, often leading to misunderstandings or errors.
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