Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "警察", "警察官", "警官", "警察署"
All represent the core concept "police", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
警察
けいさつ (keisatsu)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
警察官
けいさつかん (keisatsukan)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
警官
けいかん (keikan)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
警察署
けいさつしょ (keisatsusho)
N4 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "police" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "警察", "警察官", "警官", "警察署" based on context.
- 警察 (けいさつ (keisatsu) - Level: N4): Maps to "police, police station" and is used when Can refer to the institution.
- 警察官 (けいさつかん (keisatsukan) - Level: N4): Maps to "police officer" and is used when This word refers to a male or female police officer. Often shortened to 警察.
- 警官 (けいかん (keikan) - Level: N4): Maps to "police officer" and is used when A formal term for a police officer. More common in news or official contexts than the more informal お巡りさん.
- 警察署 (けいさつしょ (keisatsusho) - Level: N4): Maps to "police station" and is used when 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。.
Context for "警察"
困った時は警察に電話してください。
Please call the police when you are in trouble.
Context for "警察官"
将来、警察官になりたいです。
I want to become a police officer in the future.
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.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "困った時は ＿＿＿ に電話してください。" (Meaning: "Please call the police when you are in trouble.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "警察" is correct here because it represents "police, police station" in the context: "Please call the police when you are in trouble.".