Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'residence' depends on formality, context, and whether you're referring to your own home or someone else's. The most common everyday word is 家 (ie/uchi), but formal situations require different terms.
To refer to one's own home or house in casual conversation.
The most common word for 'home' or 'house'. Can be read as いえ or うち. うち is more colloquial and often implies 'my/our home', while いえ refers to the physical building.
My house is near the station.
Please come over to my place.
Means 'one's own home'. Slightly more formal than 家, often used in polite conversation or when distinguishing from other places.
To refer to a place of residence in official documents, formal speech, or when asking about someone's living situation politely.
Means 'address' or 'place of residence'. Used on forms, in official contexts, and when asking for someone's address.
To refer to the official residence of a high-ranking person.
To refer to the residence of the emperor, imperial family, or nobility.
Refers to the residence of the emperor or a member of the imperial family. Also used historically for shoguns.
To refer to a residence for students or workers, often with shared facilities.
Dormitory, often for students or company employees.
To refer to a place where one stays temporarily, like a hotel or rented accommodation.
The English loanword レジデンス is not commonly used in Japanese except in proper names like apartment buildings. It sounds unnatural in conversation.
いえ refers to the physical house/building, while うち refers to one's home (the place where one belongs). うち is more intimate and often used to mean 'my family' or 'my place'.
I work from home.
Please tell me your address.
What is your current residence?
A formal term for 'dwelling' or 'residence', often used in legal or administrative contexts.
Trespassing into a residence is a crime.
A legal term for 'whereabouts' or 'residence', used in specific legal contexts like family registration.
We cannot proceed because the residence is unknown.
Official residence of a public official like a prime minister or ambassador.
The meeting was held at the prime minister's official residence.
Often used specifically for the prime minister's official residence (首相官邸).
Protesters gathered in front of the prime minister's residence.
京都御所は観光名所です。
The Kyoto Imperial Palace is a tourist attraction.
A grand residence or mansion, often used for nobility or wealthy individuals.
The duke's residence has a vast garden.
大学の寮に住んでいます。
I live in the university dormitory.
A more formal term for dormitory or boarding house, often used in official names.
The dormitory rules are strict.
Place of lodging, such as a hotel or inn.
I booked accommodation for the trip.
Place where one is staying, often used for longer temporary stays.
I got a message from the place I'm staying.
build a house
When talking about your own residence, you can often omit 'my' if it's clear from context. For example, simply saying 家に帰る (go home) instead of 私の家に帰る.