都市

とし

town, city, urban

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Understanding 都市 (dūshì)

The word 都市 refers to a city or metropolis, typically emphasizing a large, developed urban area. It is often used in formal or written contexts to describe major cities or urban centers.

Usage and Nuance

都市 usually implies a bigger scale than just (city or town). While can refer to any city or town, 都市 often highlights the metropolitan nature, including economic, cultural, and infrastructural development.

Common Collocations

  • 都市 (dūshìhuà): urbanization, the process of becoming more urban
  • 都市 (dà dūshì): metropolis, a very large city
  • 都市人口 (dūshì rénkǒu): urban population

Register and Tone

都市 is neutral and slightly formal, suitable for news reports, academic writing, and formal speech. It is less common in casual conversation where or 城市 might be preferred.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 都市 with alone; can be smaller and less formal. Also, 城市 (chéngshì) is a more general term for city and is more common in everyday speech. 都市 emphasizes the metropolitan scale and urban complexity.

Example Sentences

Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China and has a very developed

Many young people like to look for more job opportunities in the city.

With the acceleration of urbanization, the rural population is gradually