What does 場 mean in Japanese?
場 means “place.” A common word is 場所 (basho), the ordinary word for a place or location.
場 is also part of many words for places with a purpose, such as 駐車場 (chuushajou, parking lot) and 会場 (kaijou, venue).
Reading
On’yomi: ジョウ (jou)
Kun’yomi: ば (ba)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 場 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | place, location |
| Stroke Count | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
場所 is a neutral word you can use for almost any place: 会う場所 means “the place where we meet.” In compounds, 場 names a place where a particular activity happens, like parking in 駐車場 or selling in 売り場. 場合 extends the idea from a physical place to a situation, as in 雨の場合 (in case of rain).
Common Words
- 場所（ばしょ / basho） — place, location
- 会場（かいじょう / kaijou） — venue, event hall
- 駐車場（ちゅうしゃじょう / chuushajou） — parking lot
- 工場（こうじょう / koujou） — factory
- 売り場（うりば / uriba） — sales floor, counter (in a store)
- 場合（ばあい / baai） — case, situation
Example Sentences
-
駅の近くに駐車場があります。
えきのちかくにちゅうしゃじょうがあります。 / Eki no chikaku ni chuushajou ga arimasu.
There is a parking lot near the station.
-
会う場所を教えてください。
あうばしょをおしえてください。 / Au basho o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me where we are meeting.
-
雨の場合は、試合は中止です。
あめのばあいは、しあいはちゅうしです。 / Ame no baai wa, shiai wa chuushi desu.
If it rains, the game will be canceled.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Both readings are common, so learn them word by word: ば in 場所, 売り場, and 場合, and ジョウ in 会場, 駐車場, and 工場. 場合 is read ばあい (baai), not ばごう. The left side of 場 is the earth radical 土.
Summary
Use 場所 for “place,” read 場 as ジョウ in 会場 and 駐車場, and remember ばあい for 場合.
Want to study more JLPT N4 kanji by theme? See our JLPT N4 Kanji Study List.