Japanese word

過疎

Pronunciation

Romajikaso

Meaning

  • noundepopulation

Example

その村は過疎に悩んでいます。so no mura wa ka so ni naya n de i ma su

That village is suffering from depopulation.

Illustration for 過疎 (depopulation)

More examples

農村では過疎によって、学校の統廃合が進んでいます。nō son de wa ka so ni yo tte gak kō no tō hai gō ga susu n de i ma su

Depopulation is causing schools in rural areas to merge or close.

Core concept

Describes a place becoming sparsely populated as its population declines.

Common phrases

  • 過疎の進行ka so no shin kō

    the progression of depopulation

  • 過疎地域ka so chi iki

    depopulated area

  • 過疎を解消するka so o kai shō su ru

    address depopulation

Similar words

人口減少jinkōgenshō: A reduction in the number of people who live in a place.

Definition in Japanese

地域の人口が減少し、住民が少なくなっている状態。chi iki no jin kō ga gen shō shi jū min ga suku na ku na tte i ru jō tai

Word origin

The Japanese noun 過疎 (kaso) combines 過 (ka, "excess") and 疎 (so, "sparse"), expressing a condition of excessive sparsity in a population.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese public discussion, 過疎地域 (kaso chiiki) refers to areas where a declining population makes it harder to maintain local services.

Other meanings

  • low population densitynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 過疎化kasokadepopulationnoun

Word lists with this word