Translation and Meaning of: 所 - tokoro

The Japanese word 所[ところ] is an essential term for anyone learning the language. With meanings ranging from "place" to "moment" or "aspect," it appears in various everyday situations and even in fixed expressions. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, practical uses, and even some curiosities that help you memorize it better. If you've ever wondered how the Japanese use this word in their daily lives, keep reading!

Meaning and uses of 所 [ところ]

所[ところ] is a versatile word that can mean "place," "specific point," or even "situation." In sentences like "ここは静かなところです" (Here is a quiet place), it indicates physical location. In more abstract contexts, such as "今のところ大丈夫です" (At the moment, everything is fine), it refers to a temporary state or condition.

Another interesting use is in expressions like ところで (by the way), which introduces a change of topic. This flexibility makes 所[ところ] one of the most frequently used words in spoken and written Japanese, appearing in informal conversations and even in formal texts.

Origin and writing of kanji

The kanji 所 is composed of the radical 戸 (door) and the component 斤 (axe). Originally, in ancient China, it represented a place where tools were kept, hence the association with "place". In Japan, this idea has expanded to encompass both physical spaces and abstract situations.

It is worth noting that 所 has a kun'yomi reading (ところ) and an on'yomi (ショ). The former is used when the word stands alone or in native combinations, while the latter appears in terms such as 場所 (ばしょ - place) or 所有 (しょゆう - possession). This duality is common in many Japanese kanji.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to internalize 所[ところ] is by associating it with concrete situations. For example, think of rooms in the house: 台所 (だいどころ) means kitchen, literally "place of utensils." This visual connection helps to remember not only the meaning but also the writing of the kanji.

Another tip is to pay attention to how the word appears in animes and dramas. In everyday scenes, expressions like "いいところに来たね" (You came at the right time) are common. This kind of natural exposure to the language reinforces learning in a contextualized way, showing that 所[ところ] goes far beyond a simple "place."

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

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

所

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.

Example Sentences - (所) tokoro

See below some example sentences:

その場所

sono basho

that place.

that place

• その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 場所 - Noun that means "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 to be/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) - signifies "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 to be/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) - Japanese topic particle
• 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)