じむしょ

§ Jimusho (事務所) - What it means

Let's learn about the Japanese word じむしょ (jimusho). It's an A2 level noun that you'll hear and use often in everyday conversation.

Japanese Word

じむしょ (jimusho)

Meaning

An office; a room, set of rooms, or building used for commercial or professional work.

§ How to use it in a sentence

The word じむしょ (jimusho) is straightforward. It literally means "office." Think of it as a direct equivalent to the English word "office." You can use it in many contexts where you'd use "office" in English.

Here's how you can combine it with common Japanese particles:

• 事務所 + に (ni): "to the office," "at the office" (location/destination)
• 事務所 + で (de): "at the office" (location of an action)
• 事務所 + へ (e): "to the office" (direction)
• 事務所 + の (no): "office's," "of the office" (possession/description)

Let's look at some examples to see how these particles work with じむしょ.

Here, に (ni) indicates the destination. It tells us where the action of going is directed.

In this sentence, で (de) marks the location where the action (the meeting) takes place.

へ (e) also indicates direction, similar to に, but often emphasizes the movement towards the destination rather than simply arriving at it.

Here, の (no) shows possession or describes what kind of phone number it is – an office phone number.

You can also combine じむしょ with verbs to describe actions related to the office. For example:

• 事務所で働く (jimusho de hataraku): to work at the office
• 事務所に戻る (jimusho ni modoru): to return to the office
• 事務所を閉める (jimusho o shimeru): to close the office

§ What Does じむしょ (jimuso) Mean?

Let's break down the word じむしょ (jimuso). It's a useful noun you'll hear often in Japan, especially if you're working or dealing with businesses.

Japanese Word

じむしょ (jimuso)

Definition

An office; a room, set of rooms, or building used for commercial or professional work.

CEFR Level

A2

§ Why is じむしょ Important?

Understanding じむしょ is crucial because offices are central to daily life and business. You'll encounter this word in various contexts, from looking for a company to talking about where you work. It's a fundamental term for anyone learning Japanese, especially those interested in working in or with Japan.

§ Where You Actually Hear This Word

You'll hear じむしょ in many real-world situations. Here are some common ones:

• Work/Business Settings:

  This is the most obvious place. Whether you're working in a Japanese company, visiting one, or just talking about work, じむしょ will come up constantly.

  私の事務所は新宿にあります。

  Hint: My office is in Shinjuku.

  彼は今、事務所にいません。

  Hint: He is not in the office right now.

• School/University Administration:

  Even in academic settings, administrative sections are often referred to as じむしょ. Think student affairs, general administration, or faculty offices.

  学生課の事務所はどこですか？

  Hint: Where is the student affairs office?

  先生は事務所で生徒を待っています。

  Hint: The teacher is waiting for students in the office.

• News and Public Announcements:

  When news reports talk about company locations, government departments, or political party headquarters, じむしょ is a common term.

  新しい会社の事務所が東京に開設されました。

  Hint: A new company office was opened in Tokyo.

  警察は容疑者の事務所を捜索しました。

  Hint: The police searched the suspect's office.

By paying attention to these contexts, you'll quickly become familiar with how and when to use じむしょ naturally. Keep practicing with examples, and you'll master this word in no time!