How to Say "Eunuch" in Japanese

宦官

kangan

The English word eunuch is translated into Japanese as 宦官 (kangan).

The term is used to refer to a castrated man.

Meaning: castrated man (noun)

Which one should you use?

宦官 and 閹人 are both formal ways to refer to a eunuch in Japanese.

kangan

The term 宦官 is frequently used in Japanese historical dramas to evoke a specific atmosphere of palace intrigue and secrecy, often acting as a shorthand for 'spy' or 'manipulator'.
The concept of a 宦官 in Japanese history is inextricably linked to the influence of Chinese court systems, as Japan adopted the terminology and the concept of imperial eunuchs from the mainland.
The kanji for 宦官 contains the character for 'official' or 'servant', reflecting the historical reality that eunuchs in East Asian courts held administrative power.

彼は閹人（えんじん）の役割を担っていました。
He played the role of a eunuch.
彼は物語の中で宦官として登場する。
Kare wa monogatari no naka de kan'gan to shite toujou suru.
He appears as a eunuch in the story.
その映画には宦官のキャラクターが出てくる。
Sono eiga ni wa kan'gan no kyarakutaa ga detekuru.
A eunuch character appears in that movie.

Two friends are discussing historical television dramas.

陽太 Yota

あのドラマには宦官がたくさん出てくるね。
Ano dorama ni wa kan'gan ga takusan detekuru ne.
There are many eunuchs in that drama, aren't there?
結衣 Yui

ええ、宮廷の様子がよくわかるわ。
Ee, kyuutei no yousu ga yoku wakaru wa.
Yes, it gives a good sense of how the court was.
陽太 Yota

宦官の役割は複雑そうだ。
Kan'gan no yakuwari wa fukuzatsu sou da.
The role of a eunuch seems complex.
結衣 Yui

歴史の知識が深まりそうね。
Rekishi no chishiki ga fukamari sou ne.
It seems like it will deepen one's historical knowledge.

Sources

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