官かん軍ぐん

noun

government forces; loyalist army

Refers to the army of the ruling government, especially in historical contexts such as the Boshin War. Often contrasted with 賊軍 (rebel army). The proverb 勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍 (the winner becomes the government army, the loser the rebel army) illustrates the political nature of the term.

See also: 勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍 · 賊軍

• 戊ぼ辰しん戦せん争そうでは、官かん軍ぐんが賊ぞく軍ぐんを打うち破やぶった。

  In the Boshin War, the government forces defeated the rebel army.

• 勝かてば官かん軍ぐん、負まければ賊ぞく軍ぐんという言こと葉ばがある。

  There is a saying: 'If you win, you are the government army; if you lose, you are the rebel army.'