1.
the bureaucratic world; government circles; officialdom
The world of government officials and bureaucrats as a collective social sphere, including its culture, power dynamics, and career paths. Similar in pattern to other ~界 compounds that define professional or social spheres.
官界で出世する。
To rise through the ranks in government circles.
父は長年官界に身を置いていた。
My father spent many years in the bureaucratic world.
政界と官界の癒着が問題になっている。
The collusion between political and bureaucratic circles has become a problem.
Compound of 官 ('government; officialdom') and 界 ('world; sphere; circles'). Part of a productive pattern where 界 defines a professional or social world: 政界 ('political world'), 財界 ('business world'), 学界 ('academic world'), 芸能界 ('entertainment world').
USAGE:
- Used in news and commentary when discussing government bureaucracy as an institution — its internal culture, promotion patterns, and relationships with other power centers.
- Japan's 官界 is historically dominated by graduates of elite universities (especially 東京大学), a phenomenon related to 学閥 ('university-based cliques').
- Often appears alongside 政界 ('political world') and 財界 ('business world') in discussions of Japan's power structure.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 官界で出世する: to advance in government circles
- 政界と官界: political and bureaucratic worlds
- 官界に入る: to enter government service
- 官界の人脈: connections in bureaucratic circles
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 政界: political world — the sphere of elected politicians and party politics
- 財界: business world — the sphere of corporate leaders and economic power
- 学界: academic world — the sphere of scholars and universities
- 官僚: bureaucrat — an individual government official, especially a career civil servant