Japanese word

警官

Pronunciation

Romajikeikan

Meaning

  • nounpolice officer

Example

駅に警官がいます。eki ni kei kan ga i ma su

There is a police officer at the station.

Illustration for 警官 (police officer)

More examples

道に迷ったので、警官に駅までの道を聞きました。michi ni mayo tta no de kei kan ni eki ma de no michi o ki ki ma shi ta

I got lost, so I asked a police officer for directions to the station.

Core concept

Describes a public official whose role is to prevent crime and protect public safety.

Common phrases

  • 警官を呼ぶkei kan o yo bu

    call a police officer

  • 警官に相談するkei kan ni sō dan su ru

    consult a police officer

  • 警官になるkei kan ni na ru

    become a police officer

Similar words

警察官keisatsukan: The formal term for a person whose job is to enforce the law and protect the public.
お巡りさんomawarisan: A familiar, polite term for a police officer, often used in everyday conversation.

Definition in Japanese

犯罪の防止や捜査、交通整理などを行い、治安を守る公務員。han zai no bō shi ya sō sa kō tsū sei ri na do o okona i chi an o mamo ru kō mu in

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 警官 (keikan) combines 警 (kei, "to guard") and 官 (kan, "government official"), giving the sense of an official who guards public order.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 警官 (keikan) commonly refers to a police officer in uniform, while 警察官 (keisatsukan) is the more formal term.

Word lists with this word