Translation guide
The English word 'patrol' refers to moving around an area to watch or guard it. In Japanese, the most natural equivalents depend on who is patrolling and why. For police or security, パトロール and 巡回 are common. For neighborhood watch or casual checking, 見回り is used. Military patrols use 哨戒. The verb forms also differ: パトロールする, 巡回する, 見回る, etc.
The police are patrolling the area.
We do a neighborhood patrol every night.
To move around an area to maintain security, often by police or guards.
Loanword from English, very common for police patrols. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'to patrol'.
The police are patrolling the town.
Means 'going around' or 'patrol'. Often used for police, security guards, or routine rounds. Can be a noun or verb (巡回する).
Formal term for police patrol. Often used in official contexts like '警ら中' (on patrol). Less common in everyday speech.
To walk around an area to check for problems, often by residents or volunteers.
To move through an area for reconnaissance or security in a military context.
Specifically refers to military patrol, especially by ships or aircraft. The verb is 哨戒する.
Referring to the people who perform the patrol.
Means 'patrol team' or 'patrol squad'. Commonly used for organized groups.
パトロール is a loanword and feels modern, often used for police or security. 巡回 is a native Japanese word for going around on a set route, used for patrols, inspections, or rounds. 見回り emphasizes the act of looking around to check on things, common for neighborhood watches or school checks.
Police patrols have been strengthened.
警備員がビルを巡回している。
The security guard is patrolling the building.
The officer is on patrol.
Means 'patrol' or 'watch' in a community sense. The verb is 見回る. Often used for neighborhood safety patrols or school checks.
I patrol the neighborhood at night.
Also used for community patrols, but can sound slightly more formal or organized.
I joined the neighborhood patrol.
The fleet is patrolling the waters.
Can be used in military contexts, but 哨戒 is more precise for armed forces patrols.
Soldiers are patrolling the border.
The patrol team was dispatched.
Means 'patrol group' or 'rounds team', often used in security or maintenance contexts.
The patrol group checks regularly.
警備員が館内を巡回する。
The guard patrols the premises.
My father went out on the night patrol.
While パトロール is widely understood, using it for casual neighborhood watching can sound overly formal or like you're imitating police. In community contexts, 見回り is more natural.