Translation guide
The place where you send mail and packages. In Japan, post offices also offer banking and other services.
Referring to the physical location or building where postal services are provided.
The standard word for a post office. Used for all general postal services.
郵便局はどこですか？
Where is the post office?
郵便局に行って切手を買います。
I'll go to the post office and buy stamps.
Refers specifically to the post office building itself, often used in formal or architectural contexts.
この郵便局舎は歴史的建造物です。
This post office building is a historic structure.
Referring to the postal service as an organization or system.
Japanese post offices (郵便局) often provide banking services (ゆうちょ銀行) and insurance, in addition to mail. They are easily identified by the 〒 symbol.
Also used to refer to the post office as an institution, though context usually makes it clear.
郵便局は土曜日も営業しています。
The post office is open on Saturdays too.
Refers to the postal administration or system as a whole, often used in news or formal discussions about postal services.
郵政民営化について議論する。
Discuss the privatization of the postal service.