官僚

かんりょう

bureaucrat, bureaucracy

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Understanding 官僚 (guānliáo)

官僚 refers to government officials or bureaucrats who work within administrative systems. It often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on context, especially when discussing inefficiency or rigidity.

Usage in Conversation

When you use 官僚, you are typically talking about people who hold official positions in government agencies or administrative bodies. It can describe individuals or the bureaucratic system as a whole.

Common Collocations

  • 官僚体系 (guānliáo tǐxì): bureaucratic system, often discussed in political or social critiques.
  • 官僚文化 (guānliáo wénhuà): bureaucratic culture, referring to the attitudes and behaviors typical of bureaucrats.
  • 官僚主义 (guānliáo zhǔyì): bureaucratism or bureaucracy as a problematic system.

Nuances and Tips

官僚 is often used in formal or semi-formal contexts, including news reports, academic discussions, and political commentary. It can imply criticism when highlighting inefficiency or lack of innovation. Avoid confusing it with 官员 (guānyuán), which more generally means government official without the bureaucratic nuance.

Understanding 官僚 helps learners discuss government, politics, and social issues with more precision.

Example Sentences

He is an experienced bureaucrat, familiar with government operations.

The bureaucratic system is often criticized for inefficiency and lack of

Young people feel tired of bureaucratic culture and desire more transparency