交番
kōban[ko̞ːbã̠ɴ]
The English phrase 'police box' is translated into Japanese as 交番 (kōban). Wiktionary also lists 派出所 (hashutsujo) and ポリスボックス (porisu bokkusu).
Meaning: police box (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 交番 | kōban | [ko̞ːbã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 派出所 | hashutsujo | [ha̠ɕɨt͡sɨʑo̞] (narrow) [ha̠ɕɨt͡sɨɕo̞] (narrow) |
| ポリスボックス | porisu bokkusu | |
| 駐在所 | chūzaisho |
The word 交番 (kōban) is used to describe a small police box or a police substation with limited personnel.
Which one should you use?
交番 (kōban) is the most common term for a small neighborhood police station or box found in urban areas. In contrast, 駐在所 (chūzaisho) is specifically used for police stations in rural areas where an officer often lives on-site. ポリスボックス (porisu bokkusu) is a phonetic transliteration of 'police box' and is not the standard term used by Japanese people to refer to actual police stations. The term 派出所 (hashutsujo) is also a way to refer to a police substation.
How do you pronounce it?
kōban
Did you know?
- If you use the katakana term ポリスボックス (porisu bokkusu) in a conversation, Japanese speakers will likely assume you are referring to the fictional police box from 'Doctor Who' rather than a real station.
- The term 交番 (kōban) literally translates to 'alternating watch', derived from the practice of police officers rotating shifts to maintain constant surveillance.
- The 交番 system is so integrated into neighborhoods that officers often perform 'home visits' to check on the elderly and deliver local safety newsletters.
Examples in context
- 向こうの交番で聞いてください。Ask at the police box over there.This sentence is useful for asking someone to go to the 交番 over there.Tatoeba #173841 by tommy__san, translation #240629 by CN
- 交番の周りに人がたくさんいた。I saw a number of people around the police box.This sentence describes seeing people around the 交番.Tatoeba #174100 by bunbuku, translation #240371 by CM
- 迷子の子が交番でしくしく泣いていた。A lost child was sobbing at the police box.This sentence describes a lost child at the 交番.Tatoeba #80229 by small_snow, translation #323488 by CM
- 近くの交番に行って、忘れ物の問い合わせをした。I went to the nearby police box and inquired about the lost item.
- 駅の近くに駐在所があります。There is a police box near the station.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are looking for a lost wallet in the city.
- 陽太 Yota近くに交番があるかな？Chikaku ni kōban ga aru kana?I wonder if there is a police box nearby?
- 結衣 Yuiあそこに交番が見えるよ。Asoko ni kōban ga mieru yo.I can see a police box over there.
- 陽太 Yotaよかった、あそこで聞いてみよう。Yokatta, asoko de kiite miyō.Great, let's go ask there.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、急いで行こう。Un, isoide ikō.Yeah, let's hurry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “police box” translations and entries 交番, 派出所, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
