遺体安置所
itai anchisho[ita̠i ã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕiʑo̞]
In Japanese, the word for morgue is 遺体安置所 (itai anchisho). Wiktionary also lists 霊安所 (reianjo) and 霊安室 (reianshitsu).
Meaning: place for dead people (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 遺体安置所 | itai anchisho | [ita̠i ã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕiʑo̞] (narrow) [ita̠i ã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕiɕo̞] (narrow) |
| 霊安所 | reianjo | |
| 霊安室 | reianshitsu | [ɾe̞ːã̠ɰ̃ɕi̥t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 死体置き場 | shitaiokiba | [ɕita̠i o̞kʲiba̠] (narrow) |
| モルグ | morugu | |
| 死体安置所 | shitai anchijo | [ɕita̠i ã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕiʑo̞] (narrow) [ɕita̠i ã̠ɲ̟t͡ɕiɕo̞] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
遺体安置所 is a formal and respectful way to refer to a morgue, using the term 遺体 (itai) which is a more polite way to say 'body' than 死体 (shitai). In contrast, 死体置き場 (shitaiokiba) is a blunt and more informal way to say 'morgue' or 'corpse storage place', often used in more visceral or less sensitive contexts. 霊安室 (reianshitsu) is a euphemistic term often used in hospitals, literally meaning 'spirit rest room', to avoid the harshness of words like 'corpse'. Other forms include 霊安所 (reianjo), 霊安室 (reianshitsu), モルグ (morugu) and 死体安置所 (shitai anchijo).
How do you pronounce it?
itai anchisho
Did you know?
- The katakana loanword モルグ (morugu) exists in Japanese, but it is almost exclusively found in crime fiction or translations of Western literature. In real-world Japanese medical or legal settings, the native kanji compounds are much more common.
- The term 安置 (anchi) used in 遺体安置所 does not just mean 'to place' or 'to store', but carries a nuance of 'settling something into a stable and peaceful position'.
- The word 死体 (shitai) is so blunt and clinical that it is often avoided in polite society or news reports regarding victims. Using it to refer to a person's remains can be seen as deeply insensitive or even dehumanizing.
Examples in context
- 医者は患者を生きたまま霊安室へ送った。The doctor sent the live patient to the morgue.This sentence illustrates the use of 霊安室 in a medical context.Tatoeba #1131306 by marcelostockle, translation #1131305 by marcelostockle
- 病院の遺体安置所はどこですか？byouin no itai anchisho wa doko desu ka?Where is the hospital's morgue?
Example conversation
A police officer and a civilian are talking near a hospital.
- 蓮 Ren遺体安置所へは、こちらから行けます。itai anchisho e wa, kochira kara ikemasu.You can go to the morgue from this way.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます、蓮さん。arigatou gozaimasu, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さんは、大丈夫ですか？Misaki-san wa, daijoubu desu ka?Are you okay, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、大丈夫です。hai, daijoubu desu.Yes, I am okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “morgue” translations and entries 遺体安置所, 霊安室, 死体置き場, モルグ, 死体安置所, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 遺体安置所, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
