1.
whereabouts, location where someone is
The physical place where someone is currently located.
彼の居場所がわからない。
I don't know where he is.
GPSで子供の居場所を確認できる。
You can check your child's location with GPS.
犯人の居場所を突き止めた。
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.
自分の居場所がない。
I have no place where I belong.
この会社に自分の居場所を見つけた。
I found my place in this company.
学校に居場所がないと感じている子供が増えている。
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 is considered essential for well-being.
COLLOCATIONS:
- 居場所がない — to have no place to belong
- 居場所を見つける — to find one's place
- 居場所を作る — to create a place of belonging
- 居場所を突き止める — to track down someone's location
NOTE:
In social welfare contexts, 居場所{づくり} (creating places of belonging) refers to community efforts to provide safe spaces for people who feel isolated.