刑務所
keimusho[ke̞ːmɯ̟ɕo̞]
The Japanese word for jail is 刑務所 (keimusho).
刑務所 refers to a prison or penitentiary where individuals serve a sentence. To express the act of going to jail or being imprisoned, you can use the verb phrase 刑務所に入る.
Meaning: place for short-term confinement (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 刑務所 is composed of three parts: 刑 meaning punishment, 務 meaning duty or work and 所 meaning place.
Which one should you use?
刑務所 (keimusho) refers to a prison for those serving a formal sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
keimusho
Did you know?
- In Japanese, there is a distinct difference between 拘置所 (kōchisho), where people are held while awaiting trial, and 刑務所 (keimusho), where those already convicted serve their sentence.
- While 刑務所 is the formal term, the word 塀の中 (heino naka), meaning 'inside the wall', is often used as a colloquialism for being in jail.
- The word 刑務所 was created as a more modern replacement for the older term 監獄, which is still common in historical dramas and literature.
Examples in context
- 刑務所には行きたくない。I don't want to go to jail.This sentence shows how to express a personal desire regarding going to jail using 刑務所.Tatoeba #8590720 by small_snow, translation #1841416 by Spamster
- トムは刑務所に行きたくない。Tom doesn't want to go to jail.This sentence demonstrates how to talk about a third person's desire regarding going to jail using 刑務所.Tatoeba #8575846 by small_snow, translation #3439624 by CK
- 二人の男は刑務所から釈放された。The two men were released from jail.This sentence illustrates the use of 刑務所 when describing being released from a facility.Tatoeba #123087 by small_snow, translation #280913 by CK
- 彼は刑務所に入っていますHe is in jail.
- あの人、牢屋にいるよThat person is in jail.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a crime movie they just watched.
- 大翔 Hirotoあいつは結局、刑務所に入ったの？aitsu wa kekkyoku, keimusho ni haitta no?Did that guy end up going to jail in the end?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、最後の方で逮捕されたよ。un, saigo no hou de taiho sareta yo.Yeah, he was arrested at the end.
- 大翔 Hiroto刑務所での生活は大変そうだね。keimusho de no seikatsu wa taihen sou da ne.Life in jail seems tough.
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。もう二度と犯罪をしないと思うよ。hontou da ne. mou nidoto hanzai o shinai to omou yo.True. I think he'll never commit a crime again.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 刑務所, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 刑務所, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
