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Translation and Meaning of: 所 - tokoro

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

Romaji: tokoro

Kana: ところ

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: place

Meaning in English: place

Definition: a certain place or position where something is located.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (所) tokoro

The Japanese word 「所」 (tokoro) is a multifaceted expression that plays a significant role in the Japanese language. It is often used to refer to "place" or "location," but its applications go beyond a simple geographical description. The versatility of 「ところ」 also extends to abstract concepts, as it can be used to indicate specific situations or points in time. The kanji writing 「所」 gives the word a visual aspect that is complemented by the reading in hiragana and its usage in everyday language as 「ところ」.

Etimologically, 「所」 is composed of two radicals: 「戸」 (to), which means "door" or "opening", and 「斤」 (kin), which originally refers to a unit of measure used for weighing meat or grains. The combination of these elements conveys the idea of a defined space or a specific point, essentially a "location". Over time, its usage has expanded, incorporating broader and more refined contexts in the Japanese language.

In practice, 「ところ」 is inserted into various expressions to form compound meanings. Here are some examples of compound words that use this term:

  • "寝所" (nesho) - sleeping place, dormitory.
  • "隠れ所" (kakuretokoro) - hideout.
  • "役所" (yakusho) - government office, city hall.

Besides its function as a noun, 「ところ」 can be used grammatically in more complex structures. For example, in sentences that express imminent actions, using the grammatical form 「ところだ」 (tokoro da) to mean "about to" or "on the verge of." This flexibility gives the expression 「ところ」 significant relevance in various communicative situations. In summary, 「所」 (tokoro) is a crucial and richly layered term in the Japanese vocabulary, reflecting both tangible and abstract aspects while remaining rooted in a rich etymological and cultural heritage.

Synonyms and similar words

  • 場所 (Basho) - Local, place
  • ところ (Tokoro) - Local, place, specific point
  • 位置 (Ichi) - Position, exact place within a context
  • 置場 (Okiba) - Storage location, designated space to place something
  • 置き場所 (Okibasho) - Place where something is put, similar to 置場, but can be more generic.
  • 位置取り (Ichidori) - Positioning, the act of defining a position
  • 位置合わせ (Ichiawase) - Position adjustment, align one position with another

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Words related

余所

yoso

another place; in another place; strange parts

余所見

yosomi

looking away; looking aside

役所

yakusho

Government Office; public office

名所

meisho

famous place

便所

benjyo

bathroom; Restroom; rest room; latrine; comfort station

場所

basho

local; location

所が

tokoroga

however; while; even though

所で

tokorode

by the way; even if; no matter what

停留所

teiryuujyo

Bus or tram to

長所

chousho

strong point

Words with the same pronunciation: ところ tokoro

一頃

hitokoro

once; some time ago

所で

tokorode

by the way; even if; no matter what

所が

tokoroga

however; while; even though

How to Write in Japanese - (所) tokoro

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (所) tokoro:

Example Sentences - (所) tokoro

Below are some example sentences:

その場所

sono basho

that place.

that place

  • その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
  • 場所 - noun meaning "place"
騒々しい場所は嫌いです。

Souzoushii basho wa kirai desu

I don't like noisy places.

I hate noisy places.

  • 騒々しい - noisy
  • 場所 - place
  • は - topic particle
  • 嫌い - hate, dislike
  • です - verb ser/estar in the present
騒がしい場所は好きじゃない。

Sawagashii basho wa suki janai

I don't like noisy places.

  • 騒がしい - noisy
  • 場所 - place
  • は - topic particle
  • 好き - like
  • じゃない - informal denial
農村は自然に囲まれた素晴らしい場所です。

Nōson wa shizen ni kakomareta subarashii basho desu

Rural areas are wonderful places surrounded by nature.

Rural is a wonderful place surrounded by nature.

  • 農村 - It means "rural village" in Japanese.
  • は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
  • 自然 - Means "nature" in Japanese.
  • に - grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of something to something else.
  • 囲まれた - past form of the verb "囲む" which means "to surround".
  • 素晴らしい - means "wonderful" or "splendid" in Japanese.
  • 場所 - means "place" in Japanese.
  • です - verb "to be" in polite form.
至る所に桜が咲いている。

Muguru tokoro ni sakura ga saite iru

Cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere.

Cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere.

  • 至る所に - means "everywhere" or "everywhere". It is made up of the kanji 至る (itaru), which means "to reach" or "to attain", and 所 (tokoro), which means "place". It's a common expression in Japanese.
  • 桜が - means "the cherry trees are". 桜 (sakura) is the Japanese word for "cherry tree" and is an important symbol of Japanese culture. The kanji が (ga) is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
  • 咲いている - means "blooming" or "in flower". It is made up of the kanji 咲く (saku), which means "to bloom", and ている (teiru), which is a conjugation of the verb いる (iru), which indicates a continuous state or action. It is a common expression to describe flowers in Japanese.
私の所に来てください。

Watashi no tokoro ni kite kudasai

Please come to me.

Please come to me.

  • 私 (watashi) - means "I" in Japanese
  • の (no) - possession particle in Japanese, which indicates that "私" is the owner of what comes next
  • 所 (tokoro) - means "place" in Japanese
  • に (ni) - particle indicating the destination or location of something in Japanese
  • 来て (kite) - imperative form of the verb "to come" in Japanese
  • ください (kudasai) - expression meaning "please" in Japanese
石炭は火力発電所で使われる重要なエネルギー源です。

Ishitan wa karyoku hatsudensho de tsukawareru juuyou na enerugii gen desu

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

  • 石炭 (sekitan) - coal
  • は (wa) - topic particle
  • 火力発電所 (karyoku hatsudensho) - power plant
  • で (de) - location particle
  • 使われる (tsukawareru) - to be used
  • 重要な (juuyouna) - important
  • エネルギー源 (enerugii gen) - energy source
  • です (desu) - verb ser/estar in the present
所々に桜の花が咲いている。

Tokoro tokoro ni sakura no hana ga saite iru

The cherry blossoms are blooming here and there.

Cherry blossoms are blooming in some places.

  • 所々に - indicates that something is spread out or distributed in various places
  • 桜の花が - Cherry blossoms
  • 咲いている - are blooming
家は私たちの居場所です。

Ie wa watashitachi no ibasho desu

Home is our place.

Home is our place.

  • 家 (ie) - means "house" in Japanese
  • は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese
  • 私たち (watashitachi) - means "we" in Japanese
  • の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese
  • 居場所 (ibasho) - It means "a place where you feel at home" in Japanese.
  • です (desu) - polite way to be/act in Japanese
国有地は国が所有する土地のことです。

Kokuyūchi wa kuni ga shoyū suru tochi no koto desu

National land refers to lands owned by the government.

State-owned land is land owned by the country.

  • 国有地 - public land
  • 国 - country
  • 所有する - to possess
  • 土地 - Earth
  • こと - thing
  • です - is (verb to be in the present tense)
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Other words of the same type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

所