How to say "county" in Japanese

• 県けんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The county of China, Taiwan, Norway and similar countries; at home it means a Japanese prefecture, so make the country clear. Typical context: an article on Chinese or Taiwanese local government.
  チューリップは、私わたしたちの県けんの県花けんかです。↗

  Tulips are our prefecture's official flower.
• 州しゅうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Mainly the word for states (the US, Australia, etc.) and provinces (Canada); its county sense is chiefly the counties of the United Kingdom, not those of the United States. Typical context: British local government.
  南部なんぶの州しゅうへ冬期とうきに旅行りょこうすると、今こん旅行りょこうするよりも料金りょうきんが高たかくなります。↗

  Traveling to the southern states during the winter will be costlier than it is now.
• 郡ぐんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe straightforward word for 'county', and the one used for the counties of the United States; it can also mean a district. Typical context: American local government, such as news about a US county.
  これは豊能郡とよのぐんの地図ちずです。↗

  This is a map of the Toyono district.

Choose by country: 県 for the counties of China, Taiwan, Norway and similar countries, 州 for those of the United Kingdom, and 郡 elsewhere, above all for the counties of the United States.

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

• 県けんprefecture (of Japan)
• 州しゅうstate (of the US, Australia, India, Germany, etc.)
• 郡ぐんdistrict
• カウンティcounty
• 伯国はっこくcounty