Japanese word

おまわりさん

Pronunciation

Romajiomawarisan

Meaning

  • nounpolice officer

Example

おまわりさんに聞いてください。o ma wa ri sa n ni ki i te ku da sa i

Please ask a police officer.

Illustration for おまわりさん (police officer)

More examples

落とし物を見つけたら、おまわりさんに届けます。o to shi mono o mi tsu ke ta ra o ma wa ri sa n ni todo ke ma su

If I find something someone has lost, I take it to a police officer.

Core concept

Centers on a familiar, respectful way of referring to a police officer who keeps watch in the community.

Common phrases

  • おまわりさんに道を聞くo ma wa ri sa n ni michi o ki ku

    ask a police officer for directions

  • おまわりさんに届けるo ma wa ri sa n ni todo ke ru

    report it to a police officer

Similar words

警察官keisatsukan: The formal term for a person employed by the police to enforce laws and protect people.
警官keikan: A term for a police officer in everyday speech and general writing.

Definition in Japanese

警察官を親しみを込めて呼ぶくだけた言い方。kei satsu kan o shita shi mi o ko me te yo bu ku da ke ta i i kata

Word origin

The native Japanese expression combines お (o, "honorific prefix"), まわり (mawari, "going around"), and さん (san, "polite title"), linking a police officer with making rounds.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese traffic-safety lessons for children, おまわりさん (omawarisan) often appears as the officer who helps people cross a road.

Other meanings

  • copnoun

Word lists with this word