首都
shuto[ɕɨ̥to̞]
The English phrase "capital city" is translated into Japanese as 首都 (shuto). Wiktionary also lists 都 (miyako).
Meaning: city designated as seat of government (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 首都 | shuto | [ɕɨ̥to̞] (narrow) |
| 都 | miyako | [mʲija̠ko̞] (narrow) [to̞] (narrow) |
The word 首都 is used to refer to the city designated as the seat of government for a country. The term 都 can also mean a capital or a metropolis, often used in a more poetic or historical sense or as a suffix to denote a major city.
Which one should you use?
Use 首都 (shuto) when you are specifically referring to the capital city of a nation. In contrast, 都 (miyako) can be used to refer to a capital or metropolis in a more poetic or historical context and it is also used as a suffix to denote major cities.
How do you pronounce it?
shuto
Did you know?
- The word 都 (miyako) literally translates to 'palace place', reflecting the ancient belief that the capital was simply the location of the Emperor's residence.
- Tokyo is the only prefecture in Japan that uses 都 (to) in its official name, 東京都 (Tokyo-to).
- While 首都 (shuto) is the standard term for a national capital today, historical Japanese texts often use 京 (kyo) to refer to the capital, as seen in the name of Kyoto, which means 'capital city'.
Examples in context
- ベルリンは、ドイツの首都です。Berlin is Germany's capital city.This sentence shows how to identify a country's capital using 首都.Tatoeba #10796468 by small_snow, translation #8260833 by shekitten
- フィンランドの首都はどこですか。What's the capital city of Finland?This sentence is useful for asking which city is the capital of a country using 首都.Tatoeba #197223 by tommy__san, translation #34405 by CN
- バルセロナはカタルーニャ州の州都であり、スペイン第2の都市です。Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain.This sentence demonstrates how 都 can be used to refer to the capital of a specific region or state.Tatoeba #869796 by thyc244, translation #438995 by Clavain
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking about traveling to a new country.
- 蓮 Renその国の首都はどこですか。Sono kuni no shuto wa doko desu ka.Where is the capital city of that country?
- 陽葵 Himariフランスの首都はパリですよ。Furansu no shuto wa Pari desu yo.The capital city of France is Paris.
- 蓮 Renパリはとても有名な都市ですね。Pari wa totemo yuumei na toshi desu ne.Paris is a very famous city, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、いつか行ってみたいです。Hai, itsuka itte mitai desu.Yes, I want to try going there someday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “capital city” translations and entries 首都, 都, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 都, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
