Readings: チョウ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Agency, government office, board, court
The kanji 庁 is composed of the radical 广 (mamadare), meaning “house” or “shelter,” and the component 丁 (chou), which acts phonetically to represent the “chou” sound and also carries meanings related to “order” or “nail/block.” Together, it signifies an orderly building or hall, particularly one used for official business, thus leading to its meaning of “agency” or “government office.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 庁 has 5 strokes. It starts with the top-left dot of 广, followed by the horizontal stroke, and then the vertical hook. After completing the radical, the stroke for 丁 is drawn: a horizontal stroke, then a vertical stroke with a hook at the end, and finally a short vertical stroke inside.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 广 (まだれ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Non-grade (Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- チョウ (Chou)
Common Words Using 庁
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 市役所 | しやくしょ | City Hall |
| 県庁 | けんちょう | Prefectural Office |
| 官公庁 | かんこうちょう | Government offices |
| 気象庁 | きしょうちょう | Japan Meteorological Agency |
| 警察庁 | けいさつちょう | National Police Agency |
| 庁舎 | ちょうしゃ | Government building, office building |
| 文化庁 | ぶんかちょう | Agency for Cultural Affairs |
| 消防庁 | しょうぼうちょう | Fire and Disaster Management Agency |
| 宮内庁 | くないちょう | Imperial Household Agency |
| 国土交通省 | こくどこうつうしょう | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (includes some “chou” level agencies) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 市役所は駅から徒歩5分です。
Kana: しやくしょはえきからとほごふんです。
Romaji: Shiyakusho wa eki kara toho go-fun desu.
English: The city hall is a 5-minute walk from the station.
Japanese: 県庁所在地はどこですか？
Kana: けんちょうしょざいちはどこですか？
Romaji: Kenchou shozaichi wa doko desu ka?
English: Where is the prefectural capital?
Japanese: 気象庁の発表によると、明日は晴れるそうです。
Kana: きしょうちょうのはっぴょうによると、あすははれるそうです。
Romaji: Kishouchou no happyou ni yoru to, asu wa hareru sou desu.
English: According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s announcement, it will be sunny tomorrow.
Japanese: 彼らは政府の庁舎で働いています。
Kana: かれらはせいふのちょうしゃではたらいています。
Romaji: Karera wa seifu no chousha de hataraite imasu.
English: They work in a government building.
Japanese: 文化庁は日本の文化を保護しています。
Kana: ぶんかちょうはにほんのぶんかをほごしています。
Romaji: Bunkachou wa Nihon no bunka o hogo shite imasu.
English: The Agency for Cultural Affairs protects Japanese culture.
Japanese: 警察庁の長官が交代した。
Kana: けいさつちょうのちょうかんがこうたいした。
Romaji: Keisatsuchou no choukan ga koutai shita.
English: The chief of the National Police Agency has changed.
Japanese: 新しい庁舎の建設が始まった。
Kana: あたらしいちょうしゃのけんせつがはじまった。
Romaji: Atarashii chousha no kensetsu ga hajimatta.
English: The construction of the new government building has started.
Japanese: 消防庁は災害対策の指示を出した。
Kana: しょうぼうちょうはさいがいたいさくのしじをだした。
Romaji: Shoubou-chou wa saigai taisaku no shiji o dashita.
English: The Fire and Disaster Management Agency issued instructions for disaster countermeasures.
Japanese: この情報は関係省庁から提供された。
Kana: このじょうほうはかんけいしょうちょうからていきょうされた。
Romaji: Kono jouhou wa kankei shouchou kara teikyou sareta.
English: This information was provided by the relevant ministries and agencies.
Japanese: 内閣府の庁舎は東京の中心部にあります。
Kana: ないかくふのちょうしゃはとうきょうのちゅうしんぶにあります。
Romaji: Naikakufu no chousha wa Toukyou no chuushinbu ni arimasu.
English: The Cabinet Office building is in the center of Tokyo.
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