How to say "populace" in Japanese

• 民衆みんしゅうCommon
  no-adjectiveThe neutral, common word for the people or populace as a collective — ordinary people as opposed to rulers or elites. This is the default choice in political, social, and historical writing.
  あらゆる所ところの人々ひとびとが世界せかい平和へいわに尽つくす民衆みんしゅうの指導者しどうしゃを切望せつぼうしている。↗

  People everywhere yearn for public leaders dedicated to world peace.
• 俗流ぞくりゅう
  nounCovers the 'common run of men' sense with a dismissive tone — the vulgar crowd or worldly customs. Seldom the word you want for a neutral 'populace'; it suits only contemptuous references.
• 民草たみくさ
  nounAlso means the people or populace, but far less common than 民衆; a poetic word that pictures the people as grasses, found mainly in literary writing.
• 群俗ぐんぞく
  nounA much less common word for the masses or the people, with the flavor of the common herd; it can sound faintly dismissive, so it is seldom the neutral choice for 'populace'.

For the people as a neutral collective, 民衆 is the usual choice; 民草 is a poetic alternative, while 俗流 and 群俗 are much less common and dismissive, fitting only contemptuous references to the common herd.

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

• 民衆みんしゅうpeople
• 俗流ぞくりゅうpopulace
• 民草たみくさpeople
• 群俗ぐんぞくthe masses