Vocabulary of Public Facilities and Borrowing

Vocabulary of public facilities and borrowing

Public facility (公共施設, こうきょうしせつ) is a building provided for use by the general public. Each place has its own distinct function, so the word for a place must be chosen according to the activity being done.

• 図書館(としょかん, library) — place to read and borrow books. The atmosphere is quiet and suitable for studying. 例) 週末は図書館で宿題をします。
• 受付(うけつけ, reception desk) — place where staff receive registrations or make cards. Library member cards are usually handled here. 例) 受付で名前を書きます。
• 廊下(ろうか, corridor), 階段(かいだん, staircase), 駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう, parking lot) — names of parts of a building or areas. None of these three is a place for handling cards or documents.
• 教室(きょうしつ, classroom) — place for studying and teaching. 例) 教室で日本語を勉強します。
• 銀行(ぎんこう, bank) — place for financial transactions. 例) 銀行でお金をおろします。
• 病院(びょういん, hospital) — place for medical treatment and hospitalization. 例) 病院で薬をもらいます。
• 郵便局(ゆうびんきょく, post office) — place to send letters and parcels. The activity that fits here is 手紙を出す(てがみをだす, to send a letter). Treating illness, watching a movie, and cooking meat are not done at a post office.
• 公園(こうえん, public park) — open space for walking, exercising, and playing. 例) 休みの日に公園を散歩します。
• 駅(えき, station) — place to board and get off trains.
• 市役所(しやくしょ, city hall) — city administration building. Further explanation is in the concept on administration.

The readings of facility kanji must be paid attention to.

• 図書館 is read としょかん. 図 is read と, 書 is read しょ (not じょ), and 館 is read かん (not がん). There is no sokuon (っ) or added sound. Readings such as どしょかん, としょがん, とっしょかん, and とうしょかん are wrong.
• 公園 is read こうえん. The long o sound in 公 is written with う (こう), not お.
• 郵便局 is read ゆうびんきょく. 便 is read びん (voiced), and 局 is read きょく (beginning きょ without dakuon).
• 市役所 is read しやくしょ. 役 is read やく with full や, and 所 is read しょ.

The writing of facility kanji must be memorized.

• 図書館 is written with 図 (picture/map), 書 (book), and 館 (building). 図書 means book, so 図書館 means building of books, that is, library. Writing 読書館, 図所館, and 図書官 is wrong.
• 公園 is written with 公 (public) and 園 (garden). The kanji 広, 後, and 向 are also read こう, but they do not form the word for park.

Verbs of borrowing must be distinguished according to the direction of the action.