Japanese word

署長

Pronunciation

Romajishochō

Meaning

  • nounpolice chief

Example

署長は記者会見で話しました。sho chō wa ki sha kai ken de hana shi ma shi ta

The police chief spoke at the press conference.

Illustration for 署長 (police chief)

More examples

事故の現場には署長も駆けつけました。ji ko no gen ba ni wa sho chō mo ka ke tsu ke ma shi ta

The police chief also rushed to the scene of the accident.

Core concept

Describes the person responsible for directing a particular official office or branch.

Common phrases

  • 署長の指示sho chō no shi ji

    the police chief's instructions

  • 署長に報告するsho chō ni hō koku su ru

    report to the police chief

  • 署長を訪ねるsho chō o tazu ne ru

    visit the police chief

Definition in Japanese

警察署など、特定の公的な署の業務を統括する長。kei satsu sho na do toku tei no kō teki na sho no gyō mu o tō katsu su ru chō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 署長 (shochō) combines 署 (sho, "official office") and 長 (chō, "chief"), meaning the head of an office.

Usage tips

  • In English, police chief often means the head of a whole police department, whereas 署長 (shochō) can refer to the head of a single 警察署 (keisatsu-sho).

Other meanings

  • office directornoun

Word lists with this word