居場所(いばしょ)

いばしょ
noun
one's place, where one belongs
1. whereabouts, location where someone is
The physical place where someone is currently located.
彼(かれ)の居場所(いばしょ)がわからない。
I don't know where he is.
GPSで子供(こども)の居場所(いばしょ)を確認(かくにん)できる。
You can check your child's location with GPS.
犯人(はんにん)の居場所(いばしょ)を突(つ)き止(と)めた。
They tracked down the criminal's whereabouts.
2. one's place, where one belongs, place of belonging
A place where one feels comfortable, accepted, and at home. Used figuratively to express a sense of belonging or having a role.
自分(じぶん)の居場所(いばしょ)がない。
I have no place where I belong.
この会社(かいしゃ)に自分(じぶん)の居場所(いばしょ)を見(み)つけた。
I found my place in this company.
学校(がっこう)に居場所(いばしょ)がないと感(かん)じている子供(こども)が増(ふ)えている。
There are more and more children who feel they have no place at school.

Usage

Sense 2 is particularly important in modern Japanese. 居場所(いばしょ)がない (having no place to belong) has become a common expression in discussions about social isolation, bullying, and mental health. Finding one's 居場所(いばしょ) is considered essential for well-being.
In social welfare contexts, 居場所(いばしょ)づくり (creating places of belonging) refers to community efforts to provide safe spaces for people who feel isolated.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 行方(ゆくえ) (whereabouts, destination)
general
Added 2026.2.21 14:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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