徴兵

• Reading: ちょうへい
• Romaji: chōhei
• Kanji breakdown: 徴 (chō) — levy, summon; 兵 (hei) — soldier, military
• Pronunciation: /tɕoːheː/

Meaning

Conscription; military draft. The compulsory enlistment of citizens into the armed forces.

A compound of 徴 (levy, summon) and 兵 (soldier, troops). Japan implemented compulsory military conscription from 1873 (Meiji era) until 1945, ending with defeat in World War II. Today the Self-Defence Forces are entirely volunteer-based, but debates about 徴兵制 (conscription system) resurface periodically in discussions of national security and defence policy reform.

Examples

1. 明治政府は近代国家建設のために徴兵制を導入した。 The Meiji government introduced conscription to build a modern state.
2. 徴兵を復活させるべきかどうかは国会でたびたび議論になる。 Whether conscription should be reinstated is a debate that repeatedly arises in the National Diet.
3. 徴兵された若者たちは故郷を離れ前線へと送られた。 The young men conscripted were sent away from their hometowns to the front lines.

Usage Guide

Context: history, military, politics, law

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 徴 (chō) — to summon, levy, collect, and 兵 (hei) — soldier, troops, military. The character 徴 also appears in 徴収 (collection of tax or fees), emphasising the compulsory nature of the act.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Shōwa

Generation: Adults

Social background: General