交番

• 読み: こうばん
• ローマ字: kouban
• 漢字の分解: 交 (kou) — cross, alternate; 番 (ban) — watch, guard, turn
• 発音: /koː.baɴ/

意味

Police box; koban. A small neighbourhood police station unique to Japan.

A noun meaning police box, a uniquely Japanese institution. These small police stations are found on street corners throughout Japan, staffed by one or two officers. They handle directions, lost property, minor incidents, and community safety. The koban system has been adopted by other countries as a model for community policing.

例文

1. 道に迷ったら交番で聞いてください。
2. 交番のおまわりさんはとても親切です。
3. 財布を拾って交番に届けました。

使い方ガイド

場面: directions, safety, daily life

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

A compound of 交 (alternating) and 番 (watch, guard). The name refers to the system of officers taking turns on watch duty at the station.

文化的背景

時代: Meiji

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal