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

CONTEXT:
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
general
Added 2026.5.1 23:10
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