Translation guide
The English word 'bureau' can refer to a writing desk, a chest of drawers, a government department, or an office. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese word based on the intended meaning.
A desk with drawers, often used for writing.
General word for desk, including writing desks. Most common and natural.
He is writing a letter at his desk.
Specifically a writing desk, often a small, low traditional Japanese desk. Less common in modern contexts.
Old letters are stored in my grandmother's writing desk.
Loanword from English, used for a specific style of writing desk. Rare and context-specific.
I bought an antique writing desk.
A piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes.
Standard word for a chest of drawers, typically for clothing. Very common.
I put clothes in the chest of drawers.
Loanword from English 'chest', often used for a chest of drawers. Common in furniture catalogs.
Literally 'organizing chest', sometimes used for a bureau with many small drawers. Less common.
An administrative unit of government, like the FBI or a weather bureau.
Common suffix for government bureaus, agencies, or offices. Used in names like 気象局 (weather bureau).
The weather bureau warned of the approaching typhoon.
Suffix for government agencies or offices, often larger or more formal than 局. E.g., 警察庁 (National Police Agency).
Specifically a secretariat or administrative office, often for an organization.
Direct loanword from English, used in some proper names or very specific contexts. Not common.
A room or place where administrative work is done.
In Japanese government structure, 省 (しょう) is a ministry, 庁 (ちょう) is an agency, and 局 (きょく) is a bureau within a ministry or agency. For example, 国税庁 (National Tax Agency) is under 財務省 (Ministry of Finance), and it has several 局. When translating 'bureau' as a government unit, 局 is the most direct equivalent, but 庁 is used for larger agencies.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is an external bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The English word 'bureau' for a chest of drawers is not directly translated as ビューロー in Japanese. Use 箪笥 or チェスト instead. ビューロー is only used for organizations, and even then it's rare.
I assembled a new chest of drawers.
I organized documents in the bureau.
That issue is handled by a bureau of the Cabinet Office.
大会の事務局に問い合わせてください。
Please contact the tournament bureau.
彼は観光ビューローで働いている。
He works at the tourism bureau.
We moved to a new bureau.