場 — Place, Location, Scene

Meaning

場 means place, venue, or scene — any space, physical or abstract, where something happens. Parking lots, factories, stadiums, markets, theater stages: all use this kanji, making it one of the highest-frequency characters in everyday Japanese.

The character is built from two parts: the radical 土 (tsuchi, earth) on the left, and 昜 (a phonetic element suggesting brightness and expansion) on the right. Picture a sunlit, open stretch of ground — cleared and ready for use. In ancient Chinese, similar characters depicted ritual grounds, which explains why 場 still implies not just any patch of dirt, but a space with a purpose.

場 covers abstract ground too. 場合ばあい means "case" or "situation," and 立場たちば means "standpoint" — literally your "standing place." Once you notice this pattern, you will spot 場 everywhere.

Taught in Grade 2 with 12 strokes, 場 is among the earliest kanji Japanese children learn. The radical 土 (earth) sits on the left — a reminder of its roots in physical space.

Readings

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

The on'yomi is ジョウ (jō), mainly used in compound words. Most formal terms for venues and facilities use this reading.

会場かいじょう (kaijō) — venue, meeting hall. Used for events, conferences, and ceremonies.
工場こうじょう (kōjō) — factory. A place where goods are manufactured.
駐車場ちゅうしゃじょう (chūshajō) — parking lot. Literally "stopped-car place."
登場とうじょう (tōjō) — entrance, appearance on stage. Used when a character or person makes their appearance.
入場にゅうじょう (nyūjō) — admission, entry into a venue.
退場たいじょう (taijō) — exit, leaving a venue or being ejected.
劇場げきじょう (gekijō) — theater, playhouse.
競技場きょうぎじょう (kyōgijō) — stadium, sports arena.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The kun'yomi is ば (ba), used in native Japanese words. It tends to feel slightly more casual or situational than the on'yomi.

場所ばしょ (basho) — place, spot, location. The most common everyday word for "place."
広場ひろば (hiroba) — plaza, open square. A wide public space.
場合ばあい (baai) — case, situation. Very common in conditional sentences.
立場たちば (tachiba) — standpoint, position (figurative). Literally "standing place."
現場げんば (genba) — site, scene of an incident or work. Frequent in news and professional contexts.
市場いちば (ichiba) — market, marketplace. (The on'yomi しじょう shijō is also common.)
牧場まきば (makiba) — pasture, ranch.

Common Words & Compounds

場 turns up in dozens of compounds. Here are the most useful ones, grouped by theme.

Everyday Places

場所ばしょ (basho) — place, location
広場ひろば (hiroba) — plaza, public square
市場いちば (ichiba) — market
駐車場ちゅうしゃじょう (chūshajō) — parking lot
牧場まきば (makiba) — pasture, ranch

Work & Industry

工場こうじょう (kōjō) — factory
農場のうじょう (nōjō) — farm
現場げんば (genba) — work site, scene of incident

Events & Performance

会場かいじょう (kaijō) — event venue
劇場げきじょう (gekijō) — theater
球場きゅうじょう (kyūjō) — baseball stadium
競技場きょうぎじょう (kyōgijō) — sports stadium
登場とうじょう (tōjō) — making an entrance
入場にゅうじょう (nyūjō) — admission, entry

Abstract & Situational

場合ばあい (baai) — case, situation
立場たちば (tachiba) — standpoint, position
場面ばめん (bamen) — scene, situation, moment

Example Sentences

この場所ばしょはとても静しずかです。

Kono basho wa totemo shizuka desu.

This place is very quiet.

駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうはどこですか？

Chūshajō wa doko desu ka?

Where is the parking lot?

会場かいじょうに早はやく着つきました。

Kaijō ni hayaku tsukimashita.

I arrived at the venue early.

その場合ばあいは、連絡れんらくしてください。

Sono baai wa, renraku shite kudasai.

In that case, please contact me.

彼かれの立場たちばを考かんがえてください。

Kare no tachiba wo kangaete kudasai.

Please consider his standpoint.

工場こうじょうで新あたらしい機械きかいを使つかっています。

Kōjō de atarashii kikai wo tsukatte imasu.

They are using new machines at the factory.

ヒーローが登場とうじょうしたとき、みんなが拍手はくしゅしました。

Hīrō ga tōjō shita toki, minna ga hakushu shimashita.

When the hero appeared, everyone applauded.

現場げんばの状況じょうきょうを確認かくにんしています。

Genba no jōkyō wo kakunin shite imasu.

We are checking the situation at the site.

その場面ばめんはとても感動的かんどうてきでした。

Sono bamen wa totemo kandōteki deshita.

That scene was very moving.

広場ひろばで子供こどもたちが遊あそんでいます。

Hiroba de kodomotachi ga asonde imasu.

Children are playing in the plaza.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

Picture a wide, sunny stretch of earth (土) — cleared and ready for use. That open ground is your 場 (ba/jō): a defined space where something is meant to happen. The radical 土 on the left keeps it tied to the physical world.

For the on'yomi ジョウ, think of the English word "zone" — both name a defined area. For the kun'yomi ば, anchor it to 場所ばしょ (basho): "ba" is simply "the place."