都市部(としぶ)

A compound of 都市(とし) (city) + 部(ぶ) (part/area). Refers to the urbanized part of a region, as opposed to rural or suburban areas.

Common collocations

• 都市部(としぶ)に住(す)む: to live in an urban area
• 都市部(としぶ)の人口(じんこう): urban population
• 大(おお)都市部(としぶ): major metropolitan area
• 都市部(としぶ)と地方(ちほう): urban and rural areas
• 都市部(としぶ)に集中(しゅうちゅう)する: to be concentrated in urban areas

Similar words

• 地方(ちほう): rural regions, the provinces
• 郊外(こうがい): suburbs
• 農村部(のうそんぶ): agricultural/rural areas

Usage

Common in news, statistics, and policy discussions. In Japan, the 都市部(としぶ) vs. 地方(ちほう) divide is a major social and political topic, involving issues like population decline in rural areas (過疎化(かそか)) and overcrowding in cities (過密(かみつ)).