Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 事務所 | jimusho | [d͡ʑimɯ̟ɕo̞] (narrow) |
| オフィス | ofisu | [o̞ɸʲisɨ] (narrow) |
| 執務室 | shitsumushitsu | [ɕit͡sɨmɯ̟ɕit͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 事務室 | jimushitsu | [d͡ʑimɯ̟ɕi̥t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
The term 事務所 is used to describe an office where administrative or clerical work is conducted. For the headquarters or main office of a company, the term 本社 is used instead.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 事務所 is composed of 事務, meaning 'office work' or 'clerical work' and 所, meaning 'place'.
Which one should you use?
While 事務所 refers to a physical place of business or a professional office, the loanword オフィス is often used to describe the modern workspace, office design or the general concept of an office environment. 執務室 is a specific term for an executive's office or a room where official duties are performed, such as a high-ranking official's office. Finally, 事務室 refers specifically to an administrative room or a clerical office, often located within a larger institution like a school or a hospital.
How do you pronounce it?
jimusho
Did you know?
- The word 事務所 is also the standard term for a talent agency in the Japanese entertainment industry. A celebrity's professional affiliation is often described by the name of their 事務所 rather than their company.
- While オフィス comes from the English 'office', it often carries a connotation of 'stylish' or 'modern' western-style interiors compared to 事務所.
- The word 執務 in 執務室 contains the character 執, which implies a sense of 'holding' or 'grasping' a task. This gives the term a much more formal, heavy, and authoritative weight than a standard 'office'.
Examples in context
- 事務所にいます。I'm in my office.This sentence is useful for stating your location using 事務所.Tatoeba #3366879 by arnab, translation #2549320 by CK
- 彼は事務所にいない。He is out of the office.This sentence is useful for stating someone is not present using 事務所.Tatoeba #105335 by bunbuku, translation #298354 by CK
- トムは事務所にいる？Is Tom in the office?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is present using 事務所.Tatoeba #8743172 by bunbuku, translation #5584730 by CK
- 新しい オフィス にようこそ！Welcome to the new office!
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are talking in a hallway of a company building.
- 結衣 Yui事務所はどこですか？Jimusho wa doko desu ka?Where is the office?
- 大翔 Hirotoあの角を右に曲がってください。Ano kado o migi ni magatte kudasai.Please turn right at that corner.
- 結衣 Yui分かりました。ありがとうございます。Wakarimashita. Arigatou gozaimasu.I understand. Thank you.
- 大翔 Hirotoいえいえ、お気をつけて。Iie ie, oki o tsukete.No problem, take care.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “office” translations and entries 事務所, オフィス, 執務室, 事務室, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
