Chinese word

都市

Pronunciation

Pinyindū shì

Meaning

  • nouncity

Example

我喜欢都市的夜生活。wǒ xǐ huān dū shì de yè shēng huó

I like the nightlife in the city.

Illustration for 都市 (city)

More examples

在很多都市，公共交通非常发达。zài hěn duō dū shì gōng gòng jiāo tōng fēi cháng fā dá

In many cities, public transportation is highly developed.

Core concept

A large urban center where people, homes, business, and public functions gather closely together.

Common phrases

  • 都市公共交通dū shì gōng gòng jiāo tōng

    urban public transportation

  • 都市环境dū shì huán jìng

    urban environment

  • 都市居民dū shì jū mín

    urban resident

Similar words

城市chéng shì: A populated city where people live and take part in daily life and economic activity.
城镇chéng zhèn: A smaller settlement, such as a town or small city, centered on residents' daily lives.
市区shì qū: The developed area of a city where people, buildings, and urban activity are clustered.

Definition in Chinese

在行政、商业和居住功能上较为集中的人口聚居地，通常指规模较大、设施较完善的城市。zài xíng zhèng shāng yè hé jū zhù gōng néng shàng jiào wéi jí zhōng de rén kǒu jù jū dì tōng cháng zhǐ guī mó jiào dà shè shī jiào wán shàn de chéng shì

Word origin

都市 (dūshì, "city") combines 都 (dū, "capital or central city") + 市 (shì, "marketplace"), joining the ideas of a central settlement and a place of trade to name a major urban center.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, a simpler word for a city is often more natural, while this term suits formal descriptions of urban life, development, or infrastructure.

Other meanings

  • metropolisnoun
  • municipalitynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 都市圈dū shì quānmetropolitan areanoun
  • 都市居民dū shì jū mínurban residentnoun

Word lists with this word