How to Say "Customs" in Japanese

税関

zeikan

In Japanese, 'customs' is 税関 (zeikan).

税関 refers to the customs checks at a border checkpoint, the physical customs office or the government agency itself.

Meaning: customs checks at a border checkpoint (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

zeikan

Japanese has a completely different word for 'customs' in the sense of traditional habits: 習慣 (shūkan). Using 税関 when talking about a cultural custom would lead to a confusing misunderstanding about taxes.
The character 関 (kan) in 税関 is also used in the word 関所 (sekisho), which were the military checkpoints used by the Tokugawa shogunate to control travel between provinces.
The character 関 (kan) is a 'phonetic-ideographic' character that originally depicted a gateway. This root is found in many Japanese words related to connections and relations, such as 関係 (kankei).

税関はどこですか。
Where is the Customs Service?
This sentence is useful for asking about the location of the Customs Service.
Tatoeba #142489 by bunbuku, translation #272081 by sacredceltic
税関申告書に記入してください。
Please fill out the Customs Declaration Form.
This sentence is useful for instructions regarding the Customs Declaration Form.
Tatoeba #142487 by small_snow, translation #272083 by CK
日本の習慣には靴を脱ぐことが含まれています。
The Japanese custom includes taking off your shoes.
この地域の慣習では、お辞儀をすることが重要です。
In the customs of this region, bowing is important.
この祭りの風習は古くから続いています。
The customs of this festival have been carried on since ancient times.
この地域では、夏祭りが習わしです。
In this area, summer festivals are a custom.
私たちの習俗では、結婚式でお祝いをします。
In our customs, we celebrate at weddings.
税関の列はとても長いです。
zeikan no retsu wa totemo nagai desu.
The customs line is very long.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

Hiyori and Yota are walking through the airport arrival hall.

陽葵 Himari

陽太、税関はもう通り過ぎた？
Yota, zeikan wa mou toorisugita?
Yota, did we already pass through customs?
陽太 Yota

いいえ、まだ前にあるよ。
Iie, mada mae ni aru yo.
No, it's still ahead of us.
陽葵 Himari

よかった。忘れ物をしたかも。
Yokatta. Wasuremono o shita kamo.
Good. I might have forgotten something.
陽太 Yota

急いで確認しよう。
Isoide kakunin shiyou.
Let's check quickly.

Sources

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