Translation guide
A room in a house or building used for receiving guests, relaxing, or specific commercial purposes. Japanese equivalents depend on the type of parlor.
A comfortable room in a private house for relaxing, watching TV, or spending time with family.
The most common word for a family living room or sitting room in a Japanese house. It implies a casual, everyday space.
家族は居間でテレビを見ています。
The family is watching TV in the living room.
Short for リビングルーム. Very common in modern Japanese homes, especially in apartments. Slightly more Western-style nuance.
リビングにソファを置きました。
I put a sofa in the living room.
Traditional term for a family sitting room, often with tatami and a low table. Used in older houses or rural settings.
祖母は茶の間でお茶を飲んでいます。
My grandmother is drinking tea in the sitting room.
A room used to receive and entertain visitors, often more formal than a family room.
A formal reception room or parlor for guests. Common in larger houses or traditional settings.
お客様を応接間にお通ししました。
I showed the guest into the parlor.
A guest room or parlor. Can be used for both receiving guests and as a spare room for overnight visitors.
A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami mats, often used as a formal parlor or reception room in ryokan or older homes.
A shop or business offering specialized services, often with a cozy or old-fashioned atmosphere.
Used as a suffix for certain types of shops, especially beauty parlors, ice cream parlors, and funeral parlors. Often written in katakana.
美容パーラーに行ってきました。
I went to the beauty parlor.
あのアイスクリームパーラーはいつも混んでいます。
That ice cream parlor is always crowded.
Standard word for a beauty salon or hairdresser. More common than 美容パーラー.
Funeral parlor or funeral home. More formal than 葬儀パーラー.
In English, 'parlor' can refer to a living room, a formal sitting room, or a commercial establishment. In Japanese, the word changes completely depending on the context. Using 居間 for a funeral parlor would be incorrect.
Both mean living room, but 居間 is a traditional Japanese word, while リビング is a loanword from English. リビング often implies a more modern, Western-style room. In many homes, they are used interchangeably.
I served tea in the parlor.
旅館の座敷で夕食をいただきました。
We had dinner in the ryokan's parlor.
美容院で髪を切りました。
I got my hair cut at the beauty parlor.
葬儀場は駅の近くにあります。
The funeral parlor is near the station.