How to say "metropolis" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 首都しゅとnounFor 'metropolis' meaning a country's capital city. It denotes the chief city where a nation's government sits, so it suits talk of national capitals rather than big cities in general.
- 大都市だいとしnounFor 'metropolis' meaning simply a very large city. Use it for any big, major city, whether or not it is the capital; this is the word when size, not political status, is the point.このバスは２つの大都市をつないでいる。↗This bus connects the two large cities.
Use 首都 when 'metropolis' means a country's capital city, and 大都市 when it means simply a very large city, whether or not that city is the capital.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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