Japanese word

県

Pronunciation

Romajiken

Meaning

  • nounprefecture

Example

この県は山が多いです。ko no ken wa yama ga ō i de su

This prefecture has many mountains.

Illustration for 県 (prefecture)

More examples

どの県に住んでいますか？do no ken ni su n de i ma su ka

Which prefecture do you live in?

私は隣の県へ電車で行きます。watashi wa tonari no ken e den sha de i ki ma su

I am going to a neighboring prefecture by train.

Core concept

It refers to a defined local area that has its own government within a country.

Common phrases

  • 県の名前ken no na mae

    the name of the prefecture

  • 隣の県tonari no ken

    a neighboring prefecture

Definition in Japanese

日本の行政区画の一つで、都・道・府と並ぶ地方公共団体。nihon no gyō sei ku kaku no hito tsu de to dō fu to nara bu chi hō kō kyō dan tai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese term 県 (ken, "prefecture") uses a kanji borrowed from Chinese, where 県 referred to an administrative district; Japanese uses it for a prefecture.

Usage tips

  • Japan has 47 prefectures, and each has its own prefectural government and assembly.

Word lists with this word