所在
shozai
The Japanese phrase for "where something is" is 所在 (shozai).
所在 denotes the physical location or place where a person or object is situated. It is frequently used in administrative, legal, police or business contexts, such as describing the current whereabouts of a person or the location of a missing item.
Which one should you use?
While 所在 refers to the specific whereabouts or 'location' of an entity (often used for people or assets), 場所 (basho) is the more common word for a general 'place' or 'spot'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In these formal contexts, you might use the verb あります to indicate that something exists or is located somewhere or the even more polite version ございます when speaking to someone of higher social status.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate a specific location, the particle に is used after a noun. For example, the phrase 所在を確認する (shozai o kakunin suru) means "to confirm the whereabouts/location" of something or someone.
How do you pronounce it?
shozai
Did you know?
- The word 所在 is used in the expression 所在ない (shozai nai) to describe a feeling of restlessness or having nothing to do.
- While English uses 'whereabouts' for people, using 所在 for a person in casual conversation can sound strangely robotic or like a person is being tracked as an object.
- In Japanese business and legal documents, 所在 can refer not just to a physical spot, but to the legal 'domicile' or registered address of a corporation.
Examples in context
- スーパーマーケットは駅の近くにあります。The supermarket is located near the train station.
- 郵便局は学校の前にあります。The post office is located in front of the school.
- 本は机の上にある。The book is on the desk.
- 駅はあそこにあるよ。The station is over there.
- 荷物の所在を確認してください。Nimotsu no shozai o kakunin shite kudasai.Please confirm the location of the luggage.
- 紛失した書類の所在が分かりません。Funshitsu shita shorui no shozai ga wakarimasen.I don't know the location of the lost documents.
- その資産の所在を調査中だ。Sono shisan no shozai o chousachuu da.The location of those assets is currently being investigated.
Example conversation
Hime and Kenta are looking for a missing file at work.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さん、あの資料の所在がわかりません。Himari-san, ano shiryo no shozai ga wakarimasen.Himari, I don't know where that document is.
- 陽葵 Himari私が確認しますので、少々お待ちください。Watashi ga kakunin shimasu node, shōshō omachi kudasai.I'll check, so please wait a moment.
- 陽葵 Himariありました！所在は棚の上の箱の中です。Arimashita! Shozai wa tana no ue no hako no naka desu.Found it! It's in the box on top of the shelf.
- 健太 Kentaありがとうございます、助かりました。Arigatō gozaimasu, tasukarimashita.Thank you, that helps a lot.
