Japanese word

市街

Pronunciation

Romajishigai

Meaning

  • nouncity

Example

市街には古い建物があります。shi gai ni wa furu i tate mono ga a ri ma su

There are old buildings in the city.

Illustration for 市街 (city)

More examples

休日には市街の商店をゆっくり見て回ります。kyū jitsu ni wa shi gai no shō ten o yu kku ri mi te mawa ri ma su

On holidays, I take my time looking around the shops in the city.

Core concept

Describes the populated and developed area of a settlement as a network of streets, buildings, and urban activity.

Common phrases

  • 市街を歩くshi gai o aru ku

    walk through the city

  • 市街の中心shi gai no chū shin

    city center

  • 市街に出るshi gai ni de ru

    go into town

Similar words

街machi: An urban area or town regarded as a place where people live and carry out daily activities.

Definition in Japanese

都市や町のうち、家屋や商店が立ち並び、人の活動が盛んな区域。to shi ya machi no u chi ka oku ya shō ten ga ta chi nara bi hito no katsu dō ga saka n na ku iki

Word origin

The compound 市街 (shigai) uses 市 (shi, "city") for a city or market settlement and 街 (gai, "street or quarter") for its streetside urban district.

Usage tips

  • In everyday descriptions, 市街 (shigai) often contrasts with the outskirts and refers to the built-up part of a town or city.

Other meanings

  • townnoun
  • urban areanoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 市街化shigaikaurbanizationnoun

Word lists with this word