司法

• Reading: しほう
• Romaji: shihou
• Kanji breakdown: 司 (shi) — administer, manage, official; 法 (hou) — law, method
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.hoː/

Meaning

Judiciary; administration of justice. The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying laws.

A formal noun referring to the judicial branch and legal system. Part of the 三権分立 (separation of powers) alongside 立法 (legislative) and 行政 (executive). Common compounds include 司法試験 (bar examination) and 司法権 (judicial power). Frequently appears in news and legal contexts.

Examples

1. 司法試験に合格するために毎日勉強している。 I study every day to pass the bar exam.
2. 司法の独立は民主主義の基盤だ。 Judicial independence is the foundation of democracy.
3. 司法制度の改革が議論されている。 Reform of the judicial system is being debated.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, politics, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 司 (shi, administer/manage) + 法 (hou, law). Literally 'administering the law,' a term with roots in classical Chinese governance terminology.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal