Meaning and Usage
"研究室" (けんきゅうしつ) refers to a professor's office or a laboratory space where research is conducted, commonly found in universities or research institutions. It is a compound of "研究" (research) and "室" (room).
Common Contexts
This word is often used when talking about academic or scientific environments. It can mean both the physical room and the group of people working there.
Collocations and Patterns
- 研究室で (in the laboratory/office): used to indicate location.
- 研究室のドア (the laboratory's door): specifying possession.
- 研究室のメンバー (members of the research lab): referring to people working there.
Register and Nuance
The term is neutral and formal enough for academic contexts but also used in everyday conversation among students and faculty.
Learner Tips
Don't confuse 研究室 with 教室 (きょうしつ), which means classroom. 研究室 is specifically for research activities, often involving professors and graduate students.