村(むら)

村(むら) means village - a small rural community. It is also the smallest administrative unit in Japan.

READINGS:

• むら: standalone word, native compounds
• そん: in official/formal compound names

ADMINISTRATIVE HIERARCHY:

• 村(むら): village (smallest)
• 町(まち): town
• 市(し): city
• 区(く): ward (in large cities)
• 県(けん): prefecture

COMPOUNDS:

• 村人(むらびと): villager
• 村長(そんちょう): village mayor/chief
• 農村(のうそん): farming village
• 漁村(ぎょそん): fishing village
• 村落(そんらく): village, hamlet

IDIOM:
村八分(むらはちぶ): social ostracism (historical village punishment)