Translation guide
The English word "dwelling" refers to a place where someone lives. In Japanese, the most common and natural equivalent depends on context: 住まい (sumai) is a warm, everyday word for one's home or residence; 住宅 (jūtaku) is the standard term for a house or dwelling in formal or technical contexts; 住居 (jūkyo) is a more formal or legal term for a residence. This guide helps you choose the right word based on nuance and situation.
To refer to someone's home or dwelling in a personal, warm, or everyday context.
A warm, somewhat literary word for one's home or dwelling. Often used in real estate or when talking about one's living situation with a personal touch.
Have you gotten used to your new dwelling?
She has a lovely dwelling.
Polite form of 住まい, used when asking about someone else's dwelling or referring to it respectfully.
Where is your dwelling?
A slightly old-fashioned or poetic word for a dwelling place, often used for animals or in literary contexts.
Search for a bird's dwelling.
To refer to a dwelling as a physical structure or in formal, legal, or statistical contexts.
The most common word for a house or dwelling in formal, technical, or business contexts. Used in real estate, architecture, and official documents.
Many new dwellings are being built in this area.
A formal or legal term for a dwelling or residence. Often used in official documents, laws, or when emphasizing the right to a dwelling.
The most common word for 'house' or 'home'. While it can mean 'dwelling', it is broader and more casual. Use when 'house' fits better than 'dwelling'.
To refer to a dwelling in an abstract, philosophical, or poetic sense.
Same reading as 住みか but often written with these kanji for a more literary or abstract feel. Can refer to a spiritual or metaphorical dwelling.
Set out on a journey in search of a dwelling for the soul.
An even rarer kanji form emphasizing a living creature's dwelling, often used poetically.
住まい (sumai) is warm and personal, often used in everyday conversation or real estate ads to evoke a sense of home. 住宅 (jūtaku) is neutral and technical, the standard term for a house or dwelling in formal contexts. 住居 (jūkyo) is formal and legal, used in official documents and laws. For most casual references to someone's home, 家 (ie) is more natural than any of these.
For consultations about your dwelling, please come here.
The earthquake resistance of dwellings is an issue.
Check the residence indication.
In English, 'dwelling' can sound formal or technical. In Japanese, using 住居 or 住宅 in casual conversation may sound stiff. When talking about where someone lives, 家 (ie) or 住まい (sumai) are often more natural choices.
Where is his house?
The right to adequate housing includes a secure dwelling.
Uses both 住宅 (housing) and 住居 (dwelling) in a formal context.
Take out a housing loan.
住居侵入罪で逮捕された。
He was arrested for trespassing into a dwelling.
Establish a dwelling.
He lives in a big house.
I found a fox's dwelling.
Is your new dwelling comfortable?