Translation and Meaning of: お巡りさん - omawarisan

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word お巡りさん (omawarisan) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: omawarisan

Kana: おまわりさん

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

お巡りさん

Translation / Meaning: policeman (friendly term)

Meaning in English: policeman (friendly term)

Definition: Police officer.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (お巡りさん) omawarisan

The word 「お巡りさん」 (omawarisan) is a Japanese affectionate expression used to refer to a police officer. Commonly used in informal contexts or by children, this term carries a friendly connotation when addressing law enforcement agents. 「お」 is an honorific prefix that denotes respect, while 「巡り」 (meguri) means to patrol, and 「さん」 is a polite suffix similar to "Mr." or "Mrs." in other languages.

The etymology of 「お巡りさん」 traces back to the word 「巡査」 (junsa), which means "police officer" in Japanese. 「巡」 (jun) means "to circulate" or "to patrol", and it consists of the radicals for "to go" and "to return". Meanwhile, 「査」 (sa) means "to inspect", emphasizing the role of the police officer who has the duty to patrol and inspect to maintain order. As the term evolved into a more informal form, 「お巡りさん」 became a common way to respectfully and affectionately refer to police officers, especially by children.

In Japanese culture, police officers play an important role and are often seen as friendly and trustworthy figures. This is especially evidenced by the use of 「お巡りさん」 in everyday conversations, which reflects the respect and familiarity that citizens have for the local police. Children are taught from an early age to trust police officers, which reinforces the use of the term in this context. Furthermore, this expression helps to create a welcoming image of law enforcement, making it accessible and trustworthy for the public.