役所

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 役所 (やくしょ) combines public duty 役 and place 所 to denote a government office.
• Basic usage: It is where residents complete moving procedures or obtain official certificates at a counter.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A public administrative office
  • 役所 handles government procedures and documents; it is not a general term for a private company's office.