県（けん、ken）
- prefecture

The Japanese word 県県, read as けん, means "prefecture." It is one of the administrative divisions of Japan, similar to states or provinces in other countries. Each 県 is governed by a prefectural government.

⚫︎東京都 Translation: Tokyo Metropolis (Tokyo is a prefecture) ⚫︎大阪府 Translation: Osaka Prefecture (Osaka is a prefecture) ⚫︎北海道 Translation: Hokkaido Prefecture (Hokkaido is a prefecture)

This word is used when referring to or specifying a prefecture in Japan. You'll use it when giving an address, talking about a specific region, or discussing administrative matters related to a 県. When describing the 県, it's frequently placed after the name of the place.

⚫︎The word 県県 is typically written in kanji. ⚫︎The reading けん is written in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no variation in the okurigana, as it is a single kanji.

There are no direct synonyms for 県県 in Japanese. However, you could use more general terms like 地方(ちほう - region) when speaking in less specific situations.

There are no direct antonyms for 県県, as it is a specific type of administrative division.

私は神奈川県に住んでいます。 ・Translation: I live in Kanagawa Prefecture. ・Explanation: This sentence directly states the speaker's place of residence, using 県県 to specify the prefecture.

このイベントは京都府で開催されます。 ・Translation: This event will be held in Kyoto Prefecture. ・Explanation: The sentence indicates the location of an event, specifying the 県.

The kanji 県県 originally referred to "a region" or "district". The concept of administrative divisions in Japan, and the term 県県, evolved over time.