Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'barracks' depends on the context—military, police, temporary housing, or historical. The most common term is 兵舎 (heisha) for military barracks, but other words like 営舎 (eisha) or 寮 (ryou) may be used depending on the type of facility.
A building or group of buildings used to house soldiers.
Standard term for military barracks. Used in official and everyday contexts.
兵舎に戻る。
Return to the barracks.
新しい兵舎が建設された。
New barracks were built.
Also means barracks, often used interchangeably with 兵舎, but can refer to any military housing facility.
営舎内は禁煙です。
Smoking is prohibited inside the barracks.
Refers to barracks for a specific unit (隊). Less common in general use.
隊舎の前で整列する。
Line up in front of the unit barracks.
Housing for police officers, often attached to a police station.
Specifically refers to police housing or dormitories. Not exactly 'barracks' but the closest equivalent.
警察宿舎に住んでいる。
I live in the police barracks.
Barracks for riot police units. 機動隊 means riot police.
機動隊の宿舎は駅の近くにある。
The riot police barracks are near the station.
Simple, often temporary housing for workers, refugees, or disaster victims.
Temporary housing, often used after disasters. Not strictly 'barracks' but conveys the idea of basic, temporary accommodation.
被災者は仮設住宅に移った。
The victims moved into temporary barracks.
Loanword from English 'barrack', often used for makeshift shacks or temporary buildings. Can sound slightly negative or rough.
Historically used for workers' barracks, especially at construction sites or mines. Now somewhat dated.
昔、炭鉱の飯場で働いていた。
I used to work in the mining barracks.
A dormitory that resembles barracks in its spartan or institutional nature.
General word for dormitory. Can be used for spartan school housing if context implies it's like barracks.
学生寮はまるで兵舎のようだ。
The student dorm is just like barracks.
兵舎 is the most common and general term for military barracks. 営舎 is often used in official names or signs (e.g., 第1営舎). 隊舎 emphasizes that it houses a specific unit. In most cases, 兵舎 is sufficient.
バラック implies a rough, temporary shack. Using it for a proper military facility would sound odd or derogatory.
工事現場のバラックで寝泊まりする。
Sleep in a barracks at the construction site.