Translation and Meaning of: 占領 - senryou

If you are studying Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 占領 (せんりょう). It carries a relevant historical and political meaning, but it also appears in everyday contexts. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, its origin, how it is used in the Japanese language, and some curiosities about it. If you want to understand 占領 better, keep reading!

Meaning and Translation of 占領

The word 占領 (せんりょう) can be translated as "occupation" or "dominion." It is often associated with military or political contexts, such as the occupation of a territory by foreign forces. However, it can also be used in more everyday situations, such as the occupation of a physical space by a group of people.

It is important to note that 占領 is not a neutral term. In Japan, it evokes deep historical memories, especially related to the post-World War II period when the country was occupied by Allied forces. Therefore, its use requires caution, depending on the context in which it is employed.

Origin and Use of Kanjis

The kanji that make up 占領 have interesting individual meanings. The first, 占 (せん), means "to guess," "to predict," or "to occupy." The second, 領 (りょう), can be translated as "territory" or "domain." Together, they form the idea of "occupying a territory" or "taking control of something."

This combination is not random. The kanji 領 appears in other words related to territory, such as 領土 (りょうど, "national territory") and 占領地 (せんりょうち, "occupied territory"). This relation helps to understand why 占領 is so associated with contexts of geographic or political control.

Cultural and Historical Use

In Japan, 占領 is a word that carries considerable historical weight. It is often associated with the period of American occupation (1945-1952), which left deep marks on Japanese society. Therefore, its use in everyday conversations can be delicate, depending on the tone and context.

Despite this, the word also appears in less serious situations. For example, it can be used to describe the occupation of a building by protesters or even children playing in a space. However, due to its historical connotations, many Japanese prefer to use more neutral terms, such as 占有 (せんゆう, "possession"), in informal contexts.

Tips for Memorizing

An effective way to remember the meaning of 占領 is to associate it with the kanji 領, which appears in other words related to territory. If you already know terms like 領土 or 領域 (りょういき, "area"), it becomes easier to understand the sense of "domination" present in 占領.

Another tip is to think of historical examples or recent news that involve territorial occupations. Contextualizing the word helps to fix it in memory. If you are studying Japanese, it is worth creating example sentences using 占領 to practice its correct usage.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 占拠 (senkyo) - Occupation, taking ownership of a place or space.
• 支配 (shihai) - Dominion, control or influence over something or someone.
• 占有 (senyuu) - To own, to have legal or physical possession of something.
• 占める (shimeru) - To occupy, literally to take a space or position.
• 占め取る (shimedoru) - Take possession in a more active way, with a sense of ownership.
• 占有する (senyuu suru) - To perform the action of occupying or possessing something.
• 占拠する (senkyo suru) - To carry out the action of occupying, often in contexts related to physical or territorial aspects.
• 支配する (shihai suru) - To exert control or dominance over something or someone.

占領

Romaji: senryou
Kana: せんりょう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: occupation; catch; possession; have a space for yourself

Meaning in English: occupation;capture;possession;have a room to oneself

Definition: Military occupation of another country's territory.

Example Sentences - (占領) senryou

See below some example sentences:

この土地は敵によって占領されました。

Kono tochi wa teki ni yotte senryou sare mashita

This land has been occupied by the enemy.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 土地 - noun meaning "land", "terrain"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 敵 - noun meaning "enemy"
• によって - expression that indicates the cause or agent of an action, in this case "por"
• 占領 - noun that means "occupation", "dominion"
• されました - passive voice in the polite form, indicating that the action was done by another person