Translation guide
A terrace house is a type of housing where individual homes share side walls in a row. In Japan, this concept is often expressed with specific terms depending on the style and context.
A house that is part of a continuous row of similar houses sharing side walls.
Traditional Japanese row house, often single-story, with shared walls. Historically common in the Edo period, but still used to describe older-style row houses.
この辺りには古い長屋がまだ残っている。
There are still old row houses remaining in this area.
Loanword from English, used for modern terrace houses, often in suburban developments. May imply a more Western-style design.
新しく建てられたテラスハウスに引っ越した。
I moved into a newly built terrace house.
Another loanword, often used for modern townhouses that may be multi-story and part of a planned community.
タウンハウスは庭が狭いが、駅に近い。
Townhouses have small gardens but are close to the station.
Specifically referring to an old-style Japanese wooden row house, often with a shop front.
Traditional townhouse, often found in historic districts like Kyoto. Combines residential and commercial space.
京都の町家を改装したカフェが人気だ。
Cafés renovated from traditional Kyoto townhouses are popular.
Alternate kanji for 町家, same meaning and reading.
A contemporary house that shares one or more walls with neighbors, often in a suburban development.
Ready-built house for sale, often part of a row of similar houses. These are commonly attached or semi-detached.
建て売り住宅は価格が手頃だが、デザインが似ている。
Ready-built houses are affordable, but the designs are similar.
長屋 evokes an image of old, wooden, single-story row houses from the Edo period, while テラスハウス refers to modern, often multi-story attached houses influenced by Western architecture. Use 長屋 for historical or traditional contexts, and テラスハウス for contemporary housing.
長屋は江戸時代からあるが、テラスハウスは最近の住宅様式だ。
Nagaya have existed since the Edo period, but terrace houses are a recent housing style.
町家 or 町屋 specifically refers to traditional townhouses in historic districts, often with a shop in front and living quarters in the back. It's not a direct translation of 'terrace house' but is the closest culturally equivalent term for a traditional attached house.
町家を改装した宿に泊まってみたい。
I want to stay at an inn renovated from a traditional townhouse.
この地域の古い長屋はとても趣がある。
The old terrace houses in this neighborhood have a lot of character.
Traditional context
I stayed at an inn that retains the atmosphere of a traditional townhouse.
Houses built for sale in a subdivision, often attached or semi-detached. Emphasizes the development aspect.
この分譲住宅地にはテラスハウスが多い。
There are many terrace houses in this housing development.