Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Today I was asked if a "Police Station" and "police stand" are the same thing.
I've never heard of a police stand in my life. Korean teachers are using this word and it has come up on an exam recently in which a student has argued that the two are different.

I agree with the student. I don't think police stand exists in our usage but then again...? I've lived in the U.S. most of my life.. with the exception of 3 years spent in Australia. I never heard of "police stand" there either.

I would appreciate quick responses! Apparantly, this word is in the dictionary. What do you all think??

normalcyispasse · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

Police stands are fairly common in Korea and Japan. I think they're just not popular in America, but I do believe they exist.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

The Korean teachers want to know if native speakers use the words "police stand".

Regardless of whether they exist here and in Japan, is the term used by British and North American native speakers of English.

Perhaps in the U.K., police stands do exist. I wouldn't know!

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

I suppose the ones in the middle of Times Square would qualify as a stand. Maybe a booth. Try and get them to explain the difference between stand and station. Stand just handles traffic/tourist information and emergencies?

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I'd say that phrase is adequate. "Police" is just describing the "stand." You can have a "police car," "police uniform" and "police brutality," so why not a "police stand?"

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Ask Dr. Who.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

I did try to explain the difference between a stand and a station. I think the Korean teachers understand but they themselves were taught that a stand is the same thing. This is what they're teaching the students.

One student in 600 argued that a stand is not the same thing as a station. I applaud him. According to the K-teacher, the word "police stand" is in the English dictionary and in their textbook and it's used in the same way as station.

Brits, do you use this at all?

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

LOL Mrs Squirrel.

That's cute. I will print it out and show my co-workers who will also get a big kick out of it.

I told them not to make such a big deal out of this one thing. Since it's on the exam and a student is insistent that a "police stand" is not a "police station", it became a pretty big problem yesterday.

It seems as though I am right in saying that "police stand" is not part of our usage regardless of it's presence in a dictionary or Korean/English textbook. That's not to say that it can't ever be used though...

Young FRANKenstein