おまわりさん
おまわりさん
noun
police officer (friendly)
1.
police officer, policeman
A friendly, informal term for a police officer, often used by children.
おまわりさんに道を聞いた。
I asked the police officer for directions.
おまわりさんが交番にいる。
The police officer is at the police box.
迷子の子供がおまわりさんに助けられた。
The lost child was helped by a police officer.
おまわりさんが毎朝学校の前に立っている。
The police officer stands in front of the school every morning.
子供のとき、おまわりさんになりたいと思っていた。
When I was a child, I wanted to become a police officer.
A friendly, approachable term for a police officer, especially used by or with children.
ETYMOLOGY:
From お + 回り + さん. 回る means "to go around," referring to officers on patrol.
FORMALITY LEVELS:
- おまわりさん: friendly, informal (children, casual speech)
- 警察官: police officer (official, formal)
- 警官: police officer (neutral, slightly less formal)
- 刑事: detective (plainclothes)
- ポリス: police (slang, from English)
USAGE:
Commonly used when teaching children about police or when speaking to officers at a 交番 (police box). Adults typically use 警察 or 警察官 in formal contexts. The さん suffix gives the word its warm, approachable feel.