Meaning and Usage
"委員" refers to a member of a committee or a group assigned specific duties, often in schools, companies, or organizations. It is a common noun used in formal and semi-formal contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often see "委員" used in school settings (e.g., cultural festival committees), workplace committees, or community groups. It implies responsibility and participation in decision-making or event organization.
Collocations and Patterns
- 委員会 (いいんかい): committee; the group or body itself.
- 委員長 (いいんちょう): committee chairperson; the leader of the committee.
- 委員に選ばれる (いいんにえらばれる): to be chosen as a committee member.
Register and Nuance
"委員" is neutral in politeness and can be used in both spoken and written Japanese. It conveys a sense of official role or duty.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "委員" with "員" (member) alone. "委員" specifically refers to committee members, while "員" is more general. Make sure to use "委員" when referring to someone assigned to a committee.