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Kotomora

屋

roof, house, shop, dealer, seller

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

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

Explore all words using 屋 →

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.