grid pattern; checkered division; partitioned into squares
Describes something divided into a grid of squares, like a go board. Often used for city layouts, fields, or patterns.
Kyoto's grid-pattern cityscape is beautiful.
This area is divided into a grid of squares.
碁盤目 is a synonym also meaning 'grid pattern like a go board', but 碁盤割り emphasizes the act or result of dividing into squares.
Compound of 碁盤 (goban, 'go board') and 割り (wari, 'division, splitting'), referring to the grid-like division of a go board.