屋
roof, house, shop, dealer, seller
Readings
On'yomi
- オク
Kun'yomi
- や
Nanori
- た
Meaning
屋 centers on a covered structure: a roof, a house, or a place of business like a shop. The dealer/seller sense extends naturally from the idea of a shop or establishment.
Most common words using 屋
24 of 661- 部屋へやN5
room; chamber
- 名古屋なごやN5
Nagoya (city)
- 屋根やねN3
roof
- 居酒屋いざかやN3
izakaya; tavern, bar, etc. that also serves various dishes and snacks
- 屋敷やしきN1
residence; estate; grounds; premises; mansion
- 小屋こやN3
hut; cabin; shed; (animal) pen
- 本屋ほんやN5
bookstore; bookshop
- 屋上おくじょうN4
rooftop
- 屋台やたい
cart (esp. a food cart); stall; stand
- 屋外おくがいN2
outdoors; outside
- 屋内おくないN1
indoors
- 家屋かおくN2
house; building
- 楽屋がくや
dressing room; green room; backstage
- 茶屋ちゃや
teahouse; (Edo period) rest stop
- 肉屋にくや
butcher's shop; butcher; meat shop
- 花屋はなや
florist; flower shop
- 問屋とんやN1
wholesale store; wholesale dealer; wholesaler
- 酒屋さかやN1
liquor store; wine shop; bottle shop
- 床屋とこやN4
barbershop; barber shop; barber
- 山小屋やまごや
mountain hut (esp. one that offers lodging to climbers and hikers); mountain cottage; mountain shanty
- 質屋しちやN1
pawnshop
- 宿屋やどやN1
inn
- 古本屋ふるほんや
secondhand bookshop; secondhand bookstore; secondhand bookseller
- 長屋ながや
tenement house; row house
Study
Etymology
屋 combines 尸 (a roof or building) with 至, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to a roof or dwelling.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer 尸 is like a roof, and inside is 至, which looks like a person arriving. Picture arriving at a house with a roof: 屋 is a roof, house, or shop.
Reading mnemonic
For オク, imagine an oak tree growing right through the roof of a house: oak -> オク, and the house still stands.