世論（よろん、yoron）
- public opinion

The Japanese word 世論 (よろん) means "public opinion," "popular opinion," or "the general view of the public." It refers to the collective attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments held by a large group of people, typically within a society or community, concerning a particular issue, topic, or matter. 世論 can encompass a wide range of opinions, from political views to social attitudes. It is often considered an important factor in decision-making, particularly in politics and governance, and is frequently tracked or measured through surveys, polls, and media analysis. The word implies that the opinion is widespread and not limited to a small group of individuals. It can also be understood as the aggregate of what the majority thinks or believes.

⚫︎世論調査の結果 Translation: The results of the public opinion poll. ⚫︎世論は政府の政策に強く反対している。 Translation: Public opinion strongly opposes the government's policies. ⚫︎新しい法律は世論の支持を得た。 Translation: The new law gained the support of public opinion.

世論 is used in formal and informal contexts to describe the prevailing opinions of the public. It is common in discussions about politics, social issues, and current events. When talking about 世論, it is important to remember that it represents a collective view, not necessarily the opinion of an individual. It often appears in news reports, academic discussions, and everyday conversations. You might use it when discussing a politician's popularity, the public's views on a specific policy, or the general attitude toward a social trend.

世論 is primarily written in kanji: 世論. The reading is よろん (yoron) in hiragana. There is no katakana version for this word. The okurigana (送りがな) doesn't change. While the related word 世 (よ - yo) can be used as a prefix to form other words related to society, the word itself is always written as above. The variations of 世論 are 世論, 世論が, 世論を, 世論に, etc. depending on the context.

⚫︎民意 (みんい - min'i): Public will, the will of the people. ⚫︎国民の声 (こくみんのこえ - kokumin no koe): The voice of the people. ⚫︎世間の評判 (せけんのひょうばん - seken no hyouban): Public reputation, common opinion. ⚫︎大衆の声 (たいしゅうのこえ - taishuu no koe): The voice of the masses.

There aren't direct antonyms for 世論, as it represents a collective viewpoint. However, you might consider words that represent individual opinions or minority viewpoints as contrasting ideas: ⚫︎少数意見 (しょうすういけん - shousuu iken): Minority opinion. ⚫︎個人的な意見 (こじんてきないけん - kojintekina iken): Personal opinion. ⚫︎個人の考え (こじんのかんがえ - kojin no kangae): Individual thought.

その事件に対する世論は、当初は犯人に同情的なものだった。 ・Translation: Public opinion regarding that incident was initially sympathetic to the criminal. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how 世論 can change or evolve over time, showing the initial public reaction.

政治家は世論を意識して発言内容を慎重に選んだ。 ・Translation: The politician carefully chose the content of their speech, being mindful of public opinion. ・Explanation: This example highlights how politicians often consider 世論 when making decisions or public statements, showing its influence.

The word 世論 is composed of two kanji: 世 (よ - yo), meaning "world," "society," or "generation," and 論 (ろん - ron), meaning "argument," "theory," or "discussion." Therefore, the etymological origin of 世論 is literally "world's argument" or "society's discussion," which has evolved to mean "public opinion."