都みやこ

み

や

こ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

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.

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.

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.

See all 137 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の都みやこthe 'capital' or center of a certain field or culture
パリはファッションの都みやこと言いわれている。
Paris is said to be the fashion capital of the world.
都みやこを離はなれるto leave the capital
武ぶ士しは戦いくさのために都みやこを離はなれた。
The samurai left the capital to go to war.
都みやこへ上のぼるto go up (travel) to the capital
彼かれは出しゅっ世せのために都みやこへ上のぼった。
He traveled up to the capital to seek advancement.

Expressions

住すめば都みやこhome is where you make it; you can get used to living anywhere

Kanji

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

Related words

首しゅ都とN3sense 1
首都 is the modern, official term for a nation's capital (e.g., Tokyo), while 都 carries a more historical, poetic, or figurative nuance.
京きょう sense 1
京 usually appears inside compounds like 東京 or 京都 to mean 'capital,' whereas 都 is the standalone native Japanese word for the same idea.
古こ都と
都 is a general word for 'capital' or 'metropolis' with no historical implication, whereas 古都 specifically means a city that was once a capital and retains a sense of history.

Opposites

田舎いなかN5sense 1
田舎 means 'countryside, rural area,' the natural opposite of 都 as the center of government or culture.

Don't confuse with

都と会かいN3sense 1
都会 means any bustling urban area or city in general, while 都 specifically denotes the capital or seat of government.
都とN4
Written with the same kanji, 都 read みやこ is the classical/poetic word for 'capital' (especially Kyoto), whereas 都 read と is the modern administrative term used for Tokyo Metropolis and as a counter.

Word family· 15

都みやこ落おち
leaving the capital; fleeing the capital
都みやこ人びと
capital resident; townsfolk
都みやこ方がた
direction of the capital; toward Kyoto
ミヤコグサ
bird's-foot trefoil; Lotus corniculatus
都みやこ風ふう
city style; metropolitan

Show 6 more

ミヤコタナゴ
Tokyo bitterling
ミヤコドリ
Eurasian oystercatcher · black-headed gull (archaic) · Cinnalepeta pulchella (spiral-shelled gastropod)
都みやこする
make a capital; have as capital
都みやこ入いり
arriving in the capital
都みやこ大おお路じ
capital avenue; main thoroughfare of the capital
都みやこ忘わすれ
Miyamayomena savatieri; Gymnaster savatieri; Japanese aster

See all 15 in Explore →

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.

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.