中産階級

• Reading: ちゅうさんかいきゅう
• Romaji: chuusankaikyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 中 (chū) — middle; 産 (san) — produce, property; 階 (kai) — level, storey; 級 (kyū) — class, rank
• Pronunciation: /tɕɯː.saɴ.ka.i.kjɯː/

Meaning

Middle class; bourgeoisie. The social class between the wealthy and the working class.

A noun functioning as a no-adjective, referring to the socioeconomic group between the upper and working classes. Used in sociology, economics, and general discussion of social structure. In Japan, the concept is closely tied to the post-war '一億総中流' (ichioku sōchūryū, the idea that 100 million Japanese are middle class). Often appears in academic or analytical contexts. Related terms include 上流階級 (upper class) and 労働者階級 (working class).

Examples

1. 戦後の日本では中産階級が急速に拡大した。 In post-war Japan, the middle class expanded rapidly.
2. 中産階級の家庭に育ったので経済的に苦労したことはない。 Growing up in a middle-class family, I never had to worry about money.
3. 中産階級の消費行動が経済を支えている。 Middle-class spending behavior supports the economy.

Usage Guide

Context: sociology, economics, politics, history

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 中 (chū, middle) + 産 (san, produce/property) + 階 (kai, level/floor) + 級 (kyū, class/rank). A formal sociological term literally meaning 'middle-property class,' paralleling Western concepts of the bourgeoisie.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal