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伴食大臣 (banshokudaijin) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

伴ばん食しょく大だい臣じん

ば

ん

しょ

く

だ

い

じ

ん

Meanings

1

figurehead minister; titular minister

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)›

A yojijukugo referring to a minister who holds a title but lacks real power or influence, often used in political commentary.

彼かれは伴ばん食しょく大だい臣じんに過すぎず、

実じっ

権けん

は

全まった

く

なかっ

た

。

He was nothing more than a figurehead minister, with no real power at all.

その内ない閣かくでは伴ばん食しょく大だい臣じんが何なん人にんもいたと言いわれている。

It is said that there were several titular ministers in that cabinet.

Kanji

伴consort, accompany, bring with
食eat, food
大large, big
臣retainer, subject

Related words

名めい誉よ職しょく
名誉職 is a broader term for an honorary position, while 伴食大臣 specifically refers to a powerless minister in a political context.
お飾かざり
お飾り is a more casual, figurative expression for a figurehead, not limited to political roles.

Built from

伴ばん食しょく+大だい臣じん

Etymology

The term is a yojijukugo combining 伴 (accompany), 食 (eat), 大臣 (minister), literally 'a minister who merely accompanies meals,' implying a minister who is present but contributes nothing of substance. The exact historical origin is uncertain.