Japanese House Kanji: Learn Home & Room Words in Japanese
Master Japanese house and home kanji: 家 (house), 部屋 (room), 台所 (kitchen), 窓 (window), 庭 (garden), and more. Each entry includes readings, example sentences, and cultural context about the traditional Japanese home.
Japanese House Kanji at a Glance
The Traditional Japanese Home
Traditional Japanese houses (家/ie) feature tatami rooms, sliding doors (障子/shouji), and the genkan (玄関) entrance where shoes are removed. The concept of 内 (inside) vs 外 (outside) is deeply embedded in Japanese architecture and culture.
Room Names in Japanese
Japanese room names often combine kanji descriptively: 台所 (kitchen = "stand place"), 風呂 (bath = "wind + spine"), 玄関 (entrance = "mysterious barrier"). The character 部屋 (room) literally means "section + roof."
JLPT Relevance
House kanji are essential for JLPT. Core words like 家 (house), 部屋 (room), 窓 (window) appear at N5-N4. Room-specific terms like 台所 (kitchen) and 玄関 (entrance) are common in N4-N3 reading passages and daily conversation.
Core Japanese House & Home Kanji
These twenty kanji cover essential house and home vocabulary, from rooms and structural elements to furniture and everyday household items.
| Meaning | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House / Home | 家 | いえ | ie | N5 |
| Room | 部屋 | へや | heya | N5 |
| Door | 戸 | と | to | N3 |
| Window | 窓 | まど | mado | N4 |
| Wall | 壁 | かべ | kabe | N3 |
| Floor | 床 | ゆか | yuka | N3 |
| Roof | 屋根 | やね | yane | N3 |
| Pillar | 柱 | はしら | hashira | N2 |
| Garden | 庭 | にわ | niwa | N4 |
| Gate | 門 | もん | mon | N3 |
| Kitchen | 台所 | だいどころ | daidokoro | N4 |
| Bath | 風呂 | ふろ | furo | N4 |
| Stairs | 階段 | かいだん | kaidan | N4 |
| Entrance | 玄関 | げんかん | genkan | N4 |
| Key | 鍵 | かぎ | kagi | N3 |
| Tatami | 畳 | たたみ | tatami | N2 |
| Live / Dwell | 住 | すむ | sumu | N4 |
| Build | 建 | たてる | tateru | N3 |
| Floor / Story | 階 | かい | kai | N4 |
| Fence / Wall | 塀 | へい | hei | N1 |
All Japanese House Kanji Explained
Explore each house kanji with its readings, origin story, and example sentences used in everyday Japanese.
Example:
新しい家に引っ越しました。
Atarashii ie ni hikkoshimashita.
We moved to a new house.
Example:
この部屋は広くて明るいです。
Kono heya wa hirokute akarui desu.
This room is spacious and bright.
Example:
戸を閉めてください。
To wo shimete kudasai.
Please close the door.
Example:
窓を開けて新鮮な空気を入れましょう。
Mado wo akete shinsen na kuuki wo iremashou.
Let's open the window and let in fresh air.
Example:
壁に絵を飾りました。
Kabe ni e wo kazarimashita.
I hung a picture on the wall.
Example:
床がピカピカに光っている。
Yuka ga pikapika ni hikatte iru.
The floor is sparkling clean.
Example:
台風で屋根が壊れてしまった。
Taifuu de yane ga kowarete shimatta.
The roof was damaged by the typhoon.
Example:
大きな柱が家を支えている。
Ookina hashira ga ie wo sasaete iru.
Large pillars support the house.
Example:
庭に桜の木を植えました。
Niwa ni sakura no ki wo uemashita.
I planted a cherry tree in the garden.
Example:
大きな門の前で待ち合わせましょう。
Ookina mon no mae de machiawasemashou.
Let's meet in front of the big gate.
Example:
台所でお弁当を作っています。
Daidokoro de obentou wo tsukutte imasu.
I'm making a bento in the kitchen.
Example:
お風呂に入ってリラックスしましょう。
Ofuro ni haitte rirakkusu shimashou.
Let's take a bath and relax.
Example:
階段を上がって二階に行きます。
Kaidan wo agatte nikai ni ikimasu.
I go up the stairs to the second floor.
Example:
玄関で靴を脱いでください。
Genkan de kutsu wo nuide kudasai.
Please take off your shoes at the entrance.
Example:
家の鍵をなくしてしまいました。
Ie no kagi wo nakushite shimaimashita.
I lost my house key.
Example:
和室には六畳の畳が敷いてあります。
Washitsu ni wa rokujou no tatami ga shiite arimasu.
The Japanese room has six tatami mats laid out.
Example:
東京に住んでいます。
Toukyou ni sunde imasu.
I live in Tokyo.
Example:
新しいマンションを建てています。
Atarashii manshon wo tatete imasu.
They are building a new apartment building.
Example:
エレベーターで五階まで行きます。
Erebeetaa de gokai made ikimasu.
I take the elevator to the fifth floor.
Example:
隣との塀を新しくしました。
Tonari to no hei wo atarashiku shimashita.
We renewed the fence between us and our neighbor.
Japanese House Kanji by Category
Japanese house vocabulary can be grouped into rooms, structural elements, furniture, and outdoor spaces. Understanding these groups helps you navigate any Japanese home.
