jǐngchá jú: 警察局 - Police Station

• Keywords: police station in Chinese, jingchaju, jǐngchá jú, 警察局, how to say police station in Mandarin, Chinese police, report a crime in China, emergency services China, 公安局, 派出所, public security bureau
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word for “police station”: 警察局 (jǐngchá jú). This guide is perfect for travelers, students, and anyone living in China who needs to know crucial safety vocabulary. We'll break down the meaning of the characters 警, 察, and 局, explore the cultural role of police in China, and provide over 10 practical example sentences for real-life situations like reporting a lost wallet or asking for directions. You'll also learn the critical difference between a 警察局 and a local 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǐngchá jú
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A building or office where police officers are based; a police station or police bureau.
• In a Nutshell: 警察局 (jǐngchá jú) is the most direct and standard translation for “police station” in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to the physical building and administrative department responsible for law enforcement and public security in a given area. It's a fundamental word for navigating emergencies and official matters in China.

• 警 (jǐng): This character means “to warn” or “to be alert.” It's composed of 言 (yán - speech) on the left and 敬 (jìng - respect, caution) on the right. The combination suggests using words to create caution or alertness, which is a core function of the police.
• 察 (chá): This character means “to examine” or “to inspect.” The top radical 宀 (mián) represents a roof, and the bottom part 祭 (jì) relates to careful observation. Together, it conveys the idea of scrutinizing or investigating.
• 局 (jú): This character means “bureau,” “office,” or an administrative “department.” It's commonly used in the names of government agencies and other organizations, like 邮局 (yóujú - post office) or 教育局 (jiàoyùjú - education bureau).

When combined, 警察 (jǐngchá) becomes the word for “police” (literally “alert-and-inspect”). Adding 局 (jú) specifies the location, forming 警察局 (jǐngchá jú), the “Police Bureau” or “Police Station.”

In China, the 警察局 (jǐngchá jú), often formally part of the 公安局 (Gōng'ān Jú - Public Security Bureau), is a powerful symbol of state authority. The public perception often emphasizes their role as government administrators as much as crime-fighters. A crucial cultural and practical distinction to understand is the difference between a 警察局 (jǐngchá jú) and a 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ).

• 警察局 (jǐngchá jú): This usually refers to a larger, more central administrative headquarters for a city district or municipality (e.g., the “Chaoyang District Police Bureau”). You might go here for more serious crimes or complex administrative tasks, like certain types of visa or registration issues for foreigners.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ): This is the local police substation or precinct. This is the place you'll most likely interact with for everyday matters: reporting a lost wallet, dealing with a minor dispute with a neighbor, or registering your temporary residence as a foreigner. It's the “beat cop” station on the street corner.

While an American might use “police station” for both a local precinct and a city headquarters, in China, using 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) for local matters is more precise and common in daily conversation. If you ask a local for the nearest 警察局, they will likely point you to the nearest 派出所.

You will use 警察局 in various practical situations. It is a formal but standard term, appropriate in any context.

• Asking for Help: It's the primary term to use when you need to find a police station in an emergency or to handle an official matter.
• Reporting Incidents: When you tell someone, “I need to go to the police station,” 警察局 is the correct term.
• Official Business: For foreigners, getting certain official documents or police clearance reports often requires a visit to a specific department within a larger 警察局 (often the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau, 出入境管理局).

While 警察局 is always understood, remember that for minor, local issues, the actual destination will almost always be a 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ).

