How to say "authorities" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

当局とうきょくCommon
nounCovers 'the authorities' in the sense of the bodies in charge of a matter; when English news says the authorities are investigating or responding, this is the natural choice.
この建物たてものに入はいるには当局とうきょくの許可きょかを得える必要ひつようがある。↗
It is necessary to obtain the sanction of the authorities to enter this building.
官庁かんちょうJLPT N2approx.Common
nounIts core sense is government offices and agencies as institutions; it can stand for 'the authorities', but for the people or body in charge of a matter 当局 is the usual word.
どの官庁かんちょうもお役所やくしょ主義しゅぎにはまり込こまないで、仕事しごとのスピードアップをはかるという点てんにおいて問題もんだいがあるようだ。↗
Every government office seems to have problems in expediting matters without entanglement in its red tape system.
官憲かんけんCommon
nounOfficials seen as agents of state power, above all the police; it is not the neutral word for 'the authorities' in the administrative sense — that is 当局.

Use 当局 for the authorities concerned with a matter, 官庁 for government offices and agencies as institutions, and 官憲 for officials wielding state power, especially the police.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

当局とうきょくauthorities
官庁かんちょうgovernment office
官憲かんけんofficials
公儀こうぎimperial court

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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