国民（こくみん、kokumin）
- citizen / national

The Japanese word 国民 国民 (こくみん - kokumin) directly translates to "citizen," "nationals," or "people of a nation." It refers to the people who belong to a particular country, typically those who hold citizenship. It encompasses all individuals within a country's borders, including those who may not have all the rights and responsibilities of full citizens (like residents). The term emphasizes the collective identity and shared existence of a country's population. It is a fundamental concept in discussions of government, rights, and responsibilities.

⚫︎ 日本国民 Translation: Japanese citizens ⚫︎ 国民投票 Translation: Referendum; national vote ⚫︎ 国民の義務 Translation: Duties of the citizens

This word is widely used in formal and informal contexts. It's common in news reports, political discussions, academic writing, and everyday conversation. It is a neutral and general term when referring to the people of a nation. It can be used to describe the entire population or segments within it.

The word 国民 is typically written using kanji and hiragana. ・Kanji: 国 (koku - country) + 民 (min - people) ・Hiragana: こくみん (kokumin) There are no variations in okurigana for 国民.

⚫︎ 市民 (shimin): Citizen (can also be "city resident") ⚫︎ 人々 (hitobito): People ⚫︎ 国民性 (kokumminsei): National character

⚫︎ 外国人 (gaikokujin): Foreigner ⚫︎ 亡命者 (boumeisha): Exile

日本国民は法律を守らなければなりません。 ・Translation: Japanese citizens must obey the law. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the duty of 国民 to follow the laws of their country.

その問題は国民の関心を集めている。 ・Translation: That problem is attracting the attention of the people. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how the actions or events impact 国民, attracting their interest and attention.

The word 国民 is a compound word formed from two kanji: ・国 (koku): meaning "country" or "nation" ・民 (min): meaning "people" or "folk" Together, they form a word that denotes the people who constitute a nation.