内閣

• Reading: ないかく
• Romaji: naikaku
• Kanji breakdown: 内 (nai) — inside, inner; 閣 (kaku) — tower, pavilion, cabinet
• Pronunciation: /nai.ka.kɯ/

Meaning

The cabinet of a government; the group of ministers who lead executive departments.

A political noun referring to the executive branch of government headed by the prime minister (内閣総理大臣). Common collocations include 内閣改造 (cabinet reshuffle), 内閣総辞職 (mass cabinet resignation), and 内閣支持率 (cabinet approval rating). Essential vocabulary for understanding Japanese news and politics.

Examples

1. 新しい内閣が発足し、記者会見が開かれた。 A new cabinet was formed, and a press conference was held.
2. 内閣支持率が先月に比べて大きく下がった。 The cabinet's approval rating dropped significantly compared to last month.
3. 総理大臣は来週、内閣改造を行う方針だ。 The prime minister plans to carry out a cabinet reshuffle next week.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, news, government, current affairs

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From 内 (nai, inner) + 閣 (kaku, tower/pavilion). Originally referred to the inner chambers of a palace where rulers deliberated, later adopted as a political term for the governing cabinet.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal