When you're learning Japanese, knowing how to talk about essential services is really practical. The word けいさつ (keisatsu) is a good one to learn early on because it means both 'police' and 'police station'. This is a common noun you'll encounter in everyday conversations and signs.
It's rated A2 on the CEFR scale, which means it's a basic but important vocabulary item. You might use it if you need help, are reporting something, or even just pointing out a police station on a map. Knowing words like this helps you navigate and understand more of what's happening around you in Japan.
When talking about the police in Japanese, you'll use the word けいさつ (keisatsu). This word can refer to the police force in general or to a specific police station. If you need to report something or ask for help, you would go to a けいさつ (keisatsu). It’s a very practical word to know for daily life in Japan.
§ What does けいさつ (keisatsu) mean and when do people use it?
Let's get straight to it. The Japanese word けいさつ, pronounced keisatsu, is a very useful noun to know. It directly translates to "police" or "police station." It's an A2 level word, so you'll encounter it pretty frequently in everyday Japanese conversations, news, and even dramas.
- DEFINITION
- Police; police station.
You use けいさつ when you need to refer to the law enforcement agency, the people who work for it, or the building where they work. Think of it like how you use "police" in English. It's quite versatile.
For example, if you need help from the police, you would definitely use this word. If you see a police car, or hear about a police investigation, けいさつ is the word you're looking for. It's not just for emergencies, though. You might also hear it in more casual contexts, like someone mentioning they saw a police officer directing traffic, or asking for directions to a police box (which is a smaller police station).
Here are a few examples to show you how けいさつ is used in sentences:
けいさつ を呼んでください。
Keisatsu o yonde kudasai. (Please call the police.)
彼はけいさつで働いています。
Kare wa keisatsu de hataraite imasu. (He works for the police.)
最寄りのけいさつはどこですか？
Moyori no keisatsu wa doko desu ka? (Where is the nearest police station?)
As you can see from these examples, けいさつ can be combined with various particles and verbs to form common phrases. Understanding these simple uses will greatly improve your ability to communicate in Japanese, especially when dealing with safety or civic matters.
When you're out and about in Japan, you'll often see small police boxes called こうばん (kōban). These are mini-police stations found in neighborhoods, and they are incredibly helpful for directions, reporting lost items, or even just asking for local information. While kōban is a specific type of police station, the general term for the police force or a police station is still けいさつ.
So, whether you're reporting a lost wallet, asking for directions, or just watching a Japanese detective show, knowing けいさつ will come in handy. It's a foundational word for navigating public services and understanding everyday conversations.
How Formal Is It?
"警察に通報してください。 (Keisatsu ni tsūhō shite kudasai.) - Please report it to the police."
"警察が来ました。 (Keisatsu ga kimashita.) - The police came."
"お巡りさんを呼ぼう。 (Omawawari-san o yobō.) - Let's call a cop."
"お巡りさんが来たよ。 (Omawawari-san ga kita yo.) - The police officer is here (for a child)."
"ポリが来た。 (Pori ga kita.) - The cops are here."
Beispiele nach Niveau
事件が発生したので、すぐにけいさつに通報しました。
When the incident occurred, I immediately reported it to the police.
通報する (つうほうする): to report
道に迷ってしまったので、けいさつで道を尋ねました。
I got lost, so I asked for directions at the police station.
道を尋ねる (みちをたずねる): to ask for directions
けいさつの協力なしには、この問題は解決できなかったでしょう。
Without the cooperation of the police, this problem likely couldn't have been solved.
協力 (きょうりょく): cooperation
彼はけいさつ官になりたいという夢を抱いています。
He harbors a dream of becoming a police officer.
抱く (いだく): to hold (a dream, feeling)
けいさつは市民の安全を守るために日々努力しています。
The police make daily efforts to protect the safety of citizens.
努力する (どりょくする): to make an effort
不審な人物を見かけたら、ためらわずにけいさつに連絡してください。
If you see a suspicious person, please don't hesitate to contact the police.
不審な (ふしんな): suspicious; ためらう: to hesitate
けいさつ署の前には、多くの取材陣が集まっていました。
Many reporters had gathered in front of the police station.
取材陣 (しゅざいじん): reporting team/crew
夜間のパトロールは、けいさつの重要な任務の一つです。
Night patrol is one of the important duties of the police.
任務 (にんむ): duty; mission
Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen
___ は どこ です か。 (Where is the ___?)
This sentence asks 'Where is the ____?'. The correct word 'けいさつ' (police station) fits the context of asking for directions.
わたし は ___ に いきます。 (I am going to the ___.)
This sentence means 'I am going to the ____'. 'けいさつ' (police station) is a place you would go to.
___ が きました。 (The ___ came.)
This sentence means 'The ____ came.' In this context, it refers to the police arriving.
あれ は ___ です。 (That is the ___.)
This sentence means 'That is the ____.' 'けいさつ' (police station) is a building that could be pointed out.
___ に でんわ します。 (I will call the ___.)
This sentence means 'I will call the ____.' You would call the 'けいさつ' (police) in certain situations.
