Translation guide
The English word 'brick' refers to a rectangular block used in building, or the material itself. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is レンガ, a loanword from Dutch. There are also native terms for traditional Japanese bricks or tiles, but レンガ is the standard for modern Western-style bricks. This guide covers the main ways to express 'brick' in Japanese, from the most common to more specialized terms.
brick (building material)
Referring to a brick as a building material or a single block, typically made of fired clay.
The most common and standard word for 'brick' in modern Japanese. It refers to both the material and individual bricks. Used in everyday contexts.
This house is made of brick.
To lay bricks.
The kanji form of レンガ. It is less common in everyday writing but may appear in formal or literary contexts. The reading is the same.
A brick building.
A direct loanword from English 'brick'. Used in some brand names, product names, or specific contexts like 'brick oven' (ブリックオーブン), but not the standard term for bricks in general.
Bake pizza in a brick oven.
Referring to traditional Japanese clay blocks or tiles used in roofing or walls, which are similar to bricks but culturally distinct.
Refers to traditional Japanese roof tiles, which are curved clay pieces. While not exactly 'bricks', they are the closest traditional equivalent and are sometimes translated as 'tile' or 'brick' in older contexts. Not used for modern Western bricks.
A house with a tiled roof.
An archaic term for brick or tile, rarely used in modern Japanese. May appear in historical texts.
Describing the reddish-brown color typical of bricks.
Use レンガ for modern Western-style bricks. Use 瓦 for traditional Japanese roof tiles. They are not interchangeable.
In old documents, it is written as 'sen'.