A somewhat formal or literary term for ordinary citizens, often used in historical or official contexts. Not an everyday word for 'people'.
Listening to the voices of the common people is the foundation of politics.
He lived out his life as an ordinary citizen.
The phrase 市井の臣 literally means 'retainer of the marketplace', combining 市井 (marketplace/town) and 臣 (retainer/subject). It historically referred to commoners who were not in official service, contrasting with courtiers or samurai. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is now used in formal or literary contexts.