1.
municipalities; cities, towns, and villages
A collective term for the three types of basic local government units in Japan: cities (市), towns (町), and villages (村). Used in administrative, political, and geographical contexts.
全国の市町村に通知を出した。
A notification was sent to municipalities nationwide.
市町村合併により、自治体の数が減っている。
The number of local governments is decreasing due to municipal mergers.
各市町村が独自の子育て支援制度を設けている。
Each municipality has established its own childcare support system.
USAGE:
市町村 is a compound of 市 (city), 町 (town), and 村 (village). These are the basic units of local government in Japan, below the prefectural (都道府県) level.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 市町村合併 (municipal merger)
- 市町村長 (mayor of a municipality)
- 市町村役場 (municipal office)
- 各市町村 (each municipality)
SIMILAR WORDS:
自治体 means local government or municipality in a broader sense and can include prefectures. 市町村 specifically refers to the three types of basic local units.