投票

§ Understanding 投票 (とうひょう)

Let's learn about the Japanese word 投票 (とうひょう). This word is a noun and it's quite useful, especially when talking about elections or making choices as a group. Think of it like our English words "vote" or "ballot." It refers to the act of expressing your choice.

Japanese Word

投票 (とうひょう)

CEFR Level

B1

Definition

Vote; ballot. The act of expressing a choice in an election or decision-making process.

§ How to Use It in a Sentence

Since 投票 is a noun, you'll often see it used with verbs that express the action of voting. The most common verb you'll pair it with is する (suru), which turns it into a verb phrase: 投票する (touhyou suru) meaning "to vote."

Let's look at some common patterns and examples.

• 投票する (touhyou suru): To vote

  This is the most straightforward way to use 投票 when you want to say "to vote."

  選挙で投票しました。

  Senkyo de touhyou shimashita.
  I voted in the election.

  来週、新しいリーダーを選ぶために投票します。

  Raishuu, atarashii riidaa wo erabu tame ni touhyou shimasu.
  Next week, we will vote to choose a new leader.

• 投票に行く (touhyou ni iku): To go to vote

  If you want to express the act of physically going to a polling place to cast your vote, you can use 投票に行く.

  朝早く投票に行きました。

  Asa hayaku touhyou ni ikimashita.
  I went to vote early in the morning.

• 投票を呼びかける (touhyou wo yobikakeru): To call for votes / encourage voting

  When someone or a group is encouraging others to vote, this phrase is useful.

  彼は若者たちに投票を呼びかけました。

  Kare wa wakamono-tachi ni touhyou wo yobikakemashita.
  He called on young people to vote.

• 投票率 (touhyouritsu): Voter turnout

  This is a compound word that means the percentage of eligible voters who cast their ballots.

  今回の選挙は投票率が低かったです。

  Konkai no senkyo wa touhyouritsu ga hikukatta desu.
  The voter turnout for this election was low.

• 一票を投じる (ippyou wo toujiru): To cast a vote (literally, "to throw one vote")

  This is a more formal or emphatic way to say "to cast a vote." 一票 (ippyou) means "one vote."

  私は彼に一票を投じました。

  Watashi wa kare ni ippyou wo toujimashita.
  I cast my vote for him.

§ Important Grammar Notes

• With particles: As a noun, 投票 can take various particles depending on its role in the sentence.
• に (ni): Often indicates the destination or purpose, like in 投票に行く (to go to vote).
• を (wo): Marks the direct object, as in 投票を呼びかける (to call for votes).
• で (de): Indicates the place or means, such as 選挙で投票する (to vote in an election).
• Turning into a verb: Remember that adding する (suru) to 投票 makes it a verb meaning "to vote." This is a common pattern in Japanese for many nouns that represent actions.

Keep practicing these examples, and you'll get comfortable using 投票 in no time. It's a key word for discussing civic participation in Japanese!

§ Elections and Politics

The most common place you'll hear or use 投票 (tōhyō) is in discussions about elections, whether local or national. It's the standard term for 'vote' or 'ballot' in a political context.

DEFINITION

The act of expressing a choice in an election.

Translation hint: "Are you going to vote in the next election?"

Translation hint: "Many people are concerned about the low youth voter turnout."

§ Work and School Settings

Beyond national elections, 投票 is used for any situation where a group makes a decision by casting votes. This happens frequently in workplace and school environments.

For example, if a team needs to decide on a project leader or a school club needs to pick its next president, they might use 投票.

Translation hint: "A vote was held on the new proposal at the meeting."

Translation hint: "A secret ballot was held to choose the class representative."

§ Everyday Media and News

When you're consuming Japanese news or media, especially around election times, you'll hear 投票 constantly. It's a basic vocabulary word for understanding political discourse.

• News reports about election results.
• Discussions on political talk shows.
• Articles analyzing voter behavior.

Translation hint: "Vote counting has begun, and the results of the vote are awaited."

Translation hint: "Today's news reported on the local election voting situation."

§ Understanding 投票 (tōhyō)

The Japanese word 投票 (tōhyō) is a noun that means 'vote' or 'ballot.' It specifically refers to the act of expressing a choice in an election or a similar formal decision-making process. Think of it as the physical act of casting a vote, or the collective term for the votes cast.

Japanese Word

投票 (tōhyō)

Meaning

Vote; ballot. The act of expressing a choice in an election.

CEFR Level

B1

§ Common Uses of 投票 (tōhyō)

You'll often encounter 投票 (tōhyō) in contexts related to elections, referendums, or any situation where a formal choice is made by casting a ballot. It can refer to the act itself, the number of votes, or the ballot papers.

Translation hint: I went to vote in the presidential election.

Translation hint: The voter turnout this time was very high.

§ Similar Words and When to Use 投票 (tōhyō) vs. Alternatives

While 投票 (tōhyō) is quite specific, there are other Japanese words that might seem similar but are used in different contexts. Understanding these differences will help you choose the correct word.

• 投票 (tōhyō): This is your go-to word for formal voting, especially in elections, referendums, or when talking about official ballots. It carries a sense of formality and a structured process.

Translation hint: The voting for the mayoral election has begun.

• 選ぶ (erabu): This is a verb meaning 'to choose,' 'to select,' or 'to elect.' It's a more general term for making a choice, whether it's for an item in a store, a career path, or a person for a role. It doesn't necessarily involve a formal ballot.

Translation hint: Which clothes will you choose?

• 決定 (kettei): This noun means 'decision' or 'determination.' It refers to the outcome of a choice or the act of making a firm decision. While a vote might lead to a 決定, 決定 itself isn't the act of voting.

Translation hint: The final decision will be made next week.

• 意見 (iken): This noun means 'opinion' or 'view.' While you might express your 意見 when you 投票, 意見 itself is just your personal thought, not the formal act of casting a ballot.

Translation hint: I want to hear their opinions.

§ Putting it all together

To recap, 投票 (tōhyō) is crucial for discussing elections and formal voting processes. It's distinct from general choosing (選ぶ) or making a decision (決定). Keep these nuances in mind, and you'll be able to express yourself more precisely in Japanese.