Readings: シ (Onyomi), いち (Kunyomi)
Meaning: City, market
A pictograph of an open ground where people gathered for trade, representing a marketplace or city. It depicts a cross (十) for crossroads/gathering place and a cloth (巾) for goods being displayed.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 市 has 5 strokes. It begins with the vertical stroke on the left, followed by the three strokes that form the top part (horizontal, vertical, horizontal), and concludes with the two diagonal strokes at the bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 巾 (はば) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シ (shi)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- いち (ichi)
Common Words Using 市
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 市民 | し・みん | citizen |
| 都市 | と・し | city, urban area |
| 市役所 | し・やく・しょ | city hall |
| 市内 | し・ない | within the city |
| 市長 | し・ちょう | mayor |
| 市場 | し・じょう | stock market (or generally ‘market’) |
| 市販 | し・はん | (on the) market, commercial |
| 市電 | し・でん | tram, streetcar |
| 市外 | し・がい | outside the city |
| 市町村 | し・ちょう・そん | cities, towns, and villages |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 市場 | いち・ば | market (general, fresh food etc.) |
| 市日 | いち・び | market day |
| 市女笠 | いち・め・がさ | broad-brimmed hat (historical) |
| 市井 | いち・い | town, common people (less common reading) |
| 市座 | いち・ざ | market place, trading post (historical) |
| 市神 | いち・がみ | market god (specific religious context) |
| 市太郎 | いち・たろう | Ichitaro (a common male given name) |
| 市松 | いち・まつ | Ichimatsu (a traditional checkered pattern, also a name) |
| 市女 | いち・め | market woman (archaic) |
| 市原 | いち・はら | Ichihara (a common Japanese surname and place name) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 市役所は駅から近いです。
Kana: しやくしょはえきからちかいです。
Romaji: Shiyakusho wa eki kara chikai desu.
English: The city hall is close to the station.
Japanese: 毎週日曜日には市場が開かれます。
Kana: まいしゅうにちようびにはいちばがひらかれます。
Romaji: Maishuu nichiyoubi ni wa ichiba ga hirakaremasu.
English: A market is held every Sunday.
Japanese: この都市は人口が多いです。
Kana: このとしはじんこうがおおいです。
Romaji: Kono toshi wa jinkou ga ooi desu.
English: This city has a large population.
Japanese: 市民の意見を聞くことが大切です。
Kana: しみんのいけんをきくことがたいせつです。
Romaji: Shimin no iken o kiku koto ga taisetsu desu.
English: It is important to listen to the opinions of the citizens.
Japanese: その商品は市販されていない。
Kana: そのしょうひんはしはんされていない。
Romaji: Sono shouhin wa shihan sarete inai.
English: That product is not sold commercially.
Japanese: 彼は市長に立候補した。
Kana: かれはしちょうにりっこうほした。
Romaji: Kare wa shichou ni rikkouho shita.
English: He ran for mayor.
Japanese: 市内観光バスに乗った。
Kana: しないかんこうバスにのった。
Romaji: Shinai kankou basu ni notta.
English: I took a city sightseeing bus.
Japanese: 市外局番を教えてください。
Kana: しがいきょくばんをおしえてください。
Romaji: Shigai kyokuban o oshiete kudasai.
English: Please tell me the area code (outside the city).
Japanese: 古い市電が今も走っている。
Kana: ふるいしでんがいまもはしっている。
Romaji: Furui shiden ga ima mo hashitte iru.
English: Old trams are still running.
Japanese: 市町村の合併が進んでいる。
Kana: しちょうそんのがっぺいがすすんでいる。
Romaji: Shichouson no gappei ga susunde iru.
English: The merger of cities, towns, and villages is progressing.
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