税関
zeikan
In Japanese, the word for customs (the government agency) is 税関 (zeikan).
The term 税関 refers specifically to the government agency responsible for the control of goods entering or leaving a country.
Meaning: long-established practice (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 税関 translates to 'tax barrier'.
How do you pronounce it?
zeikan
Did you know?
- While the word 税関 refers to government customs, the word for a social custom or tradition is usually 習慣 (shūkan).
- The character 関 in 税関 originally referred to a physical gate or barrier used to control travel and trade in ancient Japan.
- While 税関 is the agency, the actual process of going through customs is often called 通関, which means 'passing through the barrier'.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are arriving at an airport.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、税関はどこにある？Yota, zeikan wa doko ni aru?Yota, where is customs?
- 陽太 Yotaあそこにあるよ。Asoko ni aru yo.It is over there.
- 陽葵 Himari税関で何か申告があるかな？Zeikan de nanika shinkoku ga aru kana?I wonder if I have anything to declare at customs.
- 陽太 Yotaたぶん大丈夫だと思うよ。Tabun daijōbu da to omou yo.I think you will probably be fine.
