Translation and Meaning of: 市 - ichi

If you've ever walked through a Japanese city, you've probably come across the kanji 市 (いち) on signs, plaques, or even in everyday conversations. This simple little word carries meanings ranging from a simple market to more abstract concepts like justice and equity. In this article, you will discover the etymology behind this ideogram, how it is used in Japanese daily life, and even some tips to memorize it for good. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition system, you'll find practical examples to boost your studies.

In addition to its literal meaning, 市 appears in compound words and city names, revealing a historical connection with commerce and urban organization. Is there a reason for this kanji to be so prevalent in the Japanese language? Let's explore everything from its stroke order to curiosities that even books often fail to mention.

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 市

The kanji 市 is made up of two radicals: 巾, which represents a cloth or fabric, and 乚, a stroke that suggests movement or action. Together, they paint the image of a market where goods are displayed and traded — something like the fabric stalls that are still common at open-air markets today. This visual composition is not accidental: in ancient China, where the character originated, markets were spaces for exchanging not just products, but also ideas.

It's interesting to note that, while in modern Chinese 市 (shì) means "city," in Japanese the primary meaning remained related to commerce. This semantic difference reflects how the word was assimilated in Japan during the cultural importation period from China. The kanji arrived around the 5th century, bringing not only a symbol but an entire concept of social organization.

Lies in Japanese Everyday Life

In Tokyo, the district of 築地市場 (Tsukiji shijō) — famous for its tuna auction — demonstrates how 市 remains alive in Japanese culture. But don’t think its use is limited to physical places: expressions like 市場価値 (shijō kachi), which means "market value," show how the term has migrated to the business world and even to discussions about human relationships. Who hasn’t heard someone say "he has high value in the marriage market"?

Another curious use appears in city names like 広島市 (Hiroshima-shi) or 京都市 (Kyōto-shi). Here, the kanji functions as a suffix that transforms the name of a place into "municipality." This duality between market and city is not a coincidence — historically, Japanese urban centers grew precisely around the large markets that attracted artisans and merchants.

Tips for Memorization and Curiosities

An infallible technique to memorize this kanji is to associate its radical 巾 with the tents we see at fairs. Imagine the bottom stroke as people circulating between these tents — there you go, you will never forget that 市 is related to movement and commerce. If you prefer a more concrete mnemonic, think of the Municipal Market in your city: it's exactly this vibe that the character intends to capture.

Did you know there is even a pun with this kanji? The expression 市が立つ (ichi ga tatsu), literally "the market rises," is used to describe when a topic becomes public debate — as if ideas are being traded like commodities. These details show how the Japanese language uses concrete images to express abstract concepts, and 市 is a perfect example of this cultural richness.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 都市 (Toshi) - City, a general term for urban areas.
• 都会 (Tokai) - Large city, often referring to metropolitan areas.
• 都心 (Toshin) - City center, densely populated central area.
• 都市部 (Toshibu) - Urban area, part of a city that is urbanized.
• 都市地域 (Toshi chiiki) - Urban area, a region characterized by urban development.
• 都市圏 (Toshi ken) - Metropolitan area, a region that encompasses a large city and its suburbs.
• 都市化 (Toshika) - Urbanization, the process of making areas more urban.
• 都市生活 (Toshi seikatsu) - Urban life, a lifestyle associated with living in the city.
• 都市交通 (Toshi kōtsū) - Urban transport, transportation within a city.
• 都市計画 (Toshi keikaku) - Urban planning, land use organization, and urban infrastructure.
• 都市景観 (Toshi keikan) - Urban landscape, the aesthetic appearance of a city.
• 都市問題 (Toshi mondai) - Urban problems, challenges faced in urban areas.
• 都市開発 (Toshi kaihatsu) - Urban development, construction processes, and renovations in urban areas.
• 都市型 (Toshi gata) - Urban model, specific characteristics of a city.
• 市街 (Shigai) - Area of a city, often referring to the consolidated urban part.
• 市街地 (Shigaichi) - Urban area refers to the developed area within a city.
• 市内 (Shinai) - Within the city, areas that are contained within the city limits.
• 市域 (Shiai) - City area, the geographical boundaries of a city.
• 市民 (Shimin) - Citizen, people who reside or are members of a city.
• 市長 (Shichou) - Mayor, administrative leader of a city.
• 市立 (Shiritsu) - Municipal refers to institutions or services that belong to the city.

