都 means “capital, metropolis”

みやこ · miyako

Also: all, everything

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

みやこ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ト, ツ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 11 strokes

The story

Kyoto was Japan's 都 for over a thousand years: its very name means "capital city." When the emperor moved east, the new capital became 東京都, the "Eastern Capital." A 都 is where power, culture, and dreams converge.

Used in 東京都 (toukyouto, Tokyo Metropolis) and 京都 (kyouto, Kyoto)

More from Society & Government

• 市 city
• 町 town
• 村 village
• 会 meeting
• 社 company
• 官 government official
• 軍 army
• 公 public
• 私 private
• 世 world
• 界 world
• 国 country

Learn 都 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.