民衆|みんしゅうminshuu[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectivepeople; populace; masses
   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.

• Synonym大衆たいしゅうNeutralThe masses or general public, as in 「大衆食堂」 and 「大衆運動」; 「民衆」 refers to ordinary people in society.
• Synonym庶民しょみんNeutralEveryday commoners, as in 「庶民の味」, with a warm, familiar feel; 「民衆」 stresses the crowd as a whole.
• Synonym人民じんみんWrittenThe same archaic word as 「大御宝」 above—the people under the emperor; no longer used, say 「民衆」 or 「庶民」 for ordinary people.
• Synonym衆庶しゅうしょWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare; the common masses. In everyday speech use 「庶民」 or 「民衆」.
• Synonym一般大衆いっぱんたいしゅうNeutralThe general public at large, as in 「一般大衆向け」; stresses being ordinary and average more than 「民衆」 does.
• Related国民こくみんNeutralThe people of a country as nationality holders, as in 「国民の義務」; 「民衆」 disregards nationality and means ordinary people generally.
• Related人々ひとびとNeutralPeople in general, the broadest of these words, as in 「多くの人々」; 「民衆」 focuses on ordinary people in society.
• Related世間せけんNeutralSociety at large or public opinion, as in 「世間体」; 「民衆」 refers to the people themselves.
• Related衆人しゅうじんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a crowd of people, as in 「衆人環視」; 「民衆」 focuses on ordinary people in society.
• Related下々しもじもNeutralThe lower classes or common folk, said with a condescending, looking-down tone; 「民衆」 carries no such tone.
• Related世人せじんWrittenWritten/formal prose for the people of the world; 「民衆」 focuses on ordinary common people.
• Related俗間ぞっかんWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare; the secular, everyday world. 「民衆」 refers to ordinary people themselves.
• Related俗衆ぞくしゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose for ordinary worldly folk, with a slightly derogatory shade; 「民衆」 is not derogatory.
• Related常民じょうみんWrittenA folklore-studies term for ordinary people, as in 「常民文化」; 「民衆」 has wider everyday use.
• Related大御宝おおみたからWrittenAn archaic word for the people as subjects of the emperor, with an old imperial flavor; rare today—use 「民衆」 for ordinary people.
• Related士庶ししょWrittenWritten/formal prose for warriors and commoners together; 「民衆」 covers ordinary people in general.
• Antonym為政者いせいしゃWrittenWritten/formal prose for those who hold political power, opposed to 「民衆」 as governor versus governed.
• Antonym支配者しはいしゃNeutralRulers, opposed to 「民衆」 as ruler versus ruled.
• Antonym権力者けんりょくしゃNeutralPowerful, influential figures, opposed to 「民衆」 as those with power versus those without.

Use 「民衆」 for ordinary people in society, as in 「民衆の声」 or 「民衆蜂起」. For the broad masses say 「大衆」, for everyday commoners 「庶民」, and for people as nationality holders 「国民」. 「人々」 is the broadest word for people, and most of the written terms are rare or archaic. The opposites are 「為政者」 and 「支配者」.

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

1. 国家こっかや社会しゃかいを構成こうせいしている世間せけん一般いっぱんの、ごく普通ふつうの人々ひとびと。