Japanese word

過半数

Pronunciation

Romajikahansū

Meaning

  • nounmajority

Example

投票者の過半数が賛成しました。tō hyō sha no ka han sū ga san sei shi ma shi ta

A majority of the voters agreed.

Illustration for 過半数 (majority)

More examples

過半数の票を得た候補者が当選しました。ka han sū no hyō o e ta kō ho sha ga tō sen shi ma shi ta

The candidate who received a majority of the votes was elected.

Core concept

Shows that one part of a whole exceeds the halfway point and therefore has more members or units than the other part.

Common phrases

  • 過半数を占めるka han sū o shi me ru

    constitute a majority

  • 過半数を得るka han sū o u ru

    obtain a majority

  • 過半数に達するka han sū ni tas su ru

    reach a majority

Similar words

大多数daitasū: Most of the members or units in a group, forming more than half of the total.
大半taihan: The greater part of a whole, generally exceeding half its amount.
多数tasū: A large number or share of a group, which may be less than half of the total.

Definition in Japanese

ある集団や数量のうち、半分を上回る部分。a ru shū dan ya sū ryō no u chi han bun o uwa mawa ru bu bun

Word origin

The compound 過半数 (kahansū) uses 過 (ka, "exceeding"), 半 (han, "half"), and 数 (sū, "number"), indicating a number beyond half.

Usage tips

  • A majority decision requires more than half of the votes, whereas the option with the most votes may have only a plurality.

Opposites

  • 少数派shōsūhaminoritynoun

Word lists with this word