Japanese word

都道府県

Pronunciation

Romajitodōfuken

Meaning

  • nounprefecture

Example

どの都道府県に住んでいますか？do no to dō fu ken ni su n de i ma su ka

Which prefecture do you live in?

Illustration for 都道府県 (prefecture)

More examples

各都道府県が独自の取り組みを進めています。kaku to dō fu ken ga doku ji no to ri ku mi o susu me te i ma su

Each prefecture is pursuing its own initiatives.

Core concept

A broad local government area that manages regional affairs within Japan.

Common phrases

  • 都道府県知事to dō fu ken chi ji

    prefectural governor

  • 都道府県庁to dō fu ken chō

    prefectural government office

Definition in Japanese

日本の地方行政を担う、国に次ぐ広域の行政区画。nihon no chi hō gyō sei o nina u kuni ni tsu gu kō iki no gyō sei ku kaku

Word origin

都道府県 (todōfuken, "prefectural divisions") combines 都 (to, "capital"), 道 (dō, "circuit"), 府 (fu, "urban government"), and 県 (ken, "prefecture") to name Japan's four administrative types.

Usage tips

  • Japan has 47 prefectures, including Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Osaka, whose English labels do not all literally contain the word "prefecture".

Related words

  • 都道府県別todōfukenbetsuby prefecturepre-noun adjectival

Word lists with this word