How to say "headquarters" in Japanese

• 本部ほんぶJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe broadest term for the headquarters of an organization — a company, a club, a public agency — and the default choice when no more specific word fits; it also covers 'head office' and 'main office'.
  大学だいがく本部ほんぶはニューヨークに分校ぶんこうを設立せつりつすることを決定けっていした。↗

  The University Administration decided to set up a branch campus in New York.
• 本社ほんしゃCommon
  nounSpecific to companies: the head office or main office of a business, as opposed to its branch offices. It can also mean the parent company, so context decides between those two senses.
  その社しゃは大阪おおさかに本社ほんしゃがある。↗

  The firm has its head office in Osaka.
• 旗本はたもとCommon
  nounConfined to the military sense: the headquarters of an army on the battlefield, the spot where the commander's flag stood. It is not the word for a company's or organization's head office.
• 司令部しれいぶCommon
  nounThe headquarters of a military unit in the sense of the command post where the commanding officer and staff direct operations; think 'command headquarters' rather than a firm's office.
  将軍しょうぐんは彼かれに司令部しれいぶへ出頭しゅっとうしろと命めいじた。↗

  The general commanded him to report to headquarters.
• 本拠ほんきょCommon
  nounA stronghold or base: the place from which a group, force, or activity operates, with the feel of 'home base' or 'base of operations' rather than an administrative office.
  コールセルフライはパリに本拠ほんきょを置おく航空会社こうくうがいしゃです。↗

  Corsairfly is an airline based in Paris.

Use 本部 for an organization's headquarters in general, 本社 for a company's head office, 司令部 for a military command post, 本拠 for a stronghold or base of operations, and 旗本 only for a battlefield headquarters.

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

• 本部ほんぶheadquarters
• 本社ほんしゃhead office
• 旗本はたもとheadquarters (on the battlefield)
• 司令部しれいぶheadquarters
• 本拠ほんきょstronghold
• 本営ほんえいheadquarters
• 帷幄いあくheadquarters
• ヘッドクォーターheadquarters
• 本拠地ほんきょちstronghold
• 総司令部そうしれいぶ(command) headquarters
• 総本山そうほんざんheadquarters (of an organization)
• 根城ねじろbase (of operations)
• お膝元おひざもとplace where a high ranking person resides