Translation and Meaning of: 役人 - yakunin

The word 「役人」, read as "yakunin", is composed of two kanji: 「役」 (yaku) and 「人」 (nin). The kanji 「役」 has the meaning of "role", "duty", or "function", while 「人」 means "person". Thus, when combined, the word "yakunin" can be translated as "official" or "civil servant", referring to a person who performs an official function or duty on behalf of an organization or the government.

The origin of the word is closely tied to the governmental and social structure of Japan. Historically, the 「役人」 played significant roles in public administration, especially during the Edo and Meiji periods, when the government centralized efforts to modernize and organize society. The term is still widely used to describe public employees or government officials, reflecting the continued importance of the 「役人」 in governmental operations in contemporary Japan.

In the current context, 「役人」 refers to anyone who holds a position within the Japanese public service. They are responsible for implementing public policies, managing services, and ensuring that the government operates efficiently. In many ways, 「役人」 are considered the backbone of public administration, ensuring that the needs and laws of the people are upheld through their daily work. Thus, the word "yakunin" carries with it not only a functional title but also a historical allusion to the administrative evolution of Japan.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 官僚 (Kanryō) - Senior public servant; often associated with bureaucrats and public administration.
• 公務員 (Kōmuin) - Public employee; encompasses a wide range of government positions.
• 政府職員 (Seifu shokuin) - Government employee; usually involves administrative positions within the central government.
• 官吏 (Kanri) - Public official; a more formal term that can refer to any public servant responsible for administrative tasks.
• 役所の人 (Yakusho no hito) - Government office worker; refers to any employee working in a government agency.
• 官庁職員 (Kanchō shokuin) - Employee of a ministry or government agency; usually with a specific role within the public administration.

役人

Romaji: yakunin
Kana: やくにん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: government official

Meaning in English: government official

Definition: Public servant. A person who works for the government or local government.

Example Sentences - (役人) yakunin

See below some example sentences:

県庁には多くの役人が働いています。

Kencho ni wa ooku no yakunin ga hataraite imasu

Many employees work in the city hall office.

• 県庁 - provincial government building
• に - particle indicating location
• は - Topic particle
• 多く - many
• の - Possession particle
• 役人 - civil servants
• が - subject particle
• 働いています - are working