派出所 pàichūsuǒ local police station
How to remember 派出所: 派 faction + 出 go out + 所 place = local police station.
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How it is used
- A local neighborhood police station - the grassroots police branch handling household registration, minor disputes, ID matters.
- Smaller/more local than 公安局 (gōng'ānjú, the Public Security Bureau); 派出所 is where residents actually go for routine matters.
- 去派出所报案 (qù pàichūsuǒ bào'àn) = go to the police station to file a report.
- Literally a 'dispatched office' (派出 sent out + 所 station).