1.
assistant inspector; police sergeant
A rank in the Japanese police force, below inspector (警部) and above sergeant (巡査部長). Roughly equivalent to a police sergeant or detective in English-speaking countries.
田中警部補が事件を担当している。
Assistant Inspector Tanaka is in charge of the case.
昇進して警部補になった。
I was promoted to assistant inspector.
日本の刑事ドラマでは、警部補が主人公を務めることが多く、現場で捜査する姿がよく描かれる。
In Japanese detective dramas, assistant inspectors often serve as the protagonist, and they are frequently depicted investigating at the scene.
A compound of 警部 (police inspector) and 補 (assistant, deputy). This is one of the most frequently encountered police ranks in Japanese crime fiction and television dramas.
The Japanese police rank hierarchy from bottom to top: 巡査 → 巡査部長 → 警部補 → 警部 → 警視 → 警視正. The 警部補 rank is notable because it is the highest rank that can be reached through promotion from the rank-and-file path.
JAPANESE POLICE RANKS:
- 巡査: police officer (lowest rank)
- 巡査部長: sergeant
- 警部補: assistant inspector
- 警部: inspector
- 警視: superintendent
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 警部: police inspector — one rank above
- 刑事: detective — a job title rather than a rank; detectives are typically 巡査部長 or 警部補 rank
- 巡査: police officer — the entry-level rank