士族階級(しぞくかいきゅう)

しぞくかいきゅう
noun
the samurai class; the shizoku class
history
1. the samurai class; the former-warrior (shizoku) class
The social class made up of former samurai families, an official category designated in the Meiji era after feudal warrior status was abolished.
彼(かれ)は士族階級(しぞくかいきゅう)の出身(しゅっしん)だ。
He comes from the samurai class.
明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)に士族階級(しぞくかいきゅう)の特権(とっけん)は失(うしな)われた。
In the Meiji era, the privileges of the samurai class were lost.
士族階級(しぞくかいきゅう)の多(おお)くは、職(しょく)を失(うしな)って生活(せいかつ)に苦(くる)しんだ。
Many of the former samurai class lost their positions and struggled to make a living.

Composed of 士族(しぞく) ('former-samurai family class') + 階級(かいきゅう) ('class, rank'). 士族(しぞく) was an official social category created in the Meiji period for ex-samurai households.

Etymology

After the feudal system was dismantled, samurai lost their stipends and privileges. The phrase 士族(しぞく)の商法(しょうほう) ('samurai's way of doing business') mocks their often-unsuccessful ventures into commerce.

Related words

  • 華族(かぞく): the peerage/nobility class of the same era
  • 平民(へいみん): commoners
general
Added 2026.7.19 9:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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