官僚

• Reading: かんりょう
• Romaji: kanryou
• Kanji breakdown: 官 (kan) — government, official; 僚 (ryou) — colleague, official
• Pronunciation: /ka.n.ɾjo.ɯ/

Meaning

Bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy. A person who works in government administration.

A noun referring to government officials and the bureaucratic system. In Japan, 官僚 specifically refers to career civil servants who passed national examinations, especially those in powerful ministries. Often used with a somewhat negative connotation in phrases like 官僚的 (kanryouteki, bureaucratic) and 官僚主義 (kanryoushugi, bureaucratism).

Examples

1. 官僚が作った政策に批判が集まっている。 The software update has been completed.
2. 彼は大学卒業後、官僚になった。 The construction was completed on schedule.
3. 官僚的な手続きが多くて疲れる。 Please wait until all procedures are completed.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 官 (government, official) and 僚 (colleague, official). The combination describes a person serving in government, rooted in the Chinese imperial bureaucratic tradition.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal