Japanese word

革命

Pronunciation

Romajikakumei

Meaning

  • nounrevolution

Example

人々は革命を求めました。hito bito wa kaku mei o moto me ma shi ta

The people wanted a revolution.

Illustration for 革命 (revolution)

More examples

産業革命は、働き方と暮らしを大きく変えました。san gyō kaku mei wa hatara ki kata to ku ra shi o ō ki ku ka e ma shi ta

The Industrial Revolution greatly changed the way people worked and lived.

Core concept

Expresses the idea of overturning an existing system so that society or government takes a radically different form.

Common phrases

  • 革命を支持するkaku mei o shi ji su ru

    support a revolution

  • 革命を計画するkaku mei o kei kaku su ru

    plan a revolution

  • 革命の原因kaku mei no gen in

    cause of a revolution

Similar words

改革kaikaku: An organized effort to improve an existing system without removing its basic framework.
変革henkaku: A major change that transforms a society, organization, or system.

Definition in Japanese

従来の社会や政治の制度を大きく改め、別の仕組みに変えること。jū rai no sha kai ya sei ji no sei do o ō ki ku arata me betsu no shi ku mi ni ka e ru ko to

Word origin

革命 (kakumei) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 革 (kaku, "change") and 命 (mei, "mandate"), based on the classical phrase for replacing a ruler's mandate.

Usage tips

  • The English word revolution has both political and scientific uses, while 革命 (kakumei) is mainly associated with a radical change in society or government.

Other meanings

  • radical changenoun

Opposites

  • 反革命hankakumeicounterrevolutionnoun
  • 保守hoshuconservatismnoun

Related words

  • 革命的kakumeitekirevolutionaryna-adjective
  • 革命家kakumeikarevolutionarynoun

Word lists with this word