Translation and Meaning of: 政府 - seifu

If you are studying Japanese or have an interest in the language, you may have come across the word 政府[せいふ]. It appears in news, political debates, and even in everyday discussions in Japan. But what exactly does this term mean? In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in the Japanese cultural context. Additionally, we will share tips for memorizing it and interesting facts that make this word even more fascinating.

Meaning and translation of 政府[せいふ]: Government.

The word 政府[せいふ] is composed of two kanjis: 政 (government, politics) and 府 (administrative local). Together, they form the term that means "government" or "public administration." It is a common word in political and official contexts, referring to the set of institutions that govern a country or region.

In Portuguese, the most direct translation is "government," but it's important to note that 政府[せいふ] has a more formal and institutional meaning. While "government" in Portuguese can be used more broadly, in Japanese this word is more closely tied to the administrative structure itself.

Origin and Historical Use

The origin of 政府[せいふ] dates back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), when Japan underwent modernization and adopted terms for Western concepts. Before that, the country used other terms to refer to governmental power, such as 幕府 (bakufu), which referred to the military government of the shoguns.

With the Meiji Restoration, the term 政府[せいふ] was consolidated to describe the new centralized political system. Since then, it has become an essential part of the Japanese political vocabulary, appearing in official documents, speeches, and in the media.

How 政府[せいふ] is used in Japan today

In contemporary Japan, 政府[せいふ] is frequently used in news and discussions about public policies. For example, sentences like "政府は新しい政策を発表した" (The government announced a new policy) are common in newspapers and debate programs.

It is worth noting that, culturally, the Japanese tend to see the 政府[せいふ] as a distant entity, often associated with bureaucracy and hierarchical decisions. This reflects a complex relationship between the population and government institutions, marked by formal respect, but also by a certain distrust.

Tips for memorizing 政府[せいふ]

An effective way to remember this word is to associate the kanji 政 (government) with policies and the kanji 府 (administrative location) with physical structures, like government buildings. Together, they create the idea of a "place where policies are made."

Another tip is to create flashcards with practical phrases, such as "政府の決定" (government decision) or "政府機関" (government agency). Repeating these combinations helps to solidify not only the word but also its usage in context.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 政治権力 (Seijikenryoku) - Political power; authority related to governance.
• 公権力 (Kōkenryoku) - Public authority; authority exercised on behalf of the State.
• 政治力 (Seijiryoku) - Political power; the ability to influence political actions or decisions.
• 政治組織 (Seijisoshiki) - Political organization; a structure that coordinates political activities.
• 政治機構 (Seijikikō) - Political mechanism; system by which the government operates.
• 行政機関 (Gyōseikikan) - Administrative body; government institutions that implement policies.
• 政府機関 (Seifukikan) - Government agencies; entities that perform government functions.
• 行政府 (Gyōseifu) - Executive; part of the government responsible for enforcing laws.
• 政府当局 (Seifu Tōkyoku) - Government authorities; competent institutions within the government.
• 政府権威 (Seifu Ken'i) - Authority of the government; respect and legitimacy attributed to the government.
• 政府権限 (Seifu Kengen) - Government jurisdiction; legal powers granted to the government.
• 政府権威者 (Seifu Kenisha) - Government authorities; individuals or entities that exercise governmental power.
• 政府機構 (Seifu Kikō) - Structure of government; set of bodies that make up the public administration.
• 政府組織 (Seifu Soshiki) - Organization of the government; the way in which government institutions are structured.
• 政府庁 (Seifu Chō) - Government office; headquarters of a government agency.
• 政府省 (Seifu Shō) - Government ministry; department responsible for a specific sector.
• 政府府 (Seifu Fu) - Local government; authority related to regional administrations.
• 政府官庁 (Seifu Kanchō) - Government offices; administrative agencies of the government.
• 政府公署 (Seifu Kōsho) - Public government office; a place where administrative activities are carried out.
• 政府庁舎 (Seifu Chōsha) - Government building; a structure where government agencies are located.

政府

Romaji: seifu
Kana: せいふ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: government administration

Meaning in English: government;administration

Definition: An organization that includes the executive and legislative branches of a country and has the power to govern the people and establish laws and policies.

Example Sentences - (政府) seifu

See below some example sentences:

官僚は政府の中で重要な役割を果たしています。

Kanryou wa seifu no naka de juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu

Bureaucrats play an important role in government.

Bureaucrats play an important role in government.

• 官僚 - bureaucrats
• は - Topic particle
• 政府 - government
• の - Possession particle
• 中で - In the middle of
• 重要な - important
• 役割を - Paper, function
• 果たしています - perform

連邦政府は国民の福祉を守るために尽力しています。

Renpō seifu wa kokumin no fukushi o mamoru tame ni jinryoku shiteimasu

The federal government is working to protect the welfare of the people.

• 連邦政府 - - federal government
• は - - Topic particle
• 国民 - - people/nationality
• の - - Possessive particle
• 福祉 - - well-being
• を - - direct object particle
• 守る - - protect
• ために - - for
• 尽力しています - - trying hard

内閣は日本の政府の最高機関です。

Naikaku wa Nihon no seifu no saikō kikan desu

The cabinet is the maximum organ of the Japanese government.

The cabinet is the highest institution of the Japanese government.

• 内閣 - Cabinet, the executive body of the Japanese government
• は - Topic marking particle
• 日本 - Japan, Asian country
• の - Possession particle
• 政府 - government, set of bodies responsible for public administration
• の - Possession particle
• 最高 - highest, "supreme"
• 機関 - organ, "institution"
• です - Polite form of "to be" or "to stay"

官庁は政府の中枢機関です。

Kanchō wa seifu no chūsō kikan desu

The government is a central government agency.

• 官庁 - government agency
• は - Topic particle
• 政府 - government
• の - Possession particle
• 中枢機関 - central body
• です - verb to be in the polite form

政府は国民のために働くべきです。

Seifu wa kokumin no tame ni hataraku beki desu

The government must work for the people.

• 政府 (seifu) - government
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 国民 (kokumin) - citizens, people
• のために (no tame ni) - for, for the benefit of
• 働く (hataraku) - to work
• べきです (beki desu) - should, should