市

Romaji: ichi
Kana: いち
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: Marketplace; fair

Meaning in English: market;fair

Definition: A place where goods and services are marketed.

Example Sentences - (市) ichi

See below some example sentences:

怪獣が都市を襲った。

Kaijuu ga toshi wo osotta

The monstrous creature attacked the city.

The monster attacked the city.

• 怪獣 - means "monster" in Japanese
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 都市 - means "city" in Japanese
• を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 襲った - verb 襲う (osou) in the past, meaning "to attack"

この市場の動向は予測できない。

Kono shijō no dōkō wa yosoku dekinai

This market trend cannot be predicted.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 市場 - noun meaning "market"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between words
• 動向 - noun meaning "trend" or "movement"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 予測 - noun meaning "prediction" or "prognosis"
• できない - verb in the negative form meaning "not able to"

地下鉄に乗って都市を探索しよう。

Jikatetsu ni notte toshi o tansaku shiyou

Take the subway to explore the city.

• 地下鉄 (chikatetsu) - subway
• に (ni) - particle indicating location
• 乗って (notte) - boarding, enter
• 都市 (toshi) - city
• を (wo) - particle that indicates direct object
• 探索 (tansaku) - exploration, search
• しよう (shiyou) - imperative form of the verb "suru" (to do), indicating suggestion or invitation

市場には新鮮な魚がたくさんあります。

Ichiba ni wa shinsen na sakana ga takusan arimasu

There are a lot of fresh fish on the market.

There are many fresh fish on the market.

• 市場 (ichiba) - Marketplace
• に (ni) - particle indicating place
• は (wa) - topic marker particle
• 新鮮な (shinsen na) - fresco
• 魚 (sakana) - fish
• が (ga) - subject indicator particle
• たくさん (takusan) - many
• あります (arimasu) - there are

市民は社会の基盤です。

Shimin wa shakai no kiban desu

Citizens are the basis of society.

Citizens are the foundation of society.

• 市民 - citizens
• は - Topic particle
• 社会 - society
• の - Possession particle
• 基盤 - base, foundation
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

市場に行きます。

Ichiba ni ikimasu

I'm going to the market.

Go to the market.

• 市場 (ichiba) - Marketplace
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go

市街地にはたくさんのお店があります。

Shigai chi ni wa takusan no omise ga arimasu

There are many stores in the city.

• 市街地 - urban area
• に - particle indicating location
• は - particle indicating sentence topic
• たくさん - many
• の - Particle that indicates possession
• お店 - Shops
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• あります - verb that indicates existence

庁舎は市役所の前にあります。

Chousha wa shiyakusho no mae ni arimasu

The government building is opposite the town hall.

• 庁舎 - government building
• は - Topic particle
• 市役所 - town hall
• の - Possession particle
• 前 - in front
• に - Location particle
• あります - is located

株式市場での投資はリスクがある。

Kabushiki shijō de no tōshi wa risuku ga aru

Investing in the stock market is risky.

• 株式市場 - stock market
• での - in
• 投資 - Investment
• は - is
• リスク - Risk
• が - exists
• ある -

株式市場は今日も活況を呈しています。

Kabushiki shijō wa kyō mo kakkō o tei shite imasu

The stock market is still booming today.

• 株式市場 - stock market
• は - Topic particle
• 今日 - today
• も - also
• 活況 - prosperity, good performance
• を - direct object particle
• 呈しています - is demonstrating/presenting