都みやこ

み

や

こ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

noun

capital; seat of government

Primarily refers to a historical or current capital city, especially Kyoto as Japan's former capital. Also used for the seat of government in general.

京きょう都とはかつて日本にほんの都みやこだった。
Kyoto was once the capital of Japan.
都みやこを移うつす計けい画かくが議ぎ論ろんされている。

A plan to move the capital is being discussed.

2

noun

capital (of a field); city (of something)

Figurative use: a place that is the center or heart of a particular culture, industry, or activity, such as music, fashion, or art.

パリはファッションの都みやこと言いわれる。
Paris is said to be the capital of fashion.
この街まちは映えい画がの都みやことして栄さかえた。
This city flourished as the capital of cinema.

3

noun

location of the Imperial Palace

Specifically refers to the place where the Imperial Palace is located; often used in historical or formal contexts.

都みやこは天皇てんのうのお住すまいのある場ば所しょを指さすこともある。
The term 'miyako' can also refer to the location of the Imperial Palace.

Written forms

都みやこUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling for 'capital' or 'metropolis'.
みやこUsage2%
京みやこUsage1%
Alternate kanji, mostly seen in historical or literary contexts, especially for Kyoto.

Kanji

都metropolis, capital, all
京capital, 10**16

Similar words

首しゅ都と
首都 is the modern, official term for 'capital city' (e.g., Tokyo). 都 has a more historical, poetic, or figurative nuance.
京きょう
京 is often used in compound words (e.g., 東京, 京都) and can mean 'capital' in a more abstract or historical sense, while 都 (みやこ) is the standalone native Japanese word.

Etymology

Native Japanese word. The kanji 都 is a Chinese character meaning 'metropolis' or 'capital', adopted to represent the native word みやこ. The alternate kanji 京 also means 'capital' and is historically associated with Kyoto.