Japanese Conversation · Level 114
60 words
Japanese word
庶民
Pronunciation
Romajishomin
Meaning
- nounordinary people
Example
庶民の生活は昔より便利です。sho min no sei katsu wa mukashi yo ri ben ri de su
The lives of ordinary people are more convenient than before.
More examples
彼女は庶民の視点から社会を見ています。kano jo wa sho min no shi ten ka ra sha kai o mi te i ma su
She views society from the perspective of ordinary people.
Core concept
Describes people seen as the general public rather than members of an elite or ruling group.
Common phrases
庶民の気持ちsho min no ki mo chi
the feelings of ordinary people
庶民向けの商品sho min mu ke no shō hin
products for ordinary people
庶民の文化sho min no bun ka
the culture of ordinary people
庶民に受け入れられるsho min ni u ke i re ra re ru
be accepted by ordinary people
Similar words
一般人ippanjin: A person who belongs to the general public and has no special public status.
大衆taishū: The general public viewed as a large social group or audience.
民衆minshū: Ordinary people viewed collectively as a social or political group.
Definition in Japanese
身分や立場が特別でない一般の人々。mi bun ya tachi ba ga toku betsu de na i ip pan no hito bito
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 庶 (sho, "common") + 民 (min, "people") forms 庶民 (shomin), meaning ordinary people.
Usage tips
- In English, ordinary people is usually neutral, while the masses can sound more distant or political depending on the context.
Other meanings
- the massesnoun
Opposites
- 富裕層fuyūsōwealthy peoplenoun
- 上流階級jōryūkaikyūupper classnoun
Related words
- 庶民的shomintekidown-to-earthna-adjective
- 庶民派shominhapopulistnoun
- 庶民性shominseicommon touchnoun