局 — Bureau, Office, Situation

Meaning

Welcome to a deeper look at the kanji 局きょく! This versatile character holds several important meanings, essential for N3 learners:

Bureau, Department, Office: Think of a specific administrative unit, like a post office or a government department.
Limited Space: It can refer to a confined area or a specific locale.
Situation, Circumstance: This meaning highlights a particular state of affairs or a phase in an ongoing event.
Part of a Game: Especially in board games like Go or Shogi, it can mean a 'game' or a 'match'.

Turning to its origins, 局きょく is a kanji that visually suggests an enclosed or defined space. The top part, 尸 (shikabane), often associated with 'corpse,' functions here to represent a crouched person or, more abstractly, a roof or an enclosure. The bottom part, which resembles 口 (kuchi, mouth), can signify a container, a boundary, or a defined area. So, together, the kanji depicts someone (or something) confined within a specific, limited space or a structure that defines an area.

This visual representation directly connects to its meanings: an 'office' is a defined workspace, a 'situation' describes circumstances within certain boundaries, and a 'game' takes place within a set space or on a board.

Comprising 7 strokes, this kanji is typically introduced in the 6th grade of Japanese elementary school. For N3 learners, recognizing 局きょく will become increasingly important as you advance in your studies.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived readings, are crucial for 局きょく. This is the reading you'll encounter in the vast majority of its compound words, primarily キョク (kyoku).

キョク (kyoku): This reading is dominant and used in almost all professional, administrative, and situational contexts.

Here are some common examples:

郵便局ゆうびんきょく (yūbinkyoku) — This means "post office." It's an essential word for daily life in Japan!
放送局ほうそうきょく (hōsōkyoku) — Refers to a "broadcasting station," like a TV or radio station.
局面きょくめん (kyokumen) — Meaning "situation," "phase," or "aspect." This is used when discussing the turn of events or the state of affairs.
消防局しょうぼうきょく (shōbōkyoku) — The "fire department."

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

Turning to the Kun'yomi, or native Japanese readings, 局きょく presents a unique case. While there is a recognized Kun'yomi, つぼね (tsubone), it's rarely used in modern Japanese for the common meanings of "bureau" or "office."

つぼねつぼね (tsubone): Historically, 局つぼね referred to a lady-in-waiting in a court or a private room within a palace. While you might encounter this reading in classical literature or historical contexts, it's rarely used in modern Japanese for meanings like 'bureau' or 'office.' You won't typically use or hear it in everyday conversations.

Here are a couple of examples for historical context, but remember, these are not common uses for the modern meaning of 局きょく:

局つぼね (tsubone) — Refers to an imperial court lady (archaic).
局つぼね (tsubone) — Can also mean a lady's private room or apartment in a palace (archaic).

Therefore, for your N3 studies, prioritize learning the On'yomi, キョク.

Common Words & Compounds

Expand your vocabulary with these essential words and compounds using 局きょく. You'll find this kanji in many practical contexts!

Public Offices & Stations:

郵便局ゆうびんきょく (yūbinkyoku) — The ever-useful post office.
消防局しょうぼうきょく (shōbōkyoku) — The fire department.
気象局きしょうきょく (kishōkyoku) — The meteorological agency or weather bureau.
テレビ局テレビきょく (terebi kyoku) — A TV station.
ラジオ局ラジオきょく (rajio kyoku) — A radio station.
電力局でんりょくきょく (denryoku kyoku) — The electric power bureau.

Situations & Circumstances:

局面きょくめん (kyokumen) — A situation, phase, or aspect of events. Very common in news and discussions.
大局たいきょく (taikyoku) — The general situation or larger picture. It's about seeing the forest for the trees!
全局ぜんきょく (zenkyoku) — The whole situation or entire game.
時局じきょく (jikoku) — The current situation or state of affairs, often with a sense of urgency.

Specific Parts & Games:

局地きょくち (kyokuchi) — A local area or limited region. Often used with 局地的きょくちてき (kyokuchiteki) for "local" or "localized."
局部きょくぶ (kyokubu) — A specific part or section.
一局いっきょく (ikkyoku) — A game (especially for board games like Shogi or Go) or a hand (in Mahjong).
対局たいきょく (taikyoku) — A game or match between two players (in Go, Shogi, etc.).

Example Sentences

Here are some practical sentences demonstrating 局きょく in action!

郵便局ゆうびんきょくはどこですか？

Yūbinkyoku wa doko desu ka?

Where is the post office?

この放送局ほうそうきょくはニュースが充実じゅうじつしていますね。

Kono hōsōkyoku wa nyūsu ga jūjitsu shiteimasu ne.

This broadcasting station has comprehensive news coverage, doesn't it?

人生じんせいの様々さまざまな局面きょくめんを経験けいけんしました。

Jinsei no samazama na kyokumen o keiken shimashita.

I have experienced various situations in life.

彼かれは大局たいきょくを見みて判断はんだんする能力のうりょくがある。

Kare wa taikyoku o mite handan suru nōryoku ga aru.

He has the ability to judge by looking at the bigger picture.

この地域ちいきは局地的きょくちてきな雨あめが降ふるでしょう。

Kono chiiki wa kyokuchiteki na ame ga furu deshō.

This area will likely have localized rain.

最後さいごの一局いっきょくで、彼かれは見事みごとに勝利しょうりしました。

Saigo no ikkyoku de, kare wa migoto ni shōri shimashita.

In the final game, he won splendidly.

その事件じけんは、警察局けいさつきょくが担当たんとうしています。

Sono jiken wa, keisatsukyoku ga tantō shiteimasu.

That incident is being handled by the police department.

国際情勢こくさいじょうせいは複雑ふくざつな局面きょくめんを迎むかえています。

Kokusai jōsei wa fukuzatsu na kyokumen o mukaeteimasu.

The international situation is entering a complex phase.

私わたしの父ちちは市役所しやくしょの水道局すいどうきょくで働はたらいています。

Watashi no chichi wa shiyakusho no suidōkyoku de hataraiteimasu.

My father works at the city hall's waterworks bureau.

彼かれは問題もんだいを解決かいけつするために、まずはこの局面きょくめんから始はじめました。

Kare wa mondai o kaiketsu suru tame ni, mazu wa kono kyokumen kara hajimemashita.

To solve the problem, he started by addressing this particular situation first.

Memory Tip

To effectively remember 局きょく, visualize its components: Imagine a person (尸) trying to fit into a tiny box or mouth (口). This confined space represents a bureau or office – a designated, limited area for a specific purpose.

It also brings to mind a particular situation or phase, like a 'box' of circumstances you're currently in. You can also think of the 'box' as the board for a 'game'. So, a 'post office' is a fixed 'box' for mail, a 'situation' is a fixed 'box' of circumstances, and a 'game' is played within a fixed 'box' (board).

By recalling the 'person in a box' imagery, you can connect it to the various meanings of a specific place, situation, or confined area.