警察官（けいさつかん、keisatsukan）
- police officer

The word 警察官, pronounced けいさつかん, means "police officer" or "policeman/policewoman" in English. It refers to an individual who is a member of a police force and is responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and protecting the public. This includes a wide range of duties, from patrolling streets to investigating crimes. 警察官 are typically employed by the government.

⚫︎あの警察官はとても親切です。 Translation: That police officer is very kind. ⚫︎事件について警察官に話しました。 Translation: I talked to the police officer about the incident. ⚫︎新しい警察官が交番に配属されました。 Translation: A new police officer was assigned to the police box (koban).

This word is used to refer to any police officer, regardless of their rank or specific duties. It's a common and versatile term used in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal reports. It's appropriate to use 警察官 when you are speaking with or about a police officer, or when referring to the police as a general group.

⚫︎ The word is typically written in kanji, 警察官. ⚫︎ The reading, けいさつかん, uses hiragana. ⚫︎ There is no variation in the okurigana.

There aren't many perfect synonyms, as 警察官 is very specific. However, depending on context, you could use the following: ⚫︎ 警官（けいかん - police officer; more general) ⚫︎ お巡りさん（おまわりさん - police officer; more casual) ⚫︎ 刑事（けいじ - detective)

There aren't direct antonyms, but you could consider the opposite of law enforcement, or someone who breaks the law: ⚫︎ 犯罪者（はんざいしゃ - criminal) ⚫︎ 犯人（はんにん - offender/culprit)

この近くに警察官がいますか？ ・Translation: Is there a police officer nearby? ・Explanation: This sentence is asking if there is a police officer present in the vicinity, perhaps for assistance or information.

私は将来警察官になりたいです。 ・Translation: I want to become a police officer in the future. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses a personal aspiration or goal to pursue a career as a police officer.

⚫︎ 警察 (けいさつ) means "police." ⚫︎ 官 (かん) means "official" or "officer." ⚫︎ Therefore, the word is a compound of the words, literally translating to “police officer”.