A senior government official ranking just below a minister; used in Japanese ministries and agencies.
He was appointed Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
A meeting at the vice-ministerial level was held.
He was appointed vice-minister of finance last month.
She served as vice-minister of foreign affairs for three years.
The prime minister appointed a new vice-minister.
大臣 is a full cabinet minister, while 次官 is the deputy who serves just below the minister, so learners often mix up their rank.
副大臣 is a political vice-minister appointment, whereas 次官 usually refers to the top career bureaucrat in a ministry, and the two titles are easily confused.
次長 is a deputy manager in a company or general government division, while 次官 is specifically the title for a vice-minister in a government ministry.
次官 is the vice-minister, the deputy just below a 大臣 or 長官, so learners often mix up the two ranks.
Compound of 次 (next, second) and 官 (government official), literally 'second official'.