(じゃくしょうこく)

じゃくしょうこく
noun
minor power; weak nation
1. minor power; weak nation; small and weak country
A country with little military, economic, or political strength, easily swayed by larger powers. Contrasted with great powers.
弱小国(じゃくしょうこく)大国(たいこく)影響(えいきょう)()けやすい。
Minor powers are easily influenced by great powers.
かつての弱小国(じゃくしょうこく)経済大国(けいざいたいこく)成長(せいちょう)した。
A former minor power grew into an economic powerhouse.
国際(こくさい)社会(しゃかい)では、弱小国(じゃくしょうこく)(こえ)(とど)きにくいことがある。
In the international community, the voices of minor powers can be hard to get heard.

A nation lacking power on the world stage. The element 弱小(じゃくしょう) (weak and small) also appears in everyday words like 弱小(じゃくしょう)チーム (a weak team).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 弱小国(じゃくしょうこく)(あつか)い: being treated as a minor power
  • 弱小国(じゃくしょうこく)立場(たちば): the position of a minor power

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 大国(たいこく): great power — a major, influential nation, the opposite
  • 強国(きょうこく): strong nation — emphasizes military or economic strength