民主～
みんしゅ～ · minshu～ · JLPT N2 · noun
democratic
🗳️ 民 (min) = people + 主 (shu) = master: people as master, so democratic
民 means people and 主 means master or owner, the same 主 as in 主人 (shujin, owner). Democratic means the people are the master.
主 — flame/lamp on top of a stand 王
Originally a pictograph of a lamp with a flame on top of its stand, representing the lord or master of the household who tended the fire. The meaning extended from 'lamp/host' to 'master, owner, main, principal'. The character 炷 (wick) preserves the original 'lamp' sense.