内政 (nèi zhèng) literally combines 内 (nèi), meaning 'inside' or 'domestic', and 政 (zhèng), meaning 'politics' or 'affairs of governance'. Together, it refers to matters concerning a country’s internal governance—such as laws, education policy, taxation, public security, and social welfare—distinct from foreign relations or international diplomacy.

This term is formal and commonly used in political, journalistic, and academic contexts. It emphasizes sovereignty: nations often assert that their 内政 is not subject to external interference. While it can occasionally appear in organizational contexts (e.g., 'company internal affairs'), its primary domain is national-level governance. The word carries a neutral-to-formal register and is rarely used in casual speech.