港
Minato[mʲina̠to̞]
Minato is the Japanese name for one of the special wards that forms Tokyo.
When you are referring specifically to the administrative special ward in Tokyo, you add the suffix -ku (ward) to form 港区 (Minato-ku).
Meaning: one of special wards that forms Tokyo (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 港 literally means 'port' or 'harbor'.
How do you pronounce it?
Minato
Did you know?
- In some theories, the word's origin might be linked to a Proto-Tai word for 'water', though this remains a subject of academic debate.
Examples in context
- 港区はとてもにぎやかです。Minato-ku wa totemo nigiyaka desu.Minato Ward is very lively.
- 私の家は港区にあります。Watashi no ie wa Minato-ku ni arimasu.My house is in Minato Ward.
- 港区のレストランへ行きました。Minato-ku no resutoran e ikimashita.I went to a restaurant in Minato Ward.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing where to go for dinner in Tokyo.
- 陽太 Yota今日は港区で会いましょう。Kyou wa Minato-ku de aimashou.Let's meet in Minato Ward today.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。どこで会いましょうか？Ii desu ne. Doko de aimashou ka?That sounds good. Where shall we meet?
- 陽太 Yota駅の近くのカフェはどうですか？Eki no chikaku no kafe wa dou desu ka?How about a cafe near the station?
- 結衣 Yuiわかりました。そこで待ち合わせしましょう。Wakarimashita. Soko de machiawase shimashou.Understood. Let's meet there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minato” translations and entries 港, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 港, CC BY-SA 4.0.
