The Meaning of dokuritsu [独立] In Japanese

独立
どくりつ
Romaji: dokuritsu N3

What does 独立 mean?

Translation and Meaning

independence, autonomy, self-reliance

Definition

独立 means the state or condition of being independent or self-governing. It covers political independence as well as personal or organizational autonomy, emphasizing the capacity to operate without reliance on others.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Political independence or sovereignty of a country or region
  • Autonomy or self-governance within an organization or group
  • Independent operation or self-contained status of a unit or component

Etymology

Kanji etymology 独 denotes being alone or solitary and 立 means to stand; together they express the idea of standing on one’s own. The compound uses the on’yomi readings in this form, yielding どくりつ (dokuritsu).

Origin

The term emerged in modern Japanese with Meiji-era modernization, expanding usage in politics, education, and media to express political and personal independence.

Composition

  • 独: alone, single
  • 立: to stand
  • Combine to express standing alone or being self-sufficient

Usage

Used as a noun and with the suru-verb form 独立する to mean becoming independent; in formal writing it denotes political, organizational, or personal independence, while casual speech often uses 自立 for self-sufficiency; common patterns include 独立する, 独立した国, and 独立運動.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: visualize a person standing on their own two feet on a stage; the left radical of 独 suggests solitude, and 立 means to stand, together signaling independence; recall with the cue one-stand

Variations

  • 自立 (じりつ) — self-reliance
  • 自治 (じち) — self-government
  • 独立性 (どくりつせい) — the quality of being independent
  • 依存 (いぞん) — dependence
  • 従属 (じゅうぞく) — subordination

Example Phrases

  • 大学を卒業して、彼は独立を決意した。
    Daigaku o sotsugyō shite, kare wa dokuritsu o ketsui shita.
    After graduating from university, he decided to become independent.
    Lista:
    • 大学を (daigaku o) – university (object)
    • 卒業して (sotsugyō shite) – graduating
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 独立を (dokuritsu o) – independence (object)
    • 決意した (ketsui shita) – decided
    Core: 「独立」 is the noun for independence and is marked by を as the object of 決意する; 独立を決意する means to decide on independence.
独立