Translation guide
The English word "house" can refer to a building for living, a household, a family line, or a legislative body. This guide covers the most common ways to express these meanings in Japanese.
A physical structure where people live, typically a detached house.
The most common word for a house as a physical building. Can also mean 'home' in a broader sense.
あの家は大きいですね。
That house is big, isn't it?
新しい家を建てました。
I built a new house.
Specifically a detached house, as opposed to an apartment or townhouse. Used in real estate contexts.
一戸建てに住みたいです。
I want to live in a detached house.
A more formal term for a residence or dwelling. Often used in official contexts or housing categories.
この地域は住宅が多いです。
This area has many houses.
The place where one lives, often with emotional attachment, or the people living together.
Can mean both the physical house and the concept of home. Context distinguishes.
家に帰りたい。
I want to go home.
家では猫を飼っています。
We have a cat at home.
Refers to the household or family unit, often in contexts like 'home life' or 'family environment'.
One's own home or residence. More formal than 家, often used in business contexts.
A noble or important family, often historical.
Can refer to a family lineage or house in the sense of a dynasty. Often used in historical contexts.
徳川家は江戸時代を支配した。
The House of Tokugawa ruled the Edo period.
Specifically means family lineage or pedigree.
A group of people who make laws, e.g., House of Representatives.
Used in the names of legislative chambers, such as 衆議院 (House of Representatives) and 参議院 (House of Councillors).
衆議院は下院とも呼ばれる。
The House of Representatives is also called the lower house.
Suffix meaning 'house' or 'chamber' in legislative contexts. Used in compounds.
上院と下院
upper house and lower house
A business or venue, e.g., publishing house, house of worship.
Used for assembly halls or houses for specific purposes, like 公会堂 (public hall) or 教会 (church).
市民会館でコンサートがあります。
There's a concert at the civic hall.
Suffix for companies or publishers, e.g., 出版社 (publishing house).
その本は有名な出版社から出ている。
That book is published by a famous publishing house.
Both can mean 'house' or 'home', but うち is more personal and often refers to one's own home. いえ is more neutral and can refer to any house. うち is also used to mean 'we' or 'our group' in casual speech.
English uses 'house' in many compound words (e.g., 'treehouse', 'doghouse') that have specific Japanese words. For example, 'treehouse' is ツリーハウス (loanword) or 木の上の家, not a direct compound with 家.
I'm taking a day off due to family matters.
I work from home.
He comes from an old family line.