市役所

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 市役所 is read as しやくしょ and is a noun for a city government office and the city-hall building that houses it.
• Basic usage: Use 市役所で尋ねる for an inquiry made there and 市役所の前 for a physical location in front of the building.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Institution and building
  • The address inquiry foregrounds the municipal office’s function, while the clock tower uses the actual building as a landmark.
• Location particles
  • で marks where the inquiry occurs, whereas の前に locates another structure in front of city hall.