Meaning

Primary

Police Box

Alternative

Koban

Word Type

proper noun

Explanation

This word is a little tricky — at first, the combination of mix and number in a series doesn't seem to add up to police box, but there's a catch. This word is actually an abbreviated combo of two other words: The comes from 交替 (in rotation) and the comes from 立番 (standing watch).

A police box is basically a tiny community police station staffed by one or two officers. It's something that is not common in many Western countries, but it is pretty much all over Japan.

Reading

こうばん
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 交番のおまわりさん

    policeman at a police box

    交番の前

    in front of the police box

    交番の近く

    near the police box

Context Sentences

交番の前に、たくさんのジャーマンシェパードがいました。

There were a lot of German shepherds in front of the police box.

いつも家までの道が分からなくなってしまうおばあちゃんは、交番のヘビーユーザーです。

Grandma, who always loses her way home, is a heavy user of the police box.

皮肉なことに、家から交番が近すぎると、反対に不安です。

Ironically, I feel uneasy if there's a police box too close to my house.

Kanji Composition