What does 町 mean in Japanese?
町 means “town” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 町 (town), 町内 (neighborhood), and 町長 (town mayor).
For learners, the key is to study 町 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: チョウ (chou)
Kun’yomi: まち (machi)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 町 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | town, city block |
| Stroke Count | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
町 is not limited to one English translation. In 町 (まち), it means town; in 町内 (ちょうない), it points to neighborhood; and in 町長 (ちょうちょう), it is used for town mayor. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 町（まち / machi） — town
- 町内（ちょうない / chōnai） — neighborhood
- 町長（ちょうちょう / chōchō） — town mayor
- 下町（したまち / shitamachi） — old downtown area
- 町並み（まちなみ / machinami） — townscape
- 市町村（しちょうそん / shichōson） — municipalities
Example Sentences
-
この町は静かです。
このまちはしずかです。 / Kono machi wa shizuka desu.
This town is quiet.
-
町中を歩いて店を探しました。
まちなかをあるいてみせをさがしました。 / Machinaka o aruite mise o sagashimashita.
I walked around town looking for a shop.
-
下町には古い家が多いです。
したまちにはふるいいえがおおいです。 / Shitamachi ni wa furui ie ga ōi desu.
There are many old houses in the old downtown area.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 町 (まち / machi) because it keeps the core meaning of 町 clear. Then add 町内 and 町長 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 町 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
町 means “town” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 町, 町内, and 町長.