連邦
renpō[ɾẽ̞mpo̞ː]
The English word 'union' can be translated into Japanese as 連邦 (renpō) or 同盟.
Meaning: that which is united, something formed by a combination of parts or members (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 連邦 | renpō | [ɾẽ̞mpo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 同盟 | dōmei | [do̞ːme̞ː] (narrow) |
The term 'union' refers to something formed by a combination of parts or members. In a formal context, if you are specifically referring to a labor union, the term rōdō kumiai is used.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 連邦 literally refers to a federation or a union of multiple entities under a single central authority. The term 同盟 literally refers to an alliance or a pact between two or more parties.
Which one should you use?
連邦 is used for a political union of states or a federation, such as the Soviet Union or the United States. In contrast, 同盟 is used for a union or alliance between groups, such as a military alliance or a political league.
How do you pronounce it?
renpō
Did you know?
- While English uses 'union' for many things, using 同盟 to describe a romantic relationship would sound like you are describing a high-stakes military pact.
- When talking about 'labor unions', the word 組合 in 労働組合 literally means 'association' or 'guild', reflecting the historical roots of cooperatives in Japan.
- The term 同盟 is frequently seen in Japanese anime and video games to denote 'alliances' between powerful factions or kingdoms.
Examples in context
- ソビエト連邦は1991年に崩壊した。The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.This sentence shows the use of 連邦 regarding the Soviet Union.
- ソビエト連邦は25年前に崩壊した。The Soviet Union collapsed 25 years ago.Tatoeba #13231578 by atitarev, translation #5701998 by Hybrid
- ＵＳＳＲはソビエト社会主義共和国連邦を表しています。U.S.S.R. stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.This sentence explains that the acronym USSR stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics using 連邦.Tatoeba #234784 by mookeee, translation #72161 by CM
- 労働組合 (ろうどうくみあい)は働く人々の権益を守ります。The labor union protects the rights and interests of the workers.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Daito are discussing world geography during a break.
- 結衣 Yuiアメリカは連邦国家ですよね。Amerika wa renpō kokka desu yo ne.The United States is a federal union, right?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、50の州が集まっています。Hai, gojū no shū ga atsumatte imasu.Yes, it is made up of 50 states.
- 結衣 Yui連邦という仕組みは面白いですね。Renpō to iu shikumi wa omoshiroi desu ne.The system of a union is interesting.
- 大翔 Hiroto大翔もそう思います。Daito mo sō omoimasu.Daito thinks so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “union” translations and entries 連邦, 同盟, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
