としょかん
toshokaneveryday
In hiragana, "library" is としょかん (toshokan). In a school the library room is often called としょしつ (toshoshitsu).
Meaning: library (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| としょかん | toshokan | everyday |
| としょしつ | toshoshitsu | school library room |
The verb for borrowing is かりる (kariru) and for returning is かえす (kaesu), as in ほんを かりる (hon o kariru).
What does it mean word for word?
としょかん is 図書館 in kanji. It combines としょ (tosho), "books", and かん (kan), "building".
Which one should you use?
としょしつ (toshoshitsu) is a room inside a school. としょかん (toshokan) is a separate public or university building.
Did you know?
- The verb for borrowing a book is かりる (kariru), and many libraries use the phrase かしだし (kashidashi), "lending", on their counters.
Examples in context
- としょかんで ほんを かります。Toshokan de hon o karimasu.I borrow books at the library.
- としょしつは しずかに してください。Toshoshitsu wa shizuka ni shite kudasai.Please be quiet in the library room.
- この ほんを かえしに きました。Kono hon o kaeshi ni kimashita.I came to return this book.
Example conversation
Nao is at the library counter and Mr. Mori is the librarian.
- Naoすみません、この ほんを かりたいです。Sumimasen, kono hon o karitai desu.Excuse me, I want to borrow this book.
- Mr. Moriとしょかんカードは ありますか。Toshokan kādo wa arimasu ka.Do you have a library card?
- Naoはい、これです。Hai, kore desu.Yes, here it is.
