政府

• Reading: せいふ
• Romaji: seifu
• Kanji breakdown: 政 (sei) — politics, government; 府 (fu) — government office, urban prefecture
• Pronunciation: /seː.ɸɯ/

Meaning

Government; administration. The executive branch that manages state affairs.

A noun referring to the governing body of a country, particularly the cabinet and executive branch. In Japan, 政府 most commonly refers to the national government led by the prime minister. It appears frequently in news and political discussions.

Examples

1. 政府は新しい経済対策を発表した。 The government announced new economic measures.
2. 国民は政府の決定に注目している。 The public is paying close attention to the government's decision.
3. 政府から支援金が届くことになった。 Financial aid from the government is on the way.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, news, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 政 (politics, government) and 府 (urban prefecture, government office). Together they denote the seat of governmental power.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal