also: たみぐさ
the people; the populace
A somewhat literary or formal term for the common people, often used in historical or rhetorical contexts. Not an everyday word for 'people'.
Listening to the voice of the people is the foundation of politics.
The lives of the common people are described in detail in the history book.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading たみくさ is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common than たみくさ.
Compound of 民 (tami, 'people') and 草 (kusa, 'grass'), metaphorically likening the common people to grass. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the image is of the populace as numerous and humble, like blades of grass.