Learn Japanese while reading Manga with our new Manga Reader Tool!

Nihongo

Classroom

What is the Kanji for 'Government office'? | 署

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Government office', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Government office' is 署.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Government office

    Reading

    onyomiしょ

    sho

    Parts

    Net Someone

    Example Word

    消防署: fire station. The Japanese noun '消防署 (しょうぼうしょ)' refers to a 'fire station', which is a facility where firefighters and firefighting equipment are stationed. This term is commonly used in contexts related to emergency services, fire safety, and public safety infrastructure. For example: The fire station is near the park「消防署は公園の近くです」(しょうぼうしょはこうえんのちかくです). I called the fire station to report the fire「火事を報告するために消防署に電話しました」(かじをほうこくするためにしょうぼうしょにでんわしました). The word is a compound of '消防 (しょうぼう)', meaning 'firefighting', and '署 (しょ)', meaning 'office' or 'station'.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    13

    JLPT

    N2

    Grade

    6

    Frequency

    1479

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Net

    kanji

    Meaning

    Someone

Words Using

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    消防署

    Meaning

    Fire station

    word

    Meaning

    Office

    word

    署名

    Meaning

    Signature

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 14 kanji contain the part 罒 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Buy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Listen

    kanji

    Meaning

    Virtue

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dream

    kanji

    Meaning

    Constitution

    kanji

    Meaning

    Demolition, Break down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sin, Guilt

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bosom, Pocket

    kanji

    Meaning

    Punishment, Penalty

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gauze

    kanji

    Meaning

    Quit, Dismiss

    kanji

    Meaning

    Baron, Rank of nobility

    kanji

    Meaning

    Abuse, Insult

    kanji

    Meaning

    Neglect, Scorn

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 8 kanji contain the part 者 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hot

    kanji

    Meaning

    Metropolis

    kanji

    Meaning

    Many, Various

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beginning, Together

    kanji

    Meaning

    Renowned, Author

    kanji

    Meaning

    Boil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gamble

    kanji

    Meaning

    Chopsticks

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 署 mean?

署 means 'Government office'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Sixth Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N2 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.