町長(ちょうちょう)

ちょうちょう
noun
town mayor
1. town mayor
The elected head of a town (町(まち)) in Japan's local government system. Equivalent to a mayor but for municipalities classified as 町(まち) rather than 市(し) (city).
新(あたら)しい町長(ちょうちょう)が選(えら)ばれた。
A new town mayor was elected.
町長(ちょうちょう)は住民(じゅうみん)の意見(いけん)を聞(き)く会(かい)を開(ひら)いた。
The town mayor held a meeting to hear residents' opinions.
町長(ちょうちょう)選挙(せんきょ)には三(さん)人(にん)の候補者(こうほしゃ)が立候補(りっこうほ)して、激(はげ)しい選挙(せんきょ)戦(せん)になった。
Three candidates ran in the town mayoral election, and it became a fierce race.

USAGE:
In Japan's local government hierarchy, the heads of municipalities have different titles by classification: 市長(しちょう) (city mayor), 町長(ちょうちょう) (town mayor), and 村長(そんちょう) (village chief). A 町長(ちょうちょう) is directly elected by town residents for a four-year term.

PRONUNCIATION NOTE:
Both syllables are ちょう, making this a repeated-mora word. Not to be confused with 蝶々(ちょうちょう) (butterfly) or 丁重(ていちょう) (polite).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 町長(ちょうちょう)選挙(せんきょ): town mayoral election
  • 町長(ちょうちょう)に就任(しゅうにん)する: take office as town mayor
  • 前(ぜん)町長(ちょうちょう): former town mayor
general
Added 2026.2.26 18:45
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