刑務所
keimusho[ke̞ːmɯ̟ɕo̞]
Prison in Japanese is expressed as 刑務所 (keimusho). Wiktionary also lists 監獄 (kangoku) and 牢屋 (rōya).
Meaning: place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 刑務所 | keimusho | [ke̞ːmɯ̟ɕo̞] (narrow) |
| 監獄 | kangoku | [kã̠ŋɡo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 牢屋 | rōya | [ɾo̞ːja̠] (narrow) |
| 牢 | rō | [ɾo̞ː] (narrow) |
All provided terms refer to a place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes.
What does it mean word for word?
The standard term 刑務所 is composed of 刑 (punishment), 務 (duty/task) and 所 (place), literally meaning "correctional institution." The term 監獄 is composed of 監 (supervise/monitor) and 獄 (prison/jail).
Which one should you use?
刑務所 is the standard, modern term for a correctional facility. 監獄 sounds more literary or old-fashioned and is frequently used in historical contexts or fiction. 牢屋 is a more colloquial or descriptive term, often used to refer to a jail cell or a dungeon-like setting.
How do you pronounce it?
keimusho
Did you know?
- The single character 牢 can refer to a prison, but its roots are deeply connected to the concept of a 'stable' or an enclosure for animals.
- While 刑務所 is the legal term, Japanese people often use the word ムショ (mushō), a slang contraction of 刑務所, when speaking informally about prison.
- Japanese distinguishes between 拘置所 (kōchisho), a detention center for those awaiting trial, and 刑務所 (keimusho), a prison for those already convicted.
Examples in context
- 彼は刑務所へ送られた。He was sent to prison.This sentence is useful for showing someone being sent to 刑務所.Tatoeba #108015 by bunbuku, translation #295671 by CK
- 彼は刑務所に入れられた。He was put in prison.This sentence is useful for showing someone being put in 刑務所.Tatoeba #108016 by bunbuku, translation #295670 by CK
- 彼らは刑務所から脱獄した。They escaped from prison.This sentence is useful for describing an escape from 刑務所.Tatoeba #10612877 by bunbuku, translation #306414 by CK
- 彼は逮捕されて、刑務所へ入れられました。He was arrested and sent to prison.
- 獄舎の囚人たちは囚われの身にあります。The prisoners in the jail are in captivity.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youta and Himari are talking about a movie they just watched.
- 陽葵 Himari映画の舞台は刑務所だったね。Eiga no butai wa keimusho datta ne.The movie was set in a prison, wasn't it?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、とても暗い雰囲気だった。Un, totemo kurai fun'iki datta.Yeah, it had a very dark atmosphere.
- 陽葵 Himari刑務所の生活は大変そうだね。Keimusho no seikatsu wa taihen sou da ne.Life in prison seems tough.
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。自由がないからね。Hontou da ne. Jiyuu ga nai kara ne.True. Because there is no freedom.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prison” translations and entries 刑務所, 監獄, 牢屋, 牢, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 刑務所, 牢, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
