国 務 大 臣(こくむだいじん)

こくむだいじん

noun

minister of state; cabinet minister

1. minister of state; cabinet minister

A member of the Japanese Cabinet who serves as head of a ministry or holds a special portfolio. Appointed by the Prime Minister and collectively responsible for government policy.

新(あたら)しい国務大臣(こくむだいじん)が任命(にんめい)された。

A new minister of state was appointed.

国務大臣(こくむだいじん)は国会(こっかい)で答弁(とうべん)する義務(ぎむ)がある。

Ministers of state have an obligation to respond in the Diet.

憲法(けんぽう)によると、国務大臣(こくむだいじん)の過半数(かはんすう)は国会議員(こっかいぎいん)でなければならない。

According to the constitution, a majority of ministers of state must be members of the Diet.

The formal constitutional term for members of the Japanese Cabinet (内閣(ないかく)). Under Article 68 of the Japanese Constitution, the Prime Minister appoints 国務大臣, and a majority must be chosen from among members of the Diet. The maximum number of ministers is set by law (currently 17, or 20 in special circumstances).

Common collocations

国務大臣(こくむだいじん)を任命(にんめい)する: to appoint a minister of state
国務大臣(こくむだいじん)を罷免(ひめん)する: to dismiss a minister of state
国務大臣(こくむだいじん)の辞任(じにん): resignation of a minister of state
国務大臣(こくむだいじん)が答弁(とうべん)する: a minister responds in the Diet

Usage

In everyday news reporting, the shorter term 大臣(だいじん) or the specific portfolio title (e.g., 外務大臣(がいむだいじん), 財務大臣(ざいむだいじん)) is used more often than the formal 国務大臣.

Similar words

大臣(だいじん): minister — shorter, more common form used in general speech
閣僚(かくりょう): cabinet member — collective term for all cabinet members
首相(しゅしょう): prime minister — the head of the cabinet

Related Words

Compare: 閣僚(かくりょう) (cabinet member)

Compare: 首相(しゅしょう) (prime minister)

general

Added 2026.5.1 23:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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