L55. [Day 55] 町 - town / neighborhood

Days 51-60

R-report

[Day 55] 町 - town / neighborhood

The character 町 refers to a town, neighborhood, or a block within a city; historically it marked a division of land or a street-block. You’ll see 町 on maps, addresses, signs for older shopping streets, and in words about local government and neighborhoods. Readings: On'yomi: チョウ (chō) — used in compound words such as 町内（ちょうない / chōnai） Kun'yomi: まち (machi) — the common standalone word 町（まち / machi） and compounds like 下町（したまち / shitamachi） Mnemonic tip: imagine 田 (a field or block) next to 丁 (a street marker) — a block of houses that becomes a town: 田＋丁 → 町.

Readings

On'yomi: **チョウ** (chō) Kun'yomi: **まち** (machi)

Related words

• 町（まち / machi） — town. • 私の**町**には小さな公園があります。 (Watashi no machi ni wa chiisana kōen ga arimasu.) (There is a small park in my town.)

• 町内（ちょうない / chōnai） — within the town; neighborhood. • 町内でお祭りが開かれます。 (Chōnai de omatsuri ga hirakaremasu.) (A festival is held in the neighborhood.)

• 町役場（まちやくば / machiyakuba） — town hall. • 申請書は**町役場**に提出してください。 (Shinseisho wa machiyakuba ni teishutsu shite kudasai.) (Please submit the application to the town hall.)

• 下町（したまち / shitamachi） — old downtown / traditional district. • 東京の**下町**は昔ながらの店が多い。 (Tōkyō no shitamachi wa mukashi nagara no mise ga ōi.) (Tokyo’s old downtown has many traditional shops.)

• 町並み（まちなみ / machinami） — streetscape; row of town buildings. • この道は美しい**町並み**が続く。 (Kono michi wa utsukushii machinami ga tsuzuku.) (A beautiful streetscape continues along this street.)