Vocabulary of public facilities and rules

Vocabulary of public facilities and libraries

Public facilities such as libraries, community centers, and parks often appear in N3 vocabulary questions. The key is to recognize the correct kanji, the correct reading, and the use of verbs related to those facilities.

Names of facilities and their kanji:

• 「図書館(としょかん, library)」 is a building where books are lent out and read. The kanji 図書 is read としょ (books) and 館 is read かん (building). The kanji 館 must not be replaced with 観, 官, or 間, which have similar readings.
• 「公民館(こうみんかん, community center)」 is a neighborhood-level facility where residents take courses and join group activities. Written 公・民・館.
• 「公園(こうえん, park)」 is an open public space for walking and relaxing. The reading is こうえん, with 公 read こう without dakuten and 園 read えん.
• 「郵便局(ゆうびんきょく, post office)」 is read ゆうびんきょく. 郵便 is read ゆうびん with the dakuon び, while 局 is read きょく, which contains the yōon きょ.
• 「駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう, parking lot)」 is read ちゅうしゃじょう. The final syllable じょう contains the yōon じょ and the long vowel う.
• 「広場(ひろば, open square/plaza)」 is a large open space, for example in front of a station.
• 「交番(こうばん, police box)」 is a police service post. 「窓口(まどぐち, counter/window)」 is a place for administrative services or ticket sales. 「受付(うけつけ, reception desk)」 is a registration or reception desk inside a building. None of these three are the same as open space.
• 「売店(ばいてん, kiosk)」 is a small shop at a station or public building.
• 「体育館(たいいくかん, gymnasium)」 is a place for sports activities, not a place to borrow or return books.

Cards and documents needed at facilities:

• 「図書カード(としょかーど, library card)」 is the card required before borrowing books.
• 「会員証(かいいんしょう, membership card)」 is proof of membership shown when borrowing books, used with the verb 出す(だす, to show).
• 「学生証(がくせいしょう, student ID card)」 is an identity card for students used at the campus library. Compare with 名刺(めいし, business card), 免許証(めんきょしょう, driver's license), and 保険証(ほけんしょう, health insurance card), which are not requirements for borrowing.
• 「乗車券(じょうしゃけん, ride ticket)」, 「回数券(かいすうけん, multi-ride ticket book)」, and 「入場券(にゅうじょうけん, entry ticket)」 are tickets for transportation or entry to places, not for library services.

Verbs for borrowing and returning: