(もんぶかがく)

もんぶかがく
noun
education and science (government portfolio)
formalpoliticseducation
1. education and science (government portfolio)
A combining form used in the names of Japan's education-and-science ministry and its minister: 文部科学省(もんぶかがくしょう) (MEXT) and 文部科学大臣(もんぶかがくだいじん) (Minister of Education). Almost never used alone.
文部科学省(もんぶかがくしょう)発表(はっぴょう)した
MEXT made the announcement.
文部科学大臣(もんぶかがくだいじん)記者会見(きしゃかいけん)(おこな)った
The Minister of Education held a press conference.
This scholarship is supported by the Ministry of Education.

A fixed combining element formed from 文部(もんぶ) (literary/educational affairs) + 科学(かがく) (science). It is not used on its own — only as a prefix in fixed ministry-related compounds.

Compounds

  • 文部科学省(もんぶかがくしょう): Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
  • 文部科学大臣(もんぶかがくだいじん): Minister of Education
  • 文部科学省告示(もんぶかがくしょうこくじ): MEXT public notice

Cultural note

Formed in 2001 when the former Ministry of Education (文部省(もんぶしょう)) merged with the Science and Technology Agency. The merged portfolio covers schools, universities, sports, culture, and science policy.