Translation guide
The English word 'bureau' can refer to a writing desk, a chest of drawers, a government department, or an office. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese word based on the intended meaning.
A desk with drawers, often used for writing.
General word for desk, including writing desks. Most common and natural.
彼は机に向かって手紙を書いている。
He is writing a letter at his desk.
Specifically a writing desk, often a small, low traditional Japanese desk. Less common in modern contexts.
祖母の文机には古い手紙がしまってある。
Old letters are stored in my grandmother's writing desk.
Loanword from English, used for a specific style of writing desk. Rare and context-specific.
アンティークのライティングデスクを買った。
I bought an antique writing desk.
A piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes.
Standard word for a chest of drawers, typically for clothing. Very common.
服を箪笥にしまう。
I put clothes in the chest of drawers.
Loanword from English 'chest', often used for a chest of drawers. Common in furniture catalogs.
Literally 'organizing chest', sometimes used for a bureau with many small drawers. Less common.
An administrative unit of government, like the FBI or a weather bureau.
Common suffix for government bureaus, agencies, or offices. Used in names like 気象局 (weather bureau).
気象局は台風の接近を警告した。
The weather bureau warned of the approaching typhoon.
Suffix for government agencies or offices, often larger or more formal than 局. E.g., 警察庁 (National Police Agency).
Specifically a secretariat or administrative office, often for an organization.
Direct loanword from English, used in some proper names or very specific contexts. Not common.
A room or place where administrative work is done.
General word for office, especially for administrative or clerical work.
彼は小さな事務所を構えている。
He runs a small bureau.
Common loanword for office, used in business contexts.
In Japanese government structure, 省 (しょう) is a ministry, 庁 (ちょう) is an agency, and 局 (きょく) is a bureau within a ministry or agency. For example, 国税庁 (National Tax Agency) is under 財務省 (Ministry of Finance), and it has several 局. When translating 'bureau' as a government unit, 局 is the most direct equivalent, but 庁 is used for larger agencies.
気象庁は国土交通省の外局です。
The Japan Meteorological Agency is an external bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The English word 'bureau' for a chest of drawers is not directly translated as ビューロー in Japanese. Use 箪笥 or チェスト instead. ビューロー is only used for organizations, and even then it's rare.
I assembled a new chest of drawers.
整理箪笥に書類を整理した。
I organized documents in the bureau.
That issue is handled by a bureau of the Cabinet Office.
Please contact the tournament bureau.
彼は観光ビューローで働いている。
He works at the tourism bureau.
We moved to a new bureau.