省
government ministry, conserve, omit
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- かえり.みる
- はぶ.く
Nanori
- さとし
- み
Meaning
省 centers on reducing or streamlining: conserving resources, omitting unnecessary parts, or a government ministry that oversees efficient administration.
Most common words using 省
24 of 172- 反省はんせいN3
reflection; reconsideration; introspection; meditation; contemplation
- 省略しょうりゃくN3
omission; leaving out
- 労働省ろうどうしょう
Ministry of Labour (now Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
- 外務省がいむしょうN2
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 帰省きせいN2
homecoming; returning home
- 省庁しょうちょう
ministries and government offices; the authorities
- 省くはぶくN3
to omit; to leave out; to exclude; to eliminate
- 法務省ほうむしょう
Ministry of Justice
- 国務省こくむしょう
Department of State (US); State Department
- 省令しょうれい
ministerial ordinance
- 同省どうしょう
the said ministry; the same ministry
- 省みるかえりみるN1
to reflect on (oneself, past conduct, etc.); to contemplate; to examine; to think over; to introspect
- 厚生省こうせいしょう
(former) Ministry of Health and Welfare
- 内省ないせい
introspection; reflection on one's self
- 文部省もんぶしょう
Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (1871-2001)
- 省エネルギーしょうエネルギー
energy conservation; economical use of energy; energy-saving
- 大蔵省おおくらしょうN1
Ministry of Finance (1869-2001)
- 省力しょうりょく
labor saving; reduction of labor
- 運輸省うんゆしょう
Ministry of Transport
- 自省じせい
self-examination; reflection
- 本省ほんしょう
ministry proper; home office; head office
- 通産省つうさんしょう
Ministry of International Trade and Industry (1949-2001); MITI
- 建設省けんせつしょう
Ministry of Construction
- 三省さんせい
frequent reflection; frequent meditation
Study
Etymology
省 combines 少 (few, little) with 目 (eye), suggesting inspecting with a discerning eye to reduce or omit. The government ministry sense likely developed from the idea of oversight and streamlining.
Meaning mnemonic
With a sharp eye (目) you spot what is few (少) or unnecessary, so you conserve and omit. A government ministry does the same: it oversees and cuts waste.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a ministry official saying 'Save it!' (セイ) while cutting a budget: 'Say' -> セイ, and the eye (目) spots the savings.