Translation guide
A Japanese city with a population over 500,000 that has been designated by government ordinance to have expanded administrative authority, similar to a core city but with more autonomy.
Referring to the category of Japanese cities with special administrative status.
The formal, full term used in official contexts and news.
大阪市は政令指定都市です。
Osaka is an ordinance-designated city.
A common abbreviation used in conversation and informal writing.
横浜は政令市の中で一番人口が多い。
Yokohama has the largest population among the ordinance-designated cities.
Another common abbreviation, often used in administrative contexts.
指定都市の市長会議が開かれた。
A meeting of the mayors of designated cities was held.
Describing what an ordinance-designated city is in simple terms.
A literal explanation: 'a city designated by government ordinance.' Useful when clarifying the term.
政令で指定された都市は、県と同じくらいの権限を持っています。
Cities designated by government ordinance have authority almost equal to a prefecture.
A descriptive phrase: 'a large city with a population over 500,000 that has special authority.'
In news articles or government documents, 政令指定都市 is used first, then often shortened to 政令市 or 指定都市 in subsequent mentions. In casual conversation, 政令市 is most common.
A 中核市 (ちゅうかくし, core city) also has expanded powers but fewer than a 政令指定都市. The threshold for a core city is a population over 200,000. Ordinance-designated cities have more autonomy, especially in areas like urban planning and education.
An ordinance-designated city is a large city with a population over 500,000 that has special authority.