特別区

とくべつく
noun
special ward
geography
1. special ward
A type of municipality with city-level powers; in practice refers to Tokyo's 23 wards, each with its own mayor and assembly.
東京(とうきょう)には二十三(にじゅうさん)の特別区(とくべつく)がある。
Tokyo has 23 special wards.
特別区(とくべつく)は市(し)とほぼ同(おな)じ権限(けんげん)を持(も)つ。
Special wards have powers almost the same as cities.
大阪(おおさか)でも特別区(とくべつく)を設置(せっち)するかどうかが議論(ぎろん)された。
Whether to set up special wards was also debated in Osaka.

Legally a 特別地方公共団体(とくべつちほうこうきょうだんたい) (special local public body). Unlike the ordinary 区(く) of designated cities, a special ward elects its own mayor and assembly.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 二十三区(にじゅうさんく) (the 23 (special) wards of Tokyo)
general
Added 2026.5.26 13:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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