屋 means “roof, shop”

や · ya

Also: house, dealer

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

や

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

オク

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A cloth (尸) draped over a structure that has arrived (至): 屋 is shelter made permanent. In Japan, 屋 names the places that sustain daily life: 本屋 (hon'ya, bookshop), パン屋 (pan'ya, bakery), 花屋 (hana'ya, florist). Every neighborhood is a constellation of 屋.

Used in 部屋 (heya, room), 屋根 (yane, roof), and 屋台 (yatai, food stall)

Words with 屋

• 部屋 (へや, heya): room
• 屋根 (やね, yane): roof

Example sentences

• 本屋で本を買いました。 I bought a book at the bookstore.
• 部屋を片付けました。 I tidied up the room.

More from Family & Home

• 床 floor
• 壁 wall
• 畳 tatami mat
• 室 room
• 柱 pillar
• 家 house
• 親 parent
• 弟 younger brother
• 妹 younger sister
• 夫 husband
• 妻 wife
• 孫 grandchild

Learn 屋 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.