Explore 都 in words about cities and in the everyday expression 都合がいい. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

都 has 11 strokes; follow the linked diagram. It is read と in 首都（しゅと） and 都市（とし）, つ in 都合（つごう）, and みやこ as a standalone word meaning capital.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
首都しゅとTokyo is the capital of Japan.
都市としTrains are convenient in cities.
都合つごうTomorrow suits me.
都みやこThe capital was once in Kyoto.

Examples

  • 東京とうきょうは日本にほんの首都しゅとです。Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
  • 京都きょうとには古ふるいお寺てらがたくさんあります。There are many old temples in Kyoto.
  • 都市としでは電車でんしゃが便利べんりです。Trains are convenient in cities.
  • 東京都とうきょうとに住すんでいます。I live in Tokyo Metropolis.
  • 明日あしたは都合つごうがいいです。Tomorrow suits me.
  • 都みやこは昔むかし、京都きょうとにありました。The capital was once in Kyoto.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

都合 concerns circumstances or convenience, not a city. In 東京都, 都 names Tokyo’s metropolitan prefecture; 京都 is the city name Kyoto.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 都市 in hiragana.

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    とし

    都市 is とし, a city or urban area. The example says trains are convenient in cities.

  2. Write the reading of 都合 in hiragana.

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    つごう

    都合 is つごう. 都合がいい means that the time or circumstances are convenient.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 首＿（しゅと）［都／者］.

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    都

    都 completes 首都（しゅと）, meaning capital; Tokyo is Japan’s capital.

Use it today

Write 都 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 都市 and 都合, then make a sentence with one of them.