1.
person from a particular prefecture; native of a prefecture
Someone who comes from or is associated with a specific prefecture. Often used with a prefecture name as a prefix to identify regional origin, especially in contexts of regional identity and community.
県人会に参加した。
I attended the prefectural association meeting.
同じ県人だと分かると親近感がわく。
When you find out someone is from the same prefecture, you feel a sense of closeness.
東京には各地の県人会があり、故郷を離れた県人たちの交流の場となっている。
Tokyo has prefectural associations from all over the country, serving as gathering places for people from each prefecture who have left home.
Compound of 県 ('prefecture') and 人 ('person'). Used to express regional identity and affiliation — a significant concept in Japanese society where people maintain strong ties to their home prefecture.
USAGE:
- Most commonly appears in the compound 県人会 ('prefectural association') — social organizations in major cities where people from the same prefecture meet regularly. These are especially active in Tokyo.
- Can be prefixed with a specific prefecture: 秋田県人 ('a person from Akita Prefecture').
- Reflects the strong regional identity in Japan — hometown (故郷) and prefectural origin are common topics in self-introduction and social bonding.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 県人会: prefectural association
- 同じ県人: person from the same prefecture
- 在京県人会: Tokyo-based prefectural association
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 同郷: from the same hometown — emphasizes shared origin between two or more people
- 出身者: person from (a place) — a more general term for someone's place of origin
- 県民: prefectural resident — a current resident of the prefecture, whereas 県人 emphasizes origin
- 同県: the same prefecture — used as a modifier to indicate shared prefectural origin