国立(こくりつ)

国立(こくりつ) is a prefix-like noun meaning 'national' or 'state-run,' indicating that an institution is established and funded by the central government.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

• 国立(こくりつ)大学(だいがく): national university
• 国立(こくりつ)公園(こうえん): national park
• 国立(こくりつ)博物館(はくぶつかん): national museum
• 国立(こくりつ)病院(びょういん): national hospital
• 国立(こくりつ)競技場(きょうぎじょう): national stadium

CONTRAST:

• 私立(しりつ): private (funded by non-government entities)
• 公立(こうりつ): public, municipal (run by local government)
• 県立(けんりつ): prefectural (run by a prefecture)
• 市立(しりつ): municipal (run by a city)

Note: 私立(しりつ) and 市立(しりつ) are homophones. In speech, 私立(しりつ) is sometimes pronounced わたくしりつ to avoid ambiguity.