工場

• Reading: こうじょう
• Romaji: koujou
• Kanji breakdown: 工 (kou) — work, construction, craft; 場 (jou) — place, field
• Pronunciation: /koː.d͡ʑoː/

Meaning

Factory; plant; workshop. A building where goods are manufactured.

A noun with two common readings: こうじょう (more formal/standard) and こうば (more colloquial, often for smaller workshops). Japan is famous for its manufacturing industry, and 工場見学 (factory tours) are popular educational activities for school children and tourists alike.

Examples

1. 父はこの工場で二十年働いています。 My father has been working at this factory for twenty years.
2. 新しい工場が町の外にできました。 A new factory was built outside of town.
3. 工場で車を作っています。 They make cars at the factory.

Usage Guide

Context: industry, work, manufacturing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A Sino-Japanese compound. 工 means work or construction, and 場 means place or field. The compound literally means 'work place' or 'manufacturing place.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal