Machi in Japanese is used mainly in the three different ways, explained

What does “machi” mean in Japanese?

Japanese native speakers use the word, “machi”, mainly in the three different ways: expressing the act of waiting, meaning ‘town’, and meaning ‘city’. In this blog post, I will explain each usage in detail with an example sentence. Let’s get started!

Contents

• “Machi” to express the act of waiting
  • Example #1: how to say “waiting time” in Japanese
• “Machi” to mean ‘town’
  • Example #2: how to say “town” in Japanese
• “Machi” to mean ‘city’
  • Example #3: how to say “cities” in Japanese
• Summary

“Machi” to express the act of waiting

Let me start with “machi” used to express the act of waiting.

• machi – 待ち (まち) : a noun used to express the act of waiting.

This noun can be considered as the noun form of the verb, “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ in Japanese. In the Japanese language, we can change some verbs to their noun forms with replacing the last “u” sound with the “i” sound. “Matsu” is one of them. So, we can change it to its noun form, “machi”. In accordance with the change of the last vowel, “ts” has also been replaced with “ch”. This kind of side effect can happen becuase of the writing system. But basically the point is always the vowels.

Then, let me explain how to use this type of “machi” through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “waiting time” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• jikan – 時間 (じかん) : a noun meaning ‘time’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, it is put after the noun phrase, “machi jikan”, to make the subject word in the sentence.
• totemo – とても : an adverb meaning ‘very’, ‘quite’, ‘pretty’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it is used as a modifier to describe the following adjective.
• nagai – 長い (ながい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘long’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of this “machi”. In the example, it is used together with the noun, “jikan”. The formed phrase, “machi jikan”, is quite often used to mean ‘waiting time’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

In the Japanese language, nouns can be connected to make a new longer noun like “machi jikan”. Normally a preceding noun modifies its following noun. When we want to make a phrase from two or more nouns, connecting would be a possible solution in many cases.

“Machi” to mean ‘town’

Next, then, let me explain “machi” used to mean ‘town’ in Japanese.

• machi – 町 (まち) : a noun meaning ‘town’ in Japanese. This can also be used as a plural noun meaning ‘towns’. Learn more about Japanese plural.

Its definition and meaning are quite simple and clear, I think. Let me explain how to use this “machi” through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “town” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle put after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, it is put after the pronoun, “watashi”, to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to indicate a particular place to which someone or something goes. In the example, it is put after the noun phrase, “watashi no machi”, to indicate the particular place to which the listener probably goes.
• ki – 来 (き) : one conjugation of the verb, “kuru”, which means ‘to come’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle put after a verb or adjective to make its te form. In the example, it is put after the conjugated verb, “ki”, to make its te form, “ki te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – 下さい (ください) : an imperative form of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. Yet, it is often used like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ to its preceding verb. In the example, it is put after the te-formed verb, “ki te”, to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of this type of “machi”. When we want to say “town” in Japanese, it would be the best choice in most cases.

“Machi” to mean ‘city’

Lastly, let me explain “machi” used to mean ‘city’ in Japanese.

• machi – 街 (まち) : a noun meaning ‘city’ in Japanese. Depending on the situation and context, it can be used to mean ‘commercial center’. This can also be used as a plural noun.

This “machi” is quite similar to the last one. Especially in speaking, they sound the same, and their meanings are quite similar. Honestly speaking, even Japanese native speakers often don’t understand which “machi” is used in conversations. So, Japanese learners don’t have to be so nervous with a possible confusion between these two types of “machi”.

Then, let me explain how to use this “machi” through the example sentence.

Example #3: how to say “cities” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, it is put after the noun, “machi”, to make the subject word in the sentence.
• yori – より : a case particle used to provide a basis of comparison. In the example, it is put after the second “machi” meaning ‘cities’ to provide the basis of the comparison with the first “machi” meaning ‘towns’.
• chiisai – 小さい (ちいさい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘small’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of this type of “machi”. In the example, it is used to mean ‘cities’ and compared with the other “machi” meaning ‘towns’.

In general, towns are smaller than cities. This idea is also the same in the Japanese language. So, “町” expresses a smaller place than “街” does.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the three different usages of “machi” with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• machi – 待ち (まち) : a noun used to express the act of waiting. It is the noun form of the verb, “matsu”, which means ‘to wait’ in Japanese.
• machi jikan – 待ち時間 (まちじかん) : a Japanese phrase meaning ‘waiting time’. Japanese people often use this, so it’s worth knowing.
• machi – 町 (まち) : a noun meaning ‘town’ in Japanese. This can also be used as a plural noun meaning ‘towns’.
• machi – 街 (まち) : a noun meaning ‘city’ in Japanese. Depending on the situation and context, it can be used to mean ‘commercial center’. This can also be used as a plural noun.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.