chōnin (Edo-period social class of town-dwelling commoners, esp. landowning merchants); townspeople; townsfolk; tradespeople
江戸時代の町人は商業を担った。
Townspeople in the Edo period were responsible for commerce.
町人文化が花開いたのは江戸時代だ。
The culture of townspeople flourished in the Edo period.
武士と町人の間には厳格な身分の違いがあった。
There was a strict class distinction between samurai and townspeople.