省しょう

noun, noun, used as a suffix

ministry; department

Used in the names of government ministries and departments, especially in Japan and other East Asian countries. Often appears as a suffix (e.g., 文部科学省).

• 外がい務む省しょうは霞かすみが関せきにある。

  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Kasumigaseki.

• 彼かれは文もん部ぶ科か学がく省しょうに勤つとめている。

  He works for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

province (of China)

Refers specifically to a province-level administrative division in China. Not used for provinces in other countries.

• 四し川せん省しょうはパンダの生せい息そく地ちとして知しられている。

  Sichuan Province is known as a habitat for pandas.

noun, used as a prefix

saving; conserving

Used as a prefix in compounds related to saving space, energy, labor, etc. Common in words like 省エネ (energy saving) and 省スペース (space-saving).

See also: 省スペース

• 省しょうエネ家か電でんを選えらぶと電でん気き代だいが安やすくなる。

  Choosing energy-saving appliances reduces electricity bills.

• このプリンターは省しょうスペース設せっ計けいだ。

  This printer has a space-saving design.