Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for a government office depends on the type and scale of the institution. The most common general term is 官公庁 (kankōchō), but more specific words like 役所 (yakusho) for local offices and 省 (shō) for ministries are used in everyday contexts.
The learner wants a broad, neutral term for a government office or public agency.
A formal, general term covering all government and public offices. Commonly used in news and official documents.
官公庁で働いています。
I work at a government office.
Commonly refers to local government offices like city halls or ward offices. Often used in daily conversation.
明日、役所に書類を提出します。
I will submit the documents at the government office tomorrow.
The learner wants to refer to a municipal or local administrative office.
City hall or municipal office. Use for city-level administration.
市役所で住民票を取ります。
I'll get a resident certificate at the city hall.
Ward office, found in larger cities divided into wards (e.g., Tokyo).
Town hall, for smaller municipalities (towns). Note the reading やくば instead of やくしょ.
Village office, for rural villages. Less common.
The learner wants to refer to a central government ministry or department.
Ministry. Used as a suffix for national ministries, e.g., 外務省 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
彼は外務省で働いています。
He works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Agency or office, often subordinate to a ministry, e.g., 国税庁 (National Tax Agency).
国税庁のウェブサイトを見てください。
Please check the National Tax Agency's website.
The learner wants to name a particular office or bureau within a government structure.
Bureau or office, often within a ministry or local government, e.g., 郵便局 (post office) or 消防局 (fire department).
郵便局はどこですか？
Where is the post office?
Station or office, used for police, fire, and tax offices, e.g., 警察署 (police station).
警察署に行ってください。
Please go to the police station.
役所 (yakusho) is the everyday word for local government offices, while 官公庁 (kankōchō) is a formal, collective term for all government and public offices. Use 役所 when talking about going to a city hall or ward office; use 官公庁 in news or official contexts.
Japanese often uses suffixes like 省 (shō), 庁 (chō), 局 (kyoku), and 署 (sho) to specify the type of government office. Learning these can help you understand and form names of various agencies.
区役所は駅の近くにあります。
The ward office is near the station.
町役場で税金を払いました。
I paid taxes at the town hall.
村役場はとても小さいです。
The village office is very small.