How to say "aristocracy" in Japanese

• 貴族きぞくJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers nobility and aristocracy in the everyday sense: people of noble rank in any country or era. This is usually the word you want when referring to aristocrats themselves.
  彼かれは貴族きぞくの出でである。↗

  He springs from a noble family.
• アリストクラシーCommon
  nounA loanword for aristocracy as a societal class, often used when discussing social structure or class systems as a concept rather than naming individual nobles.
• 華族かぞくCommon
  nounA historical term for Japan's own peerage system that existed from 1869 to 1947. Use it only for that institution; for other senses of 'aristocracy' it is not the word you want.

Use 貴族 for nobility or aristocrats generally, 「アリストクラシー」 for the societal class as a concept (often in discussions of society or politics), and 華族 only for Japan's 1869–1947 peerage.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 貴族きぞくnobility
• アリストクラシーaristocracy (societal class)
• 華族かぞくpeerage (in Japan; 1869-1947)
• 華冑かちゅうaristocracy
• 貴族政治きぞくせいじaristocracy
• 貴族制きぞくせいaristocracy system