- House いえ; my home is often うち. Room へや.
- げんかん: the entrance area where shoes come off.
- Apartment layouts are written like 2LDK: two rooms + living, dining, kitchen.
- Entering someone’s home: おじゃまします. Leaving: おじゃましました.
Rooms
- いえiehouse, home
- うちuchihome, my place
- へやheyaroom
- げんかんgenkanentrance (shoes off)
- だいどころdaidokorokitchenAlso キッチン.
- リビングribinguliving room
- しんしつshinshitsubedroom
- おふろofurobath (room)
- トイレtoiretoilet
- ベランダberandabalcony
- わしつwashitsuJapanese-style tatami room
Furniture and things
- テーブルtēburutable
- いすisuchair
- ベッドbeddobed
- ふとんfutonfuton (bedding on the floor)
- たたみtatamitatami mat
- まどmadowindow
- ドアdoadoor
- れいぞうこreizōkofridge
- せんたくきsentakukiwashing machine
- エアコンeakonair conditioner
Reading apartment layouts
| Layout | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1R | one room (kitchen inside the room) |
| 1K | one room + separate kitchen |
| 1LDK | one room + living, dining and kitchen area |
| 2LDK | two rooms + living, dining and kitchen |
Watch out for a famous false friend: マンション (manshon) means a concrete apartment building, not a mansion. A wooden low-rise apartment is an アパート. More in our katakana words list.
Visiting someone’s home
- おじゃましますojama shimasuSorry to intrude (when entering)
- どうぞ、あがってくださいdōzo, agatte kudasaiPlease come in.Literally “please step up”, from the genkan into the house.
- つまらないものですがtsumaranai mono desu gaIt’s just a small thing, but…Traditional humble phrase when handing over a gift.
- すてきなおうちですねsuteki na ouchi desu neWhat a lovely home!
- おじゃましましたojama shimashitaThank you for having me (when leaving)
Saying where things are
- トイレはどこですかtoire wa doko desu kaWhere is the toilet?
- かぎはテーブルのうえにありますkagi wa tēburu no ue ni arimasuThe keys are on the table.
Position words like うえ (on top) are explained in position words in Japanese.
Home check0/3
Where do you take off your shoes?
マンション means:
When entering a friend’s home, say:
Frequently asked questions
How do you say house and room in Japanese?
House is 家 (ie), often called うち (uchi) when talking about your own home. Room is 部屋 (heya).
What is a genkan?
玄関 (genkan) is the entrance area of a Japanese home, usually a step lower than the rest of the house, where you take off your shoes.
What does 1LDK mean?
It describes an apartment layout: one room plus a combined living, dining and kitchen area.