1.
general affairs; administration; administrative department
The department or function within an organization that handles administrative tasks such as office management, facilities, internal communications, and HR-related duties. Composed of 総 (general, overall) + 務 (duties, affairs). Also used in government contexts, as in 総務省 (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications).
Usage
In a corporate context, 総務部 handles office supplies, building maintenance, company events, and other administrative functions. In government, 総務省 is a major ministry responsible for local government, telecommunications, statistics, and postal services.