Translation guide
The act of searching for a house or apartment to rent or buy. In Japanese, this is typically expressed with compound nouns or verb phrases, and the specific term depends on whether you are looking to rent or buy, and the context.
The general activity of searching for a place to live, whether renting or buying.
The most common and natural way to say 'house search' in Japanese. It literally means 'house searching' and is used for both renting and buying. It's a noun and often used with する (to do).
家探しを始めました。
I started my house search.
家探しは大変です。
House hunting is tough.
A slightly more formal or real-estate-oriented term. 物件 (ぶっけん) means 'property' (house, apartment, land). Often used when searching through listings.
良い物件探しに時間がかかる。
Finding a good property takes time.
A slightly more formal or literary term. 住まい means 'dwelling' or 'residence'. It can sound a bit more refined or serious.
住まい探しのコツを教えてください。
Please tell me some tips for house hunting.
When the focus is on renting, not buying.
Specifically means 'rental search'. 賃貸 (ちんたい) means 'rental' or 'leasing'. Very common when apartment hunting.
賃貸探しで疲れた。
I'm tired from apartment hunting.
Specifically 'apartment search'. アパート usually refers to a smaller, often wooden apartment building. Use マンション探し for larger condominium-type apartments.
アパート探しを手伝って。
Help me with my apartment search.
When the focus is on purchasing a house.
Means 'housing search' and often implies buying a house. 住宅 (じゅうたく) means 'residence' or 'housing'. Used in real estate contexts.
住宅探しの前に予算を決めよう。
Let's decide our budget before house hunting.
Literally 'my home search', a common phrase for searching for a house to buy, often with a connotation of a dream home. Very colloquial.
マイホーム探しに夢中です。
I'm absorbed in searching for my dream home.
When 'house search' means a police search of a premises.
The legal term for a police search of a house. 家宅 (かたく) means 'house' or 'premises', 捜索 (そうさく) means 'search' or 'investigation'. Used in news and formal contexts.
警察が家宅捜索に入った。
The police conducted a house search.
A more general phrase meaning 'search of a house'. Less formal than 家宅捜索, but still used in contexts like searching for a missing person or item.
行方不明者の家の捜索が行われた。
A search of the missing person's house was conducted.
Do not translate 'house search' word-for-word as ハウスサーチ or 家サーチ. These are not natural Japanese. Use the compound nouns above.
家探し is the most general and common. 物件探し is slightly more formal and used in real estate contexts. 住まい探し sounds a bit more refined or literary. For everyday conversation, 家探し is best.