How to say "prison" in Japanese

• 牢獄ろうごくCommon
  nounA word for a prison or jail as a place where people are confined; it fits general references to prisons, such as speaking of years spent in prison or life behind bars.
  囚人しゅうじんが牢獄ろうごくから逃にげた。↗

  A convict has escaped from prison.
• 監獄かんごくCommon
  nounA straightforward word for a prison as an institution or facility; use it for neutral reference to prisons themselves, as in discussing the prison system or prison conditions.
• 刑務所けいむしょCommon
  nounThe everyday word for a working prison — a penal institution where convicted people serve their sentences; the natural choice when reporting that someone was sent to or released from prison.
  ここには刑務所けいむしょがあった。↗

  There used to be a prison here.
• 拘置所こうちしょCommon
  nounCovers the 'jail/detention center' sense: a facility where suspects are held in detention, typically while awaiting trial, rather than a prison for serving a sentence after conviction.
  ついに反逆者はんぎゃくしゃは捕とらえられ、拘置所こうちしょに入いれられた。↗

  The rebel was ultimately captured and confined to jail.
• 別荘べっそうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounOrdinarily means a villa or country house; as 'prison' it is only colloquial — an ironic nickname likening a prison stay to a country retreat — and is seldom the word you want.

Choose 刑務所 for a prison where convicted people serve their sentences, 拘置所 for detention before trial, 監獄 or 牢獄 for prisons as places or institutions of confinement, and 別荘 only as a colloquial, ironic nickname for prison.

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

• 牢獄ろうごくprison
• 監獄かんごくprison
• 刑務所けいむしょprison
• 拘置所こうちしょprison
• 牢ろうprison
• 獄ごくjail
• むしょprison
• プリズンprison
• 獄舎ごくしゃprison (building)
• 獄屋ごくやprison
• 獄所ごくしょprison
• ジェイルjail
• 塀の中へいのなかplace surrounded by walls
• 別荘べっそうprison
• 鉄窓てっそうprison
• 鉄格子てつごうしprison