村

• Reading: むら
• Romaji: mura
• Kanji breakdown: 村 (son/mura) — village
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.ɾa/

Meaning

Village. A small rural settlement, the smallest administrative division in Japan.

A noun meaning village. In Japan, 村 is the smallest unit of local government, smaller than 町 (town) and 市 (city). Many villages are in mountainous or rural areas. The number of villages in Japan has been decreasing through municipal mergers. The word evokes a sense of close-knit rural community.

Examples

1. 祖父はとても小さい村に住んでいます。 My grandfather lives in a very small village.
2. この村には百人ぐらい住んでいます。 About a hundred people live in this village.
3. 山の中の静かな村で生まれました。 I was born in a quiet village in the mountains.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, rural life, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 村 combines 木 (tree) with 寸 (measure), suggesting a measured-out area of land among trees.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal