Readings: ト, ツ (Onyomi), みやこ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Capital, metropolis, city, all, everything
The kanji 都 (tō) is formed by combining the radical 邑 (むら, village, town, city) and the component 者 (もの, person, thing, but here acts as a phonetic component that also implies “gathering”). Together, it depicts a place where people gather, thus signifying a capital or a significant city.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 都 (to) has 11 strokes. It starts with the horizontal stroke on the top left, followed by the vertical stroke. Then, the components of 者 are written: a horizontal, vertical, and two short diagonal strokes, followed by the longer vertical-horizontal-vertical stroke. Finally, the 阝 (おおざと) radical is written on the right side, starting with the vertical stroke, then the horizontal-vertical turn, and finally the last vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 阝 (おおざと) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ト (TO)
- ツ (TSU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- みやこ (miyako)
Common Words Using 都
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 都市 | とし | city; urban area |
| 首都 | しゅと | capital city |
| 東京都 | とうきょうと | Tokyo Metropolis |
| 都会 | とかい | urban area; city |
| 都心 | としん | city center; urban core |
| 京都 | きょうと | Kyoto |
| 都合 | つごう | convenience; circumstances |
| 都度 | つど | each time; whenever |
| 都立 | とりつ | metropolitan (e.g., metropolitan park, school) |
| 大都市 | だいとし | large city; metropolis |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 都 | みやこ | capital city; metropolis (often historical or poetic) |
| 都落ち | みやこおち | fleeing the capital; leaving the metropolis |
| 都忘れ | みやこわすれ | forget-me-not (flower) |
| 都鳥 | みやこどり | common tern (a type of bird) |
| 都人 | みやこびと | capital resident; city dweller (archaic/literary) |
| 都大路 | みやこおおじ | main street of the capital (literary) |
| みやこ言葉 | みやここことば | Kyoto dialect; refined speech of the capital |
| みやこ唄 | みやこうた | capital song; folk song from the capital (poetic) |
| みやこ風 | みやこかぜ | capital style; sophisticated manner (literary) |
| みやこ路 | みやこじ | path to the capital (literary) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この都市はとても美しい。
Kana: このとしはとてもうつくしい。
Romaji: Kono toshi wa totemo utsukushii.
English: This city is very beautiful.
Japanese: 東京は日本の首都です。
Kana: とうきょうはにほんのしゅとです。
Romaji: Tōkyō wa Nihon no shuto desu.
English: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
Japanese: 東京都庁は新宿にあります。
Kana: とうきょうとちょうはしんじゅくにあります。
Romaji: Tōkyōtochō wa Shinjuku ni arimasu.
English: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is in Shinjuku.
Japanese: 都会の生活は便利だが、自然が少ない。
Kana: とかいのせいかつはべんりだが、しぜんがすくない。
Romaji: Tokai no seikatsu wa benri daga, shizen ga sukunai.
English: City life is convenient, but there is little nature.
Japanese: 駅の都心部へのアクセスが良い。
Kana: えきのとしんぶへのアクセスがよい。
Romaji: Eki no toshinbu e no akusesu ga yoi.
English: Access to the city center from the station is good.
Japanese: 京都は美しい古都です。
Kana: きょうとはうつくしいことです。
Romaji: Kyōto wa utsukushii koto desu.
English: Kyoto is a beautiful ancient capital.
Japanese: 都合の良い時間にご連絡ください。
Kana: つごうのよいじかんにごれんらくください。
Romaji: Tsugō no yoi jikan ni gorenraku kudasai.
English: Please contact me at your convenience.
Japanese: それは都度、確認が必要です。
Kana: それはつど、かくにんがひつようです。
Romaji: Sore wa tsudo, kakunin ga hitsuyō desu.
English: That requires confirmation each time.
Japanese: 昔の日本の都は京都でした。
Kana: むかしのにほんのみやこはきょうとでした。
Romaji: Mukashi no Nihon no miyako wa Kyōto deshita.
English: The ancient capital of Japan was Kyoto.
Japanese: 彼女は都忘れの花が好きです。
Kana: かのじょはみやこわすれのはながすきです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa miyakowasure no hana ga suki desu.
English: She likes forget-me-not flowers.
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