Meaning and Usage
The word "局" (きょく) primarily refers to an office, bureau, or a broadcasting station such as a TV or radio station. It is commonly used in formal or official contexts to denote specific administrative or organizational units.
Common Contexts
You will often see "局" used in compound words like "郵便局" (post office), "警察局" (police station), and "テレビ局" (TV station). It indicates a place where official or public services are provided.
Collocations and Patterns
- 郵便局 (ゆうびんきょく): post office, used when talking about mailing services.
- 警察局 (けいさつきょく): police station, referring to law enforcement offices.
- テレビ局 (てれびきょく): TV station, used in media contexts.
- 局の担当者 (きょくのたんとうしゃ): bureau officer, indicating a person responsible within an office.
Register and Nuance
"局" is a neutral to formal term and is rarely used in casual conversation alone. It often appears in compound nouns. Learners should avoid confusing it with "曲" (きょく), which means "music piece" or "song".
Common Mistake
A frequent learner mistake is mixing "局" (office/station) with "曲" (song). Pay attention to context and kanji to avoid confusion.