Japanese word

役人

Pronunciation

Romajiyakunin

Meaning

  • noungovernment official

Example

父は役人です。chichi wa yaku nin de su

My father is a government official.

Illustration for 役人 (government official)

More examples

市役所の役人に、必要な書類を尋ねました。shi yaku sho no yaku nin ni hitsu yō na sho rui o tazu ne ma shi ta

I asked a city hall official which documents were needed.

Core concept

Describes a person who carries out public duties as part of a government organization.

Common phrases

  • 役人になるyaku nin ni na ru

    become a government official

  • 役人として働くyaku nin to shi te hatara ku

    work as a government official

  • 市役所の役人shi yaku sho no yaku nin

    city hall official

Similar words

公務員kōmuin: A person employed by a national or local government to perform public duties.
官僚kanryō: A government official who works in a bureaucracy and helps administer public affairs.
官吏kanri: A formal term for a person employed in a government office.

Definition in Japanese

国や地方自治体などの公的機関で行政の仕事をする人。kuni ya chi hō ji chi tai na do no kō teki ki kan de gyō sei no shi goto o su ru hito

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 役人 (yakunin) combines 役 (yaku, "duty" or "official role") and 人 (nin, "person"), forming the sense of a person in a public role.

Usage tips

  • In English, official can also describe a person or action authorized by an organization, while 役人 (yakunin) specifically refers to someone working for a government.

Other meanings

  • civil servantnoun

Opposites

  • 民間人minkanjinprivate citizennoun

Related words

  • 役人らしいyakuninrashiibureaucratici-adjective

Word lists with this word