How to say "nobility" in Japanese

• 貴族きぞくJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe general word for the nobility or aristocracy as a social class, and for its members. Use this when 'nobility' refers to the class itself rather than a personal quality.
  彼かれは貴族きぞくの出でである。↗

  He springs from a noble family.
• 公家くげCommon
  nounA historical term for court nobles — the nobility connected with the imperial court. Choose it only when 'nobility' means this court aristocracy specifically, not the class in general.
• 品位ひんいCommon
  nounNot a social class at all: this word means dignity or grace, so it covers 'nobility' only in the sense of a dignified, graceful personal quality or manner.
  そのようなことをするのは彼かれの品位ひんいを落おとす。↗

  It is beneath him to do something like that.
• 華族かぞくCommon
  nounA historical term for the peerage that existed in Japan from 1869 to 1947. Use it only when 'nobility' refers to that specific institution, not to aristocracy in general.

For the social class, 貴族 is the general word, while 公家 and 華族 are historical terms for specific Japanese nobilities; for nobility as a personal quality of dignity, use 品位.

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

• 貴族きぞくnobility
• 公家くげcourt noble
• 品位ひんいdignity
• 華族かぞくpeerage (in Japan; 1869-1947)
• 華冑かちゅうaristocracy
• 貴族階級きぞくかいきゅうnoble class