What does 区 mean in Japanese?
区 means “ward, district, section” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 区 (ward; district), 区役所 (ward office), and 中央区 (Chuo Ward).
For learners, the key is to study 区 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: ク (ku)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 区 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
区 is not limited to one English translation. In 区 (く), it means ward; district; in 区役所 (くやくしょ), it points to ward office; and in 中央区 (ちゅうおうく), it is used for Chuo Ward. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 区（く / ku） — ward; district
- 区役所（くやくしょ / kuyakusho） — ward office
- 中央区（ちゅうおうく / chūōku） — Chuo Ward
- 地区（ちく / chiku） — district
- 区域（くいき / kuiki） — area; zone
- 区別（くべつ / kubetsu） — distinction
Example Sentences
-
この区に住んでいます。
このくにすんでいます。 / Kono ku ni sunde imasu.
I live in this ward.
-
区役所で手続きをしました。
くやくしょでてつづきをしました。 / Kuyakusho de tetsuzuki o shimashita.
I completed paperwork at the ward office.
-
公園は中央区にあります。
こうえんはちゅうおうくにあります。 / Kōen wa Chūō-ku ni arimasu.
The park is in Chuo Ward.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 区 (く / ku) because it keeps the core meaning of 区 clear. Then add 区役所 and 中央区 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 区 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
区 means “ward, district, section” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 区, 区役所, and 中央区.