県
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Noun referring to an administrative division in Japan, similar to a state or province. Used in names like 『東京都』 (Tōkyō-to, 'Tokyo Metropolis') or 『神奈川県』 (Kanagawa-ken, 'Kanagawa Prefecture').
Theme
Two friends, Ken and User, are planning a road trip across Japan and discussing which regions to visit.
県
けん
prefecture
Locations & NavigationGeography & Landmarks
Memory Hook
Imagine a 'ken' (県) as a 'can' of prefectures — each can holds a different region of Japan, like a container for local areas. 'Can' → 県 (ken, 'prefecture').
Cultural Note
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures (県 ken), each with its own government and unique culture. For example, 『東京都』 (Tōkyō-to, 'Tokyo Metropolis') is not a 県 but a 'to', while 『大阪府』 (Ōsaka-fu, 'Osaka Prefecture') is a 'fu'. Knowing prefecture names is essential for travel and addressing mail.
Forms
Base: 県Noun referring to an administrative division in Japan, similar to a state or province. Used in names like 『東京都』 (Tōkyō-to, 'Tokyo Metropolis') or 『神奈川県』 (Kanagawa-ken, 'Kanagawa Prefecture').