Japanese word

下番

Pronunciation

Romajikaban

Meaning

  • noungoing off duty

Example

兵士は夕方に下番します。hei shi wa yū gata ni ka ban shi ma su

The soldier goes off duty in the evening.

Illustration for 下番 (going off duty)

More examples

交代要員が到着すると、当直の兵士は下番します。kō tai yō in ga tō chaku su ru to tō choku no hei shi wa ka ban shi ma su

When the replacement arrives, the soldier on duty goes off duty.

Core concept

Presents duty as a watch or post that ends when the person steps away from it.

Common phrases

  • 下番するka ban su ru

    go off duty

  • 下番時刻ka ban ji koku

    off-duty time

Similar words

勤務明けkinmuake: The state or time after an assigned period of work or watch ends.
非番hiban: A scheduled period away from assigned duty.
退勤taikin: The act of finishing work and leaving the workplace.

Definition in Japanese

軍隊などで、任務や当番を終えて勤務から離れること。gun tai na do de nin mu ya tō ban o o e te kin mu ka ra hana re ru ko to

Word origin

下番 (kaban) combines 下 (ka, "down") with 番 (ban, "watch or duty"), describing the act of coming down from one's duty.

Usage tips

  • Because 下番 (kaban) names the end of an assigned watch, it occurs more naturally in military or guard-duty contexts than in casual talk about leaving a regular job.

Opposites

  • 上番jōbangoing on dutynoun

Word lists with this word