Nuances of using 政党 vs 党


I know 党 on its own can be a suffix, but it can also be used on its own.

What is the difference between using 政党 and 党? Is one more formal than the
other?

For example (using Goo examples): 党の方針 vs 政党の方針

党中に党を立てる vs 政党中に政党を立てる




To some extent, yes, 政党 is more formal and 党 _could_ be just a group. So
政党中に政党を立てる sounds less natural or just impossible while 党中に党を立てる could be used
when there are sects in a party.

That said, 党 is mostly used when it refers to a specific party - in this
sense, it more often traslates to _the party_. For example, 党の方針に従う is more
natural than 政党の方針に従う because the party whose policy the subject follows must
be clear from the context.

In contrast, 政党 refers to _a generic party_.

  * それは党の方針として不適切だ
  * それは政党の方針として不適切だ

The former sounds _inappropriate as a policy of the party (e.g., because it
does not match what the party has advocated)_ ; The latter is more simply _it
is inappropriate as a policy of any party (e.g., because it is morally
unacceptable)._

* * *

This is similar for (one aspect of) the differences between 会社 and 社: 社の者
means _a member of the company_ whereas 会社の者 is not equally idiomatic.




To some extent, yes, 政党 is more formal and 党 _could_ be just a group. So
政党中に政党を立てる sounds less natural or just impossible while 党中に党を立てる could be used
when there are sects in a party.

That said, 党 is mostly used when it refers to a specific party - in this
sense, it more often traslates to _the party_. For example, 党の方針に従う is more
natural than 政党の方針に従う because the party whose policy the subject follows must
be clear from the context.

In contrast, 政党 refers to _a generic party_.

  * それは党の方針として不適切だ
  * それは政党の方針として不適切だ

The former sounds _inappropriate as a policy of the party (e.g., because it
does not match what the party has advocated)_ ; The latter is more simply _it
is inappropriate as a policy of any party (e.g., because it is morally
unacceptable)._

* * *

This is similar for (one aspect of) the differences between 会社 and 社: 社の者
means _a member of the company_ whereas 会社の者 is not equally idiomatic.

