Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
植民地 (shokuminchi) Japanese meaning: colony | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
The island was once a British colony.
Many countries became independent from colonial rule.
Usage patterns 〈 国くに 〉 を 植しょく 民みん 地ち にする to make <country> into a colony
Britain made India its colony.
植しょく 民みん 地ち に 移い 住じゅう する to immigrate to the (Japanese) settlement
Many Japanese immigrated to the settlement in Brazil.
植しょく 民みん 地ち から 独どく 立りつ する to gain independence from colonial rule
India gained independence from colonial rule in 1947.
植しょく 民みん 地ち として 統とう 治ち する to govern (a territory) as a colony
The island was once governed as a French colony.
Kanji 民 people, nation, subjects 殖 augment, increase, multiply Related words 属国 is a state that remains subordinate to a stronger power but may keep its own government, while 植民地 usually implies direct foreign settlement and administration.
コロニー is a loanword often used for colonies in scientific, space, or community contexts, whereas 植民地 is the standard term for historical or political colonies.
Opposites 独立国 is a sovereign nation that governs itself, the direct opposite of 植民地, a territory ruled by another country.
植民地 is the colony or vassal territory, the opposite counterpart to 本国 in its sense of 'suzerain/colonizing power'.
Don't confuse with 植民 refers to the act of colonizing or settling, while 植民地 refers to the resulting territory or settlement itself.
植民地 refers to a colony under full foreign sovereignty, whereas 租界 is a smaller leased enclave within a still-sovereign nation.
Written forms 植しょく 民みん 地ち
Standard and common spelling for both the general political-historical meaning and the Brazil-related community usage.
殖しょく 民みん 地ち
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji variant given; 植民地 is the normal modern spelling.
Etymology Sino-Japanese compound from 植民, 'colonization/settlement,' plus 地, 'land/place.' The spelling 植民地 is standard; 殖民地 is a rare variant using 殖, also associated with propagation or settlement.
しょく
民みん
地ち
主しゅ
義ぎ
