KanjiGami
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93

Town

まち (machi)

JLPT N4

Interesting Fact

The kanji 町 didn't originally describe an entire town. In ancient China, it referred to a measured stretch of road or street. As merchants built shops and families built homes along that road, the once-empty street gradually became a lively community. Over time, the meaning of 町 expanded from "street" to "the town built around it."

Memory Trick

One Liner: "J is looking over the town from the window."

Readings

Onyomi: チョウ (chou)

Kunyomi: まち (machi)

Example Words

まち (machi)
Town
町長
ちょうちょう (chouchou)
Town mayor
商店街
しょうてんがい (shoutengai)
Shopping street
下町
したまち (shitamachi)
Old downtown area

Example Sentence

この 町は とても にぎやかです。

この まちは とても にぎやかです。

kono machi wa totemo nigiyaka desu

This town is very lively.

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