prefecture

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 県 has 9 strokes and refers to a prefecture, an administrative division of Japan.
• Basic usage: 県外 is read けんがい, and 県庁 is read けんちょう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A boundary and an office
  • 県外の会社 means a company outside the prefecture.
  • 県外から indicates an origin outside the prefecture.
  • 県庁の入口 means the entrance to the prefectural government office.
  • 県庁 refers to the administrative body or its building.