門 地(もんち)

もんち

noun

family status; pedigree; lineage

formallegalsociety

1. family status; pedigree; lineage

A person's social standing as determined by the family they were born into. Often refers to the distinction or prestige of one's family background.

門地(もんち)による差別(さべつ)は許(ゆる)されない。

Discrimination based on family status is not permitted.

日本国(にほんこく)憲法(けんぽう)は門地(もんち)による差別(さべつ)を禁止(きんし)している。

The Japanese Constitution prohibits discrimination based on family lineage.

昔(むかし)は門地(もんち)が高(たか)い家(いえ)に生(う)まれることが重要(じゅうよう)だった。

In the past, it was important to be born into a family of high pedigree.

Composed of 門(もん) (gate, family) + 地(ち) (status, ground). Literally "the ground on which the family gate stands," referring to the social standing inherited through birth.

Legal context

This word appears in Article 14 of the Japanese Constitution, which guarantees equality: 人種(じんしゅ)、信条(しんじょう)、性別(せいべつ)、社会的(しゃかいてき)身分(みぶん)又(また)は門地(もんち)により...差別(さべつ)されない ("shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, creed, sex, social status, or family origin").

Common collocations

門地(もんち)による差別(さべつ): discrimination based on lineage
門地(もんち)が高(たか)い: of high pedigree
門地(もんち)を問(と)わず: regardless of family background

Similar words

家柄(いえがら): family lineage, pedigree — more commonly used in everyday speech
身分(みぶん): social status, standing — broader than family background alone
血統(けっとう): bloodline, lineage — emphasizes genetic descent

Related Words

Compare: 家柄(いえがら) (family lineage, pedigree)

Compare: 身分(みぶん) (social status, standing)

Compare: 血統(けっとう) (bloodline, lineage)

general

Added 2026.4.23 23:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

25000/25205_monchi