公用語(こうようご)

こうようご
noun
official language
1. official language
A language designated for use in government, law, and official business of a country or region. A country may have one or multiple official languages.
英語(えいご)は公用語(こうようご)の一(ひと)つだ。
English is one of the official languages.
この国(くに)には公用語(こうようご)が四(よっ)つある。
This country has four official languages.
国連(こくれん)の公用語(こうようご)は英語(えいご)、仏語(ふつご)、中国語(ちゅうごくご)など六(ろく)つある。
The United Nations has six official languages, including English, French, and Chinese.

Japan has no legally designated 公用語(こうようご) — Japanese is the de facto national language but is not formally codified as the official language in the constitution.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 公用語(こうようご)に指定(してい)する (designate as an official language)
  • 公用語(こうようご)として使(つか)われる (be used as an official language)

DISTINCTIONS:

  • 公用語(こうようご): official language (legally designated for government use)
  • 国語(こくご): national language (the language of a nation, also the school subject)
  • 母語(ぼご): mother tongue, native language
general
Added 2026.2.18 5:21
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