地方(ちほう)

ちほう
noun
region, district
1. region, district, area
A particular geographical area.
地方(ちほう)の料理(りょうり)
Regional cuisine
関東(かんとう)地方(ちほう)は雨(あめ)が多(おお)い。
The Kanto region gets a lot of rain.
日本(にほん)の地方(ちほう)によって方言(ほうげん)が違(ちが)う。
Dialects differ depending on the region of Japan.
2. rural areas, provinces
Areas outside major cities.
地方(ちほう)に住(す)む。
To live in the provinces.
地方(ちほう)から東京(とうきょう)に出(で)てきた。
I came to Tokyo from the countryside.
若(わか)い人(ひと)が地方(ちほう)を離(はな)れて都会(とかい)に出(で)るため、地方(ちほう)の人口(じんこう)が減(へ)っている。
Because young people leave the countryside for the city, the population in rural areas is declining.

地方(ちほう) has two main uses: a geographical region or the provinces/rural areas (as opposed to major cities like Tokyo).

MEANINGS:
1. Region/district: 関東(かんとう)地方(ちほう) (Kanto region)
2. Rural areas/provinces: 地方(ちほう)に住(す)む (to live in the countryside)

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 地方(ちほう)都市(とし): regional city
  • 地方(ちほう)自治体(じちたい): local government
  • 地方(ちほう)公務員(こうむいん): local government employee
  • 地方(ちほう)税(ぜい): local tax

CONTRAST:

  • 地方(ちほう): region; rural areas
  • 都会(とかい): city, urban area
  • 田舎(いなか): countryside (more casual/intimate)
general
Added 2026.1.9 17:28 · Revised 2026.2.23 10:07
02000/02369_chihou