government office · sign

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 署 has 13 strokes and appears in words for government offices and stations.
• Basic usage: 消防署 is read しょうぼうしょ, and 警察署 is read けいさつしょ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 消防署 and 警察署
  • 消防署 means fire station.
  • 学校の近くに新しい消防署が建った。 means “A new fire station was built near the school.”
  • 警察署 means police station.
  • 拾った鍵を駅前の警察署へ届けた。 means “I took the key I found to the police station by the station.”