1.
urban area; city area; metropolitan area
The urbanized part of a region, as opposed to rural areas. Used in news, statistics, and policy discussions to refer to cities and their surrounding developed zones.
都市部は家賃が高い。
Rent is high in urban areas.
人口が都市部に集中している。
The population is concentrated in urban areas.
都市部と地方では生活のスタイルが大きく異なる。
Lifestyles differ greatly between urban areas and rural regions.
A compound of 都市 (city) + 部 (part/area). Refers to the urbanized part of a region, as opposed to rural or suburban areas.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 都市部に住む: to live in an urban area
- 都市部の人口: urban population
- 大都市部: major metropolitan area
- 都市部と地方: urban and rural areas
- 都市部に集中する: to be concentrated in urban areas
CONTRAST:
- 地方: rural regions, the provinces
- 郊外: suburbs
- 農村部: agricultural/rural areas
USAGE:
Common in news, statistics, and policy discussions. In Japan, the 都市部 vs. 地方 divide is a major social and political topic, involving issues like population decline in rural areas (過疎化) and overcrowding in cities (過密).