• Example 1:
  • 请问，最近的警察局在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zuìjìn de jǐngchá jú zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Excuse me, where is the nearest police station?
  • Analysis: This is a classic and essential sentence for any traveler or resident. It's polite and direct.
• Example 2:
  • 我的钱包丢了，我得去一趟警察局。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qiánbāo diū le, wǒ děi qù yī tàng jǐngchá jú.
  • English: My wallet is lost, I have to make a trip to the police station.
  • Analysis: `丢了 (diū le)` means “lost.” `得 (děi)` means “must” or “have to.” `去一趟 (qù yī tàng)` means “to make a trip,” a very common and natural-sounding phrase.
• Example 3:
  • 司机师傅，请带我去市中心的警察局。
  • Pinyin: Sījī shīfu, qǐng dài wǒ qù shìzhōngxīn de jǐngchá jú.
  • English: Driver, please take me to the police station in the city center.
  • Analysis: `司机师傅 (sījī shīfu)` is a polite way to address a taxi or ride-share driver.
• Example 4:
  • 他因为打架被带到了警察局。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi dǎjià bèi dài dào le jǐngchá jú.
  • English: He was taken to the police station because he was fighting.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)`. `因为 (yīnwèi)` means “because.”
• Example 5:
  • 你应该去当地的派出所，而不是这个大的警察局。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yīnggāi qù dāngdì de pàichūsuǒ, ér búshì zhège dà de jǐngchá jú.
  • English: You should go to the local substation, not this big police bureau.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the distinction between a `派出所 (pàichūsuǒ)` (local station) and a larger `警察局 (jǐngchá jú)` (bureau/headquarters).
• Example 6:
  • 办理这个手续，你需要去警察局的出入境管理处。
  • Pinyin: Bànlǐ zhège shǒuxù, nǐ xūyào qù jǐngchá jú de chū rù jìng guǎnlǐ chù.
  • English: To handle this procedure, you need to go to the Exit-Entry Administration Office of the police bureau.
  • Analysis: This shows a more complex, official use case relevant to foreigners dealing with visas or residence permits.
• Example 7:
  • 警察局的电话是110。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá jú de diànhuà shì 110.
  • English: The phone number for the police is 110.
  • Analysis: A simple but critical piece of information. 110 is the emergency police number in mainland China.
• Example 8:
  • 我看到一辆警车停在警察局门口。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kàndào yī liàng jǐngchē tíng zài jǐngchá jú ménkǒu.
  • English: I saw a police car parked at the entrance of the police station.
  • Analysis: `警车 (jǐngchē)` is “police car.” `门口 (ménkǒu)` is “doorway” or “entrance.”
• Example 9:
  • 那个小偷很快就被抓到了警察局。
  • Pinyin: Nàge xiǎotōu hěn kuài jiù bèi zhuā dào le jǐngchá jú.
  • English: That thief was very quickly caught and taken to the police station.
  • Analysis: Another example of the `被 (bèi)` passive structure. `小偷 (xiǎotōu)` means “thief.”
• Example 10:
  • 为了安全，每个社区附近都有警察局或派出所。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, měi ge shèqū fùjìn dōu yǒu jǐngchá jú huò pàichūsuǒ.
  • English: For safety, every community has a police station or a local substation nearby.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `或者 (huòzhě)` shortened to `或 (huò)` meaning “or,” explicitly acknowledging the two types of police facilities.

• `警察局` vs. `派出所`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • Incorrect: “My bike was stolen, so I need to go to the city's main 警察局 to report it.”
  • Why it's “wrong”: While not a grammatical error, it's impractical. For a minor theft, you would be directed to the local 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) that has jurisdiction over the area where the theft occurred. Always start with the `派出所`.
  • Correct usage: Think of 警察局 as the “Police Bureau” (a larger administrative body) and 派出所 as the local “Police Station” (the place you actually go).
• `局 (jú)` vs. `馆 (guǎn)`: A beginner might mistakenly apply the pattern from words like `图书馆 (túshūguǎn - library)` or `饭馆 (fànguǎn - restaurant)` and create the non-existent word “警察馆”.
  • Incorrect: `我去警察馆。`
  • Why it's wrong: The character `局 (jú)` is specifically for administrative bureaus or offices, especially governmental ones. `馆 (guǎn)` is for public buildings for service, culture, or commerce.
  • Correct: `我去警察局。`

• 警察 (jǐngchá) - Police; police officer. The people who work in a `警察局`.
• 派出所 (pàichūsuǒ) - The local police substation or precinct. The most important related concept for practical, everyday issues.
• 公安 (gōng'ān) - Public Security. A broader term that is often used to refer to the police force in China. A `警察局` is a type of `公安机关 (gōng'ān jīguān)`.
• 报警 (bàojǐng) - To report to the police; to call the police. The action you take that might lead you to a `警察局`.
• 110 (yāo yāo líng) - The emergency phone number for police in mainland China. (Note: 'one' is often read as 'yāo' in phone numbers to avoid confusion with 'seven' (qī)).
• 丢了 (diū le) - To have lost (something). A common reason for going to a `派出所`.
• 小偷 (xiǎotōu) - Thief; pickpocket.
• 护照 (hùzhào) - Passport. If you lose your passport, you must go to a `派出所` to get a report before you can apply for a new one.
• 抓 (zhuā) - To arrest; to catch. What the police do to criminals.
• 手续 (shǒuxù) - Procedure; formalities. Many official procedures require a visit to a `警察局`.