直辖市 zhíxiáshì municipality, namely: Beijing 北京, Tianjin 天津, Shanghai 上海 and Chongqing 重庆, the first level administrative subdivision
municipality, namely: Beijing 北京, Tianjin 天津, Shanghai 上海 and Chongqing 重庆, the first level administrative subdivision; province level city; also called directly governed city
How to remember 直辖市: 直 straight + 辖 to control + 市 market = municipality, namely: Beijing 北京, Tianjin 天津, Shanghai 上海 and Chongqing 重庆, the first level administrative subdivision.
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How it is used
- A province-level municipality governed directly by the central government - China's four are 北京、上海、天津、重庆 (Běijīng, Shànghǎi, Tiānjīn, Chóngqìng).
- A fixed administrative term; 直辖 = 'directly governed'. Know these four for any discussion of China's administrative geography.