___ の ひと です。 (They are people from the ___.)
This sentence means 'They are people from the ____.' 'けいさつ' (police) fits here as 'police officers'.
財布をなくしました。___ に電話します。(I lost my wallet. I'll call the ___.)
When you lose your wallet, you contact the police. けいさつ means 'police'.
道の駅の近くに交番があります。交番は小さな___です。(There's a police box near the roadside station. A police box is a small ___.)
A 交番 (koban) is a small police box, which is a type of police station. けいさつ means 'police' or 'police station'.
事故があったので、___ が来ました。(Because there was an accident, the ___ came.)
おまわりさん is a polite way to refer to a police officer. When an accident happens, police officers come.
道で困っていたら、___ に聞いてもいいですか。(If I'm lost on the street, can I ask the ___?)
If you are lost or in trouble on the street, it's common to ask a police officer (おまわりさん) for help.
緊急の場合は、___ に連絡してください。(In case of emergency, please contact the ___.)
In an emergency, you should contact the police. けいさつ means 'police'.
この地域は___ が巡回しているので安全です。(This area is safe because the ___ patrol it.)
警察官 (けいさつかん) means 'police officer'. Police officers patrol to keep areas safe.
Choose the correct kanji for けいさつ:
The correct kanji for 'keisatsu' (police) is 警察.
Which of the following describes a situation where you might call the けいさつ?
You would call the police (けいさつ) if you witness a crime.
What is the primary function of the けいさつ?
The police (けいさつ) are responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing laws.
In Japan, you should go to the けいさつ to report a lost item.
Yes, in Japan, you would typically go to a police station (けいさつ) to report a lost item.
けいさつ only refers to individual police officers, not the police station itself.
けいさつ can refer to both the police force in general or a police station.
If you need directions, it is common to ask a けいさつ officer for help in Japan.
Yes, it is common and acceptable to ask a police (けいさつ) officer for directions in Japan.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 事故のあと、すぐに___が現場に到着した。
The sentence talks about an accident, so the police would be the most relevant group to arrive at the scene.
Which of these places would you go to report a stolen item?
You report crimes, like stolen items, to the police.
Select the correct reading for 警察.
警察 (けいさつ) means police or police station.
If you get lost in a new city, you can ask the けいさつ for directions.
Police officers are generally helpful and can provide directions.
けいさつ is a type of food in Japan.
けいさつ means police or police station, not a type of food.
You should go to the けいさつ if you need to buy stamps.
You would go to a post office (郵便局 - yūbin kyoku) to buy stamps, not the police station.
The speaker lost their wallet yesterday.
Someone was talking about community safety.
What to do in an emergency.
Read this aloud:
私は将来、警察官になりたいと思っています。
Focus: けいさつかん
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
何か困ったことがあったら、警察に相談しましょう。
Focus: こまったこと
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
この近くに警察署はありますか？
Focus: けいさつしょ
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
容疑者は___の厳しい尋問にもかかわらず、自分の無実を主張し続けた。
文脈から、尋問を行うのは警察が最も適切です。
交通事故を目撃した彼は、すぐに最寄りの___に通報した。
交通事故の通報先は警察署が適切です。
彼の行方不明の報告を受け、___は直ちに捜査を開始した。
行方不明者の捜査は警察の職務です。
緊急時には、まず警察に連絡することが最も重要である。
緊急事態においては、警察への連絡が適切な対処の第一歩となることが多いです。
日本の警察官は通常、武器を携帯していない。
日本の警察官は職務中に拳銃などの武器を携帯することが許可されています。
警察署は、犯罪の捜査だけでなく、地域住民の安全確保も役割の一つである。
警察署の役割には、犯罪捜査と並行して地域住民の安全確保も含まれます。
What did someone report to the police yesterday?
Who had already gathered at the crime scene?
What should one do in an emergency?
Read this aloud:
道に迷ってしまったので、警察署で道順を尋ねました。
Focus: けいさつしょ
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
もし何か困ったことがあれば、近くの警察官に相談してください。
Focus: こまったこと
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
警察は市民の安全を守るために重要な役割を担っています。
Focus: やくわり
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
Beispiel
警察に電話しました。
Verwandte Inhalte
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活動
B1A thing that a person or group does or has done; the state of being active.
実態
B1The actual condition or reality of a situation, especially as opposed to how it is supposed to be or how it appears.
行政
B1Administration or government.
アメリカ
A1America.
権威
B1The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience, or a person with expert knowledge. Frequently used in IELTS when discussing leadership or academic expertise.
恩恵
B1A benefit or advantage derived from something. Used in IELTS for discussing the pros of technology or nature.
偏向
B2A bias, lean, or inclination toward a specific direction or ideology, often used to describe media or political views.
候補者
B2A person who is being considered for a position, an award, or an office; a candidate.
慈善
B2Help or money given to those in need; an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
育児
B2The process of caring for and raising a child from birth until they are independent.
