国会（こっかい、koっkai）
- National Diet

The Japanese word 国会 国会 refers to the National Diet, which is Japan's legislature. It is the legislative branch of the Japanese government, responsible for making laws. Think of it as similar to the Congress in the United States or the Parliament in the United Kingdom. The 国会 is bicameral, meaning it consists of two houses: the House of Representatives (衆議院 - しゅうぎいん) and the House of Councillors (参議院 - さんぎいん). The primary function of the 国会 is to debate and pass laws, approve the national budget, and oversee the activities of the executive branch.

⚫︎ 国会で新しい法律が議論されました。 Translation: A new law was discussed in the Diet. ⚫︎ 国会は日本の最高権力機関です。 Translation: The Diet is the highest organ of state power in Japan. ⚫︎ 政治家は国会で国民のために働きます。 Translation: Politicians work for the people in the Diet.

You use 国会 国会 when discussing or referring to the Japanese legislative body, its proceedings, or its functions. It is used in formal and informal contexts. You might use it when talking about current events, government policies, or the political system.

The word 国会 is typically written with the kanji 国 (country, nation) and 会 (meeting, assembly). The reading is こっかい in hiragana. There is no other way to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎ 議会 (ぎかい) - Parliament, assembly (can be used more generally) ⚫︎ 立法府 (りっぽうふ) - The legislature (more formal)

There aren't direct antonyms, but you could consider other branches of government as contrasting concepts: ⚫︎ 行政 (ぎょうせい) - The executive branch ⚫︎ 司法 (しほう) - The judicial branch

新しい税法について、国会で激しい議論が行われました。 ・Translation: There was a heated debate in the Diet about the new tax law. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how 国会 is used in the context of lawmaking.

国会議員は国民の代表として、政策を決定します。 ・Translation: Diet members, as representatives of the people, make policy decisions. ・Explanation: This sentence explains the role of Diet members within the 国会.

The word 国会 is composed of two kanji: 国 meaning "country" or "nation," and 会 meaning "meeting" or "assembly." Therefore, 国会 literally means "national assembly" or "national meeting." This accurately reflects the function of the body, which is a meeting of representatives to conduct the affairs of the nation.