How to say "city-state" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 都市国家としこっかnounThe common, general word for a city-state: an independent state made up of a single city and its territory. Use it in most contexts — history, politics, the news — where English would say 'city-state'.
- 市国しこくnounA less common word for 'city-state', exemplified by the Vatican. For general purposes 都市国家 is what readers expect; treat 市国 as an alternative you may meet rather than one you need to produce.
Both words translate 'city-state', an independent state consisting of one city; 都市国家 is the common general term, while 市国 is a less common alternative exemplified by the Vatican, so prefer 都市国家 in most writing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
