Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Police" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "police", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
警官
けいかん (keikan)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
警察署
けいさつしょ (keisatsusho)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "police" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 警官 and 警察署.
In Japanese, 警官 (けいかん (keikan)) is typically associated with "police officer" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents A formal term for a police officer. More common in news or official contexts than the more informal お巡りさん.
On the other hand, 警察署 (けいさつしょ (keisatsusho)) maps to "police station" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents 警察官が勤務し、事件の対応や住民の安全を守る施設です。何かあった時に訪れる場所です。. A literal translation of "police" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "警官"
事故現場に警官が到着しました。
Police officers arrived at the accident scene.
Bilingual Context for "警察署"
落とし物をしたので、警察署に行きました。
I lost something, so I went to the police station.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "事故現場に ＿＿＿ が到着しました。" (Meaning: "Police officers arrived at the accident scene.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "警官" fits here because it means "police officer" in the context of: "Police officers arrived at the accident scene.". "警察署" represents "police station".