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A person who supports a person, group, or cause.
彼はその政治家の支持者です。
He is a supporter of that politician.
この運動には多くの支持者がいます。
This movement has many supporters.
Commonly used in political, social, and organizational contexts.
支持者 implies active support or alignment with a cause, ideology, or person's actions, while ファン typically refers to admiration or fandom, often in entertainment contexts.
Always consider the context when using 支持者. In political or social movements, it denotes active engagement. In entertainment, it may simply mean 'fan'.
Composed of 支持 (support) and 者 (person), literally 'a person who supports'. The term has been used in Japanese since the Meiji era, reflecting the adoption of Western political concepts.
Used in both formal and informal contexts. In political discussions, it often refers to followers of a specific party or ideology. In sports or entertainment, it can mean fans.