局
Mnemonic
A flag hangs above a desk where a bored clerk props their elbow on the counter, barely opening their mouth to drone "next please." This is the soul-crushing atmosphere of every government bureau.
Additional thoughts
Picture a drab government office: national flag on the wall, clerk leaning on their elbow, mouth barely moving. The dreariness itself screams Bureau.Quick recall
Flag on wall, elbow on desk, mouth droning—government bureau.Details
The keyword for 局 is bureau. This kanji refers to an office, department, or organized division within a larger institution, such as a post office or broadcasting station. It carries the sense of a bounded, structured section where specific administrative or official work is carried out. By extension, it can also refer to a situation, phase, or the state of affairs in a given circumstance.
- On'yomi
- きょく
- Kun'yomi
- つぼね