Japanese word

町並み

Pronunciation

Romajimachinami

Meaning

  • nountownscape

Example

古い町並みが残っています。furu i machi na mi ga noko tte i ma su

The old townscape remains.

Illustration for 町並み (townscape)

More examples

観光客は歴史的な町並みを歩きました。kan kō kyaku wa reki shi teki na machi na mi o aru ki ma shi ta

The tourists walked through the historic townscape.

Core concept

Captures the characteristic appearance of a town as its buildings and streets create a continuous visual setting.

Common phrases

  • 歴史的な町並みreki shi teki na machi na mi

    historic townscape

  • 町並みを保存するmachi na mi o ho zon su ru

    preserve the townscape

Definition in Japanese

建物や道路の配置によって生まれる町の全体的な景観。tate mono ya dō ro no hai chi ni yo tte u ma re ru machi no zen tai teki na kei kan

Word origin

The Japanese compound 町並み (machinami, "townscape") joins 町 (machi, "town") with 並み (nami, "row or arrangement"), focusing on the way structures appear together.

Usage tips

  • A townscape may be described as historic, modern, or well preserved because the word covers a town's overall built appearance.

Other meanings

  • streetscapenoun
  • street scenenoun

Word lists with this word