Meaning and Usage
The word 議員 (ぎいん) refers to an elected member of a legislative body such as the Diet (国会), parliament, or congress. It is a formal term used in political contexts to describe individuals who hold office as representatives of the people.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 議員 used when discussing politics, government decisions, or elections. For example, 議員会館 (ぎいんかいかん) refers to the parliament members' office building.
Collocations and Patterns
- 議員に選ばれる: to be elected as a member of parliament
- 議員活動: parliamentary activities or duties
- 議員報酬: remuneration or salary for members of parliament
Register and Nuance
This word is formal and typically used in news, official documents, and political discussions. It is not used for informal or casual references to politicians.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 議員 with 政治家 (せいじか), which means 'politician' more generally. 議員 specifically means a member of a legislative assembly, while 政治家 can refer to any political figure, including ministers or party leaders.