Translation and Meaning of: 郡 - gun

If you are studying Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 郡[ぐん]. It appears in administrative, geographical, and even historical contexts, but its meaning may not be so obvious for those who are just starting. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and some curiosities that may help you remember it.

In addition to understanding the translation of 郡, we will explore its origin, how it fits into the structure of modern Japan, and practical examples of its use. If you have ever used the Suki Nihongo dictionary to look up Japanese terms, you know how important it is to have clear and precise information – and that is what we aim to provide here.

The meaning and use of 郡[ぐん]

The word 郡[ぐん] refers to an administrative subdivision in Japan, equivalent to a "district" or "municipality." It is primarily used in official contexts, such as government documents and maps, but it also appears in addresses and historical records. Unlike cities (市) or towns (町), 郡 are less urbanized areas, often rural.

Although its use has decreased in modern Japan, it is still possible to find 郡 in some regions, especially in Hokkaido and less populated areas. If you've ever seen a Japanese address with something like "XX-gun", now you know it refers to a district. This word is less common in everyday life, but still relevant for those studying Japan's geography or history.

The origin and history of 郡

The kanji 郡 has Chinese origins and was adopted by Japan during the Yamato period, when the administrative system was organized based on the Chinese model. Initially, 郡 were larger units, but over the centuries, they were subdivided and lost importance as cities grew. The current system of prefectures (都道府県) eventually replaced much of its function.

Interestingly, the kanji 郡 is composed of the radical 阝(which indicates "place" or "land") and the component 君 (which can suggest "government" or "authority"). This combination well reflects the original meaning of the word: an area managed by a local authority. Despite changes over time, this central idea remains.

How to memorize and use 郡 correctly

For those learning Japanese, a useful tip is to associate 郡 with words like "government" (政府) or "region" (地域), as they all share the idea of territorial division. Another strategy is to remember that 郡 frequently appears in old maps and official documents, so its modern use is more technical than everyday.

If you want to practice, try researching Japanese cities that still use 郡 in their addresses, like some in Hokkaido or Tohoku. This helps to fix the term in a real context. And if you're already using Suki Nihongo to study, try looking for example sentences with 郡 to see how it appears in authentic texts.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 郷 (Gō) - Rural area, usually related to a birthplace or origin.
• 町 (Machi) - City or small town, an urban center.
• 村 (Mura) - A village or rural community, smaller than a city.
• 区 (Ku) - District, a subdivision within a city.
• 区域 (Kuiki) - Area or region, a more general term to designate a defined space.

郡

Romaji: gun
Kana: ぐん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: country; District

Meaning in English: country;district

Definition: Mainly smaller administrative divisions than municipalities.

Example Sentences - (郡) gun

See below some example sentences:

私は日本の郡に住んでいます。

Watashi wa Nihon no gun ni sunde imasu

I live in a county in Japan.

I live in a Japanese county.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - proper name meaning "Japan"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 郡 (gun) - noun that means "county"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the action of being in a place
• 住んでいます (sundeimasu) - verb that means "to live"