A traditional Japanese home has distinct rooms: 居間 (living room), 台所 (kitchen), 寝室 (bedroom), and 風呂 (bath). Many homes still include a 和室 (Japanese-style tatami room) alongside Western-style rooms.
Japanese architectural elements have beautiful kanji: 屋根 (roof), 壁 (wall), 柱 (pillar), 床 (floor). Traditional homes use 木 (wood) as the primary material, with 瓦 (tile) roofs and 障子 (paper sliding doors).
The Japanese garden (庭/niwa) is an extension of the home. Traditional gardens feature 石 (stones), 池 (ponds), and carefully pruned 木 (trees). The 門 (gate) marks the boundary between public and private space.
Home life vocabulary includes actions and objects: 住 (live/dwell), 建 (build), 階 (floor/story), 畳 (tatami). These kanji appear in apartment listings, moving conversations, and daily life in Japan.
Traditional vs Modern Japanese Homes
Japanese homes blend ancient traditions with modern convenience. Understanding both styles helps you master housing vocabulary.
| Feature | Traditional (和風) | Modern (洋風) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | 畳(tatami): woven rush mats | 床(yuka): hardwood or tile flooring |
| Door | 障子(shouji): paper sliding doors | 扉(tobira): hinged Western doors |
| Sleeping | 布団(futon): folding mattress on tatami | ベッド(beddo): Western bed frame |
| Bathing | 檜風呂(hinokiburo): cypress wood tub | ユニットバス(yunitto basu): prefab bathroom unit |
| Entrance | 玄関(genkan): raised step entry | 玄関(genkan): still traditional even in modern homes |
| Room Style | 和室(washitsu): Japanese-style room | 洋室(youshitsu): Western-style room |
House-Related Compound Words (Jukugo)
These compound words combine house kanji to create essential housing vocabulary. Many are used in real estate listings, daily conversation, and apartment hunting in Japan.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 家族 | かぞく (kazoku) | Family (household members) |
| 家賃 | やちん (yachin) | Rent (house + money) |
| 住所 | じゅうしょ (juusho) | Address (dwelling + place) |
| 建物 | たてもの (tatemono) | Building (build + thing) |
| 屋上 | おくじょう (okujou) | Rooftop (roof + above) |
| 部屋代 | へやだい (heyadai) | Room charge / Room rate |
| 門前 | もんぜん (monzen) | In front of the gate |
| 庭園 | ていえん (teien) | Garden (formal/landscaped) |
| 階段 | かいだん (kaidan) | Stairs / Staircase |
| 引越し | ひっこし (hikkoshi) | Moving (house) |
| 一戸建て | いっこだて (ikkodate) | Detached house (single unit) |
| 不動産 | ふどうさん (fudousan) | Real estate (immovable property) |
Tips for Remembering Japanese House Kanji
The Roof Radical (宀)
The radical 宀 (ukanmuri) means "roof" and appears in many house-related kanji: 家 (house), 室 (room), 宅 (residence), 宿 (lodge). When you see this radical, think "something under a roof."
Walk Through Your Home
Mentally walk through a Japanese home to remember room names: enter the 玄関, remove shoes, pass through the 廊下 (hallway), into the 居間, then to the 台所 for dinner, and finally the 風呂 before 寝室.
Watch Home & Lifestyle Shows
Japanese shows like Terrace House, home renovation programs, and slice-of-life anime constantly use house vocabulary. Hearing 部屋 (room), 台所 (kitchen), and 玄関 (entrance) in context makes them stick.
Collect House Cards
Use our gamified card collection to master house kanji. Earn XP, level up, and build your personal Jisho dictionary with every kanji you learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say house in Japanese?
House in Japanese is 家 (ie or uchi). The reading いえ (ie) refers to the physical building, while うち (uchi) often means "my home" or "my family." For example, 家に帰る (ie ni kaeru) means "to go home." The kanji 家 shows a pig (豕) under a roof (宀). In ancient China, having livestock under your roof signified prosperity and a proper home.
What are the main rooms in a Japanese house?
Key rooms include: 居間 (ima/living room), 台所 (daidokoro/kitchen), 寝室 (shinshitsu/bedroom), 風呂 (furo/bath), 玄関 (genkan/entrance hallway), and often a 和室 (washitsu/Japanese-style tatami room). Many modern Japanese homes blend Western and traditional styles, having both 洋室 (Western rooms) and 和室 (Japanese rooms).
What is a genkan and why is it important?
A genkan (玄関) is the entrance area where shoes are removed before entering the main home. The kanji mean "mysterious barrier"; it symbolizes the threshold between the outside world and the clean, private interior. Even modern apartments have a genkan. Always step up from the genkan area (which is at ground level) onto the raised floor of the home.
How do you count floors in Japanese?
Floors use the counter 階 (kai): 一階 (ikkai/1st floor), 二階 (nikai/2nd floor), 三階 (sankai or sangai/3rd floor). Note that Japan uses the same system as the US: the ground floor is 一階 (1st floor), not "ground floor" like in the UK. Basement floors are 地下一階 (chika ikkai/B1).
Ready to Learn Japanese House Kanji?
Master house vocabulary and 100+ more kanji with our gamified card-collection system. Free to start, no signup needed.
Start Collecting for Free