公こう館かん

こ

う

か

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

A formal or administrative word for a residence or residence-like facility provided for an official, especially in government or diplomatic contexts; often appears in compounds such as 知事公館.

大たい使しは公こう館かんで晩ばんさん会かいを開ひらいた。
The ambassador held a dinner at the official residence.
知ち事じ公こう館かんは週しゅう末まつだけ一いっ般ぱん公こう開かいされている。
The governor's official residence is open to the public only on weekends.

Kanji

公public, prince, official
館building, mansion, large building

Related words

公こう邸てい
公邸 usually names the specific official residence of a particular office-holder (e.g. 首相公邸), while 公館 is the broader, more general term covering various officials' residences and diplomatic facilities.
官かん邸ていN1
官邸 refers specifically to the official residence or office of a top government leader like the prime minister, whereas 公館 is broader and covers residences of various officials.

Opposites

私し邸てい
私邸 is a person's private residence, the opposite of 公館, which is an official, government-provided residence.

Don't confuse with

大たい使し館かんN5
大使館 refers to an embassy as an institution or office, while 公館 can denote an official's residence itself, though the two overlap in diplomatic contexts like 在外公館.

Word family

在ざい外がい公こう館かん
diplomatic mission; overseas diplomatic establishment

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound written with 公, meaning public or official, and 館, meaning a building, hall, or residence; the spelling straightforwardly reflects the sense of an official residence.