Sociological term referring to the segment of society with low income, education, or social status. Often used in discussions of social stratification and inequality.
The expansion of the lower classes has become a social issue.
Refers to the upper classes or high society, the opposite end of the social spectrum.
Refers to the middle classes, positioned between 上流社会 and 下流社会.
Compound of 下流 (karyū, 'downstream; lower class') and 社会 (shakai, 'society'). The term gained popularity in sociological discourse in the early 2000s.