候補

• Reading: こうほ
• Romaji: kouho
• Kanji breakdown: 候 (kou) — climate, wait; 補 (ho) — supplement, assist
• Pronunciation: /koː.ho/

Meaning

Candidacy; candidate; nominee. A person or thing being considered for selection.

A noun used in political, professional, and everyday selection contexts. Common compounds include 候補者 (kouhosha, candidate/person), 候補地 (kouhochi, candidate location), and 立候補 (rikkouho, running for office). Also used casually when choosing among options, like restaurants or travel destinations.

Examples

1. 次の社長の候補は三人いるらしい。 Apparently there are three candidates for the next company president.
2. 旅行先の候補をいくつか挙げてみた。 I listed a few candidate destinations for the trip.
3. 彼は市長選に立候補することを決めた。 He decided to run for mayor.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, business, decision-making

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 候 (climate, season, wait) and 補 (supplement, assist). Originally related to waiting and being prepared, the meaning evolved to describe someone put forward and waiting for selection.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal