Japanese word

ダウンタウン

Pronunciation

Romajidauntaun

Meaning

  • noundowntown

Example

週末はダウンタウンで買い物をします。shū matsu wa da u n ta u n de ka i mono o shi ma su

I shop downtown on weekends.

Illustration for ダウンタウン (downtown)

More examples

仕事の後でダウンタウンの書店に寄ります。shi goto no ato de da u n ta u n no sho ten ni yo ri ma su

I stop by a bookstore downtown after work.

Core concept

It identifies the part of a city that functions as its main commercial and public center.

Common phrases

  • ダウンタウンに行くda u n ta u n ni i ku

    go downtown

  • ダウンタウンで働くda u n ta u n de hatara ku

    work downtown

  • ダウンタウンのホテルda u n ta u n no ho te ru

    downtown hotel

Similar words

都心toshin: The central area of a city, often containing major offices, stores, and public facilities.
中心街chūshingai: The main commercial area of a town or city, often lined with shops and offices.
繁華街hankagai: A busy urban district with many shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Definition in Japanese

都市の中心に位置し、店や事業所などが集中する地域。to shi no chū shin ni i chi shi mise ya ji gyō sho na do ga shū chū su ru chi iki

Word origin

ダウンタウン (dauntaun) is borrowed from the English compound downtown, formed from down and town and used for a town's central district.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, ダウンタウン (dauntaun) commonly names a city center as a place, whereas English downtown appears in phrases such as "downtown shops" and "live downtown."

Opposites

  • アップタウンapputaunuptownnoun

Word lists with this word