How to Say "China Town" in Japanese

中華街

chūkagai

The English phrase "china town" is translated into Japanese as 中華街 (chūkagai).

中華街 is used to refer to a district in a city where many Chinese people live and Chinese businesses are located.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of 中華 (chūka), meaning 'Chinese style' or 'China' and 街 (gai), meaning 'street' or 'district'.

In Yokohama, the China Town district is locally known as 横浜中華街. In Nagasaki, the district is referred to as 長崎新地中華街.

chūkagai

While many cities have Chinese districts, the most famous and largest Chinatown in Japan is located in Yokohama, known as 横浜中華街.

While 中華街 refers to the district, the word 中華 (chūka) is also used on menus to describe 'Chinese-style' food that has been adapted to Japanese tastes, such as 'gyoza'.
The 横浜中華街 in Yokohama is one of the few places in Japan where you will see the 'paifang' (traditional Chinese ceremonial archway) acting as a formal gateway to the district.
While 中華街 uses kanji, modern Japanese speakers often use the katakana loanword チャイナタウン (chaintatown) when referring to Chinese districts outside of the major historical ones.

私たちは中華街でおいしい中華料理を食べました。
We ate delicious Chinese food in China Town.
今日はチャイナタウンで買い物を楽しみました。
I enjoyed shopping in China Town today.
横浜の中華街に行きたいです。
Yokohama no Chuukagai ni ikitai desu.
I want to go to Yokohama Chinatown.
中華街はとても賑やかですね。
Chuukagai wa totemo nigiyaka desu ne.
Chinatown is very lively, isn't it?
週末に中華街でランチを食べました。
Shuumatsu ni Chuukagai de ranchi o tabemashita.
I ate lunch in Chinatown over the weekend.

Two friends are planning a trip to Yokohama.

結衣 Yui

今度、中華街へ行きませんか？
Kondo, Chuukagai e ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go to Chinatown sometime?
大翔 Hiroto

いいですね！ぜひ行きましょう。
Ii desu ne! Zehi ikimashou.
That sounds great! Let's definitely go.
結衣 Yui

大翔さんは、中華料理は好きですか？
Hiroto-san wa, chuukaryouri wa suki desu ka?
Hiroto, do you like Chinese food?
大翔 Hiroto

はい、大好きです。
Hai, daisuki desu.
Yes, I love it.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