Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

Word 772 of 2066

Save Sign in to track

政変

せいへん

coup, change of government

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. その国で政変が起きた。

    そのくにでせいへんがおきた。

    A coup took place in that country.

  2. 隣国で政変が起きた。

    りんごくでせいへんがおきた。

    A coup took place in the neighboring country.

  3. 政変のあと、経済は長く混乱した。

    せいへんのあと、けいざいはながくこんらんした。

    After the change of government, the economy was in disarray for a long time.

  4. その地域では軍部による政変が何度も繰り返されてきた。

    そのちいきではぐんぶによるせいへんがなんどもくりかえされてきた。

    In that region, coups led by the military have been repeated again and again.

Common patterns

政変が起きる
for a coup to occur
無血政変
bloodless coup
政変を招く
to bring about a change of regime

Memory tip

変 here is an abrupt, irregular change, so 政変 covers any sudden turnover of power — a coup, but also a cabinet collapsing. A violent seizure of power specifically is クーデター; 政変 is broader and more literary.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 政変 mean?