共産主義

• Reading: きょうさんしゅぎ
• Romaji: kyousanshugi
• Kanji breakdown: 共 (kyō) — together; 産 (san) — produce; 主 (shu) — main, master; 義 (gi) — righteousness, meaning
• Pronunciation: /kjoː.saɴ.ɕɯ.gi/

Meaning

Communism. A political and economic ideology advocating collective ownership of production.

A noun referring to the political ideology of communism. Composed of 共産 (communal production) + 主義 (doctrine/-ism). Essential vocabulary for understanding modern history, politics, and international relations in Japanese. Often contrasted with 資本主義 (capitalism) and 民主主義 (democracy).

Examples

1. 共産主義の思想は19世紀のヨーロッパで広まった。 Communist ideology spread throughout 19th-century Europe.
2. 冷戦時代、共産主義と資本主義が対立していた。 During the Cold War, communism and capitalism were in opposition.
3. 彼は大学で共産主義の歴史を研究している。 He is researching the history of communism at the university.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, academia

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 共 (together, communal) + 産 (produce) + 主義 (doctrine, -ism). A translation of the Western concept of communism using Sino-Japanese elements.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal