also: じょ
counter for places
Attaches to numbers or quantity words to count offices, facilities, stations, and similar locations. Often used in formal or business contexts.
There are three ticket gates at this station.
Three evacuation centers were set up in the city.
We plan to open two new branch offices.
箇所 is a more general counter used for any point or spot, while 所 tends to attach specifically to formal facility/office names like 事務所 or 保健所.
署 is used only as an abbreviated suffix for police, fire, and tax stations, while 所 is a broader suffix for offices or places (e.g. 出張所, 派出所) and covers many more kinds of institutions.
所 read ところ is the ordinary noun for 'place', while 所 read しょ is a counter suffix attached to numbers to count facilities or offices.
place; location; spot · room; space · sumo tournament
office
possession; ownership
neighborhood; vicinity; nearby area
belonging to; affiliation with; being attached to
Standard kanji spelling for the suffix/counter.
Voiced reading じょ occurs in some compounds, but しょ is more common.
From the noun 所 (ところ, 'place'), used as a suffix and counter for locations.
court; courthouse
possession; carrying; having on one's person
income; earnings
government office; public office
whereabouts; location; place where one is
famous place; noted place; sightseeing spot
after all; in the end; anyway · (not) possibly; (not) at all; (not) by any means
head; chief; director
toilet; lavatory; restroom
source; origin; provenance · birthplace · release from prison; discharge from prison
public health center · animal shelter
strong point; merit; advantage
required; needed; necessary
works; factory; plant
admission; entrance · imprisonment; incarceration; internment; confinement
each place; various places
training institute; school · driving school
prescribed; designated; fixed
audience seating (noh theater) · audience (esp. in noh)
weak point; shortcoming; defect; disadvantage
high place; height; altitude · broad perspective; big-picture view
part; section; local area · part of the body; affected area · local; topical