市

• Reading: いち
• Romaji: ichi
• Kanji breakdown: 市 (shi/ichi) — market, city
• Pronunciation: /i.t͡ɕi/

Meaning

Market; fair. A place where goods are bought and sold, often outdoors.

A noun meaning market or fair. While 市 also means 'city' as an administrative unit (read し), the reading いち specifically refers to a marketplace or bazaar. Traditional markets like 築地市場 (Tsukiji Market) and morning markets (朝市) are important parts of Japanese culture and tourism.

Examples

1. 日曜日に駅前で市が開かれます。 A market is held in front of the station on Sundays.
2. 朝市で新鮮な魚を買いました。 I bought fresh fish at the morning market.
3. 市にはたくさんの人が来ていました。 A lot of people had come to the market.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, local events, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 市 originally depicted cloth or fabric hung on a frame as a trade sign, indicating a place of commerce.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal