大臣(だいじん)

大臣(だいじん) refers to a minister in the national government who heads a ministry and serves in the 内閣(ないかく) (Cabinet). It appears as a suffix after the ministry name.

Major cabinet positions

• 総理大臣(そうりだいじん) / 首相(しゅしょう): Prime Minister
• 外務(がいむ)大臣(だいじん): Foreign Minister
• 財務(ざいむ)大臣(だいじん): Finance Minister
• 防衛(ぼうえい)大臣(だいじん): Defense Minister
• 文部科学(もんぶかがく)大臣(だいじん): Education Minister

Common collocations

• 大臣(だいじん)に任命(にんめい)される: to be appointed as minister
• 大臣(だいじん)が辞任(じにん)する: a minister resigns
• 大臣(だいじん)経験者(けいけんしゃ): former minister

Related words

• 内閣(ないかく): the Cabinet
• 省(しょう): ministry (e.g., 外務(がいむ)省(しょう))
• 官房長官(かんぼうちょうかん): Chief Cabinet Secretary

Usage

In casual speech and media, ministers are often referred to by portfolio alone — e.g., 外務(がいむ)大臣(だいじん) or simply 外相(がいしょう) (abbreviated form).