内戦

• Reading: ないせん
• Romaji: naisen
• Kanji breakdown: 内 (nai) — inside, domestic, internal; 戦 (sen) — war, battle, fight
• Pronunciation: /nai.seɴ/

Meaning

Civil war. Armed conflict within a single country between opposing factions or regions.

A noun referring to armed conflict within a single country between opposing factions. Distinguished from 戦争 (sensou, war between nations) by the 内 (nai, internal) prefix. Often appears in news and history contexts discussing countries experiencing domestic armed conflict.

Examples

1. 内戦が終わり、国の復興が始まった。 After the civil war ended, the country began to rebuild.
2. 長い内戦で多くの市民が犠牲になった。 Many civilians lost their lives in the prolonged civil war.
3. 内戦を避けるために和平交渉が行われた。 Peace negotiations were held to prevent civil war.

Usage Guide

Context: news, history, international relations

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 内 (nai, inside/domestic) + 戦 (sen, war/battle). Literally 'internal war' — armed conflict contained within a nation's borders.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal