General term for an organizational unit within a larger structure, such as a government bureau or a company department. Also used as a suffix in compound names.
彼は総務局に配属された。
He was assigned to the General Affairs Bureau.
The Meteorological Agency issued typhoon information.
post office; broadcasting station; channel; exchange
Abbreviation used in compound words for specific types of offices or stations, such as 郵便局 (post office), 放送局 (broadcasting station), or 電話局 (telephone exchange). Not used as a standalone word for these meanings.
Please take these documents to the post office.
I'm in charge of the news at the local broadcasting station.
affair; situation; state of things
Refers to the current state or circumstances of a matter. Often used in set expressions like 局に当たる (to handle the situation) or 局を察する (to grasp the situation). Somewhat formal or literary.
He dealt with the situation calmly.
Misjudging the situation can lead to great losses.
noun, noun, used as a suffix, counter
Counter or noun for a match or game in board games like go or shogi. Also used in compounds like 一局 (one game).
Yesterday, I played a game of shogi with a friend.
This game ended in his victory.
He was assigned to the Finance Bureau.
The government announced measures to break through the deadlock.
The two of them played one game.
television station; TV station
pharmacy; drugstore; chemist's · hospital pharmacy; dispensary
position in a game; state of the game · situation; phase; stage
branch office
game; match
catastrophe; cataclysm · breakup; collapse of a relationship
part; section; local area · part of the body; affected area · local; topical
staff member; clerk; bureau employee
(local) finance bureau
department; bureau; section
part; section; local area · affected part; affected area
locality; local area; limited area
political situation; political landscape
taxation bureau; revenue office
opening; establishment
medical office; doctor's office
big picture; overall situation; general perspective · overall board situation (go)
regional legal affairs bureau
the said bureau; the aforementioned office; that station · the same bureau; the same office; the same station
mint; mint bureau
within an office; inside a bureau; in-house
telephone exchange number; telephone prefix
end; conclusion; final stage · endgame; final stage of a board game
head office; general office
waterworks bureau; water department
war situation; state of the war
health bureau; board of health; hygiene bureau