also: いちなか
in the city; within the city
Refers to the area inside a city, often used in contrast to suburbs or rural areas. Common in news and formal contexts.
Banks in the city close at 3 p.m.
Community transmission (within the city) is spreading.
in the community; among the public
Used in economic or social contexts to mean 'in the general public' or 'in the market', as opposed to within a specific institution. Often seen in terms like 市中銀行 (commercial bank) or 市中金利 (market interest rate).
Interest rates at commercial banks have fallen.
That information hasn't circulated among the public yet.
It seems that counterfeit banknotes are circulating in the market.
A new virus is spreading within the community.
That stock is being actively traded on the open market.
parading a criminal through town before execution (Edo period)