1.
ward, district, borough
An administrative division of a city.
〜区 is a suffix indicating a ward or administrative district within a city.
CULTURAL NOTE (Tokyo's 23 wards):
Tokyo has 23 特別区 (special wards), which function similarly to cities. Examples:
- 渋谷区: Shibuya Ward
- 新宿区: Shinjuku Ward
- 港区: Minato Ward
CULTURAL NOTE (other cities):
Major cities like 大阪, 横浜, 名古屋, and 札幌 also have wards (called 行政区).
Related words
Usage
区役所 is the ward office where residents handle registration, taxes, and other administrative tasks.