A1 noun Neutral #3,602 most common

市街

shigai [ɕiɡai]

Refers to the built-up urban area or the streets of a city or town where buildings and businesses are concentrated. It is used to describe the city center or the commercial and residential hub as opposed to the outskirts.

Examples

3 of 5
1

バスで市街を観光しました。

I went sightseeing through the city area by bus.

2

市街の再開発計画が発表されました。

The redevelopment plan for the urban area was announced.

3

市街に行けば、美味しいお店がたくさんあるよ。

If you go into the city area, there are lots of delicious restaurants.

Word Family

Noun
市街
Related
市街地
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Memory Tip

Think of 'Shi' as City and 'Gai' as Street. Together they describe the 'City Streets' or the urban zone.

Quick Quiz

駅から( )を抜けると、広い公園があります。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 市街

Examples

1

バスで市街を観光しました。

everyday

I went sightseeing through the city area by bus.

2

市街の再開発計画が発表されました。

formal

The redevelopment plan for the urban area was announced.

3

市街に行けば、美味しいお店がたくさんあるよ。

informal

If you go into the city area, there are lots of delicious restaurants.

4

市街における人口密度の変化を調査する。

academic

We will investigate the change in population density within the urban area.

5

弊社の店舗は市街の中心部に位置しております。

business

Our store is located in the central part of the city area.

Word Family

Noun
市街
Related
市街地

Common Collocations

市街を歩く to walk through the city streets
市街の中心 the center of the city area
市街を抜ける to pass through the urban area
市街の風景 the cityscape
市街の喧騒 the hustle and bustle of the city

Common Phrases

市街戦

urban warfare / street fighting

市街地走行

city driving

市街の灯

city lights

Often Confused With

市街 vs 都会

Tokai refers to a big city as a general concept, while Shigai refers specifically to the built-up streets and urban physical area.

市街 vs

Machi is a broader, more common word for town or neighborhood; Shigai is more formal and technical.

📝

Usage Notes

It is more formal than 'machi' and is commonly found in news reports, maps, or documents describing urban planning or geographical zones.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Beginning learners often use 'machi' for everything; use 'shigai' when you want to sound more precise about the commercial/urban district itself.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Shi' as City and 'Gai' as Street. Together they describe the 'City Streets' or the urban zone.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Chinese: 'Shi' (market/city) and 'Gai' (street/avenue).

Grammar Patterns

Used as a noun. Often functions as a compound noun (e.g., 市街地 - shigaichi). Followed by particles like を (through/object) or に (at/location).
🌍

Cultural Context

In Japan, 'shigai' usually refers to the dense areas around major railway stations where department stores and shops are clustered.

Quick Quiz

駅から( )を抜けると、広い公園があります。

Correct!

The correct answer is: 市街

Related Words

仮説

B1

仮説とは、ある現象を説明するために、真偽はともかくとして、とりあえず設定した仮の答えのことです。科学的方法の出発点となり、実験や観察によって検証される必要があります。

保護

A1

The act of keeping someone or something safe from harm, damage, or loss by providing care or creating boundaries. It is a versatile term in Japanese used for social welfare, environmental conservation, and digital security.

革命

A1

A fundamental and sudden change in political power or social structure, often involving a shift in governance. It also refers to a major, transformative shift in technology, thought, or a specific field that completely alters how things are done.

拡大

A1

The act of making something larger in size, scale, or scope. It is frequently used for physical enlargement (like a photo) or abstract growth (like a business or a problem).

販売

A1

The act of selling goods or services to customers, typically within a commercial or professional context. It refers to the business process of making items available for purchase.

取引

A1

A transaction or business deal involving the exchange of money, goods, or services. It refers to the process of doing business with another party or making a trade.

貯金

A1

The act of saving money or the amount of money saved, typically in a bank or a piggy bank. It refers to setting aside funds for future use rather than spending them immediately.

借金

A1

A sum of money that is borrowed from a person or an institution and is expected to be paid back. It refers to the state of owing money or the specific amount of debt accumulated.

利益

A1

Refers to the financial profit a company or individual makes after deducting expenses. It also describes a general benefit, advantage, or gain that someone receives from a situation or action.

損失

A1

A formal noun referring to the loss of something valuable, such as money, property, or time. It is commonly used in business or serious contexts to describe a reduction in value or a disadvantageous outcome.

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