Translation guide
In Japanese, the English word 'mansion' is a false friend. The loanword マンション (manshon) refers to a modern apartment or condominium, not a large, luxurious house. To express the English concept of a mansion, use terms for a large, grand residence.
The speaker wants to refer to a grand, opulent private residence, like a celebrity's home or a historic manor.
The most common and natural word for a luxurious, large house. It implies wealth and grandeur.
あの俳優は都内に豪邸を建てた。
That actor built a mansion in Tokyo.
彼女の豪邸にはプールがある。
Her mansion has a swimming pool.
A more formal term for a very large residence. Often used in real estate or news contexts.
その大邸宅は国の重要文化財に指定されている。
That mansion is designated as an important cultural property of the country.
A general term for a large, impressive residence. Slightly less grand than 大邸宅, but still formal.
彼は郊外に立派な邸宅を構えている。
He owns a fine mansion in the suburbs.
Often used in names of historic mansions or Western-style buildings. Can sound literary or old-fashioned.
その洋館は地元では「幽霊館」と呼ばれている。
That Western-style mansion is called 'the haunted mansion' by locals.
The speaker is referring to a modern apartment building or condominium, which is called マンション in Japanese. This is a false friend for English speakers.
In Japanese, this refers to a modern apartment or condominium, typically in a multi-story building. It does NOT mean a large, luxurious house. Use this when talking about Japanese housing.
Do not use マンション to mean a grand, luxurious house. It will be misunderstood as an apartment.
私は都心のマンションに住んでいます。
I live in an apartment in the city center.
このマンションはペット可です。
This apartment building allows pets.
Refers to a smaller, often wooden apartment building. マンション implies a larger, more modern concrete building.
The Japanese word マンション (manshon) means a modern apartment or condominium, not a large, luxurious house. Using it to refer to a grand residence will cause confusion. For a mansion in the English sense, use 豪邸 (gōtei) or 大邸宅 (dai teitaku).
彼は豪邸に住んでいる。
He lives in a mansion.
彼はマンションに住んでいる。
He lives in an apartment.
学生時代は安いアパートに住んでいた。
When I was a student, I lived in a cheap apartment.