Japanese word

公衆

Pronunciation

Romajikōshū

Meaning

  • noungeneral public

Example

その発表は公衆の関心を集めました。so no hap pyō wa kō shū no kan shin o atsu me ma shi ta

The announcement attracted the general public's attention.

Illustration for 公衆 (general public)

More examples

この制度は公衆の安全を守るために必要です。ko no sei do wa kō shū no an zen o mamo ru ta me ni hitsu yō de su

This system is necessary to protect public safety.

Core concept

Refers to a broad, unspecified group of people regarded as one public body.

Common phrases

  • 公衆衛生kō shū ei sei

    public health

  • 公衆浴場kō shū yoku jō

    public bathhouse

  • 公衆トイレkō shū to i re

    public restroom

  • 公衆の面前kō shū no men zen

    in public

  • 公衆電話kō shū den wa

    public telephone

Similar words

世間seken: The wider society considered as a source of public opinion and social expectations.
大衆taishū: A large group of ordinary people regarded as a social class or mass.
民衆minshū: Ordinary people viewed as a broad social group, especially in relation to society and politics.

Definition in Japanese

社会を構成する不特定多数の人々。sha kai o kō sei su ru fu toku tei ta sū no hito bito

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 公衆 (kōshū) combines 公 (kō, "public") with 衆 (shū, "the masses") to denote the public as a group.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 公衆 (kōshū) often sounds formal or institutional, while ordinary speech usually expresses the same idea in more familiar terms.

Opposites

Word lists with this word