国民健康保険
kokumin kenkō hoken
National health insurance in Japanese is 国民健康保険 (kokumin kenkō hoken).
国民健康保険 refers specifically to the insurance system typically for the self-employed or unemployed, which is distinct from the insurance provided through an employer known as 社会保険 (kōshai hoken).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of three parts: 国民 (kokumin) meaning 'national/citizen', 健康 (kenkō) meaning 'health' and 保険 (hoken) meaning 'insurance'.
Which one should you use?
国民健康保険 is the full, standard term, while 国保 is a common abbreviation used for the same concept.
How do you pronounce it?
kokumin kenkō hoken
Did you know?
- While 保険 (hoken) means 'insurance', it is also used in the phrase 保険をかける (hoken o kakeru), which can figuratively mean 'to play it safe' or 'to take precautions' in a non-financial context.
- Unlike some systems where insurance is a private contract, 国民健康保険 is managed at the municipal level, meaning your specific insurance card and rules can change if you move to a different city.
- The kanji 民 in 国民 refers to the 'people' or 'citizens', but in historical contexts, it specifically distinguished commoners from the nobility.
Examples in context
- 「国民健康保険に加入しましょう。」Let's enroll in national health insurance.
- 国民健康保険に加入しています。Kokumin kenkō hoken ni kanyū shite imasu.I am enrolled in the national health insurance.
- 国民健康保険の手続きが必要です。Kokumin kenkō hoken no tetsuzuki ga hitsuyō desu.Procedures for the national health insurance are necessary.
- 国民健康保険のカードを見せてください。Kokumin kenkō hoken no kādo o misete kudasai.Please show me your national health insurance card.
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking at home about administrative tasks.
- 結衣 Yui国民健康保険の手続き、終わった？Kokumin kenkō hoken no tetsuzuki, owatta?Did you finish the national health insurance procedures?
- 蓮 Renうん、さっき役所で済ませてきたよ。Un, sakki yakusho de sumasete kita yo.Yeah, I just finished it at the city hall.
- 結衣 Yuiよかった、蓮くんは早いね。Yokatta, Ren-kun wa hayai ne.That's good, you are quick, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren忘れないうちにやっておきたかったんだ。Wasurenai uchi ni yatte okitakatta n da.I wanted to do it before I forgot.
