also: ちょうか
machiya; traditional wooden townhouse
Refers specifically to the traditional wooden townhouses found in historic districts like Kyoto, often with narrow frontages and deep interiors.
Cafés renovated from traditional Kyoto machiya are increasing.
tradesman's house; merchant's house; merchant's family
Historically, a combined residence and shop for merchants or artisans; the family and business were often one unit. Can refer to the building or the household.
Soft light was leaking through the lattice door of the machiya.
In the Edo period, many merchant houses had narrow frontages and deep interiors.
He was born into a long-established merchant family.
Standard kanji spelling; also read ちょうか in some contexts.
Alternate reading, less common; may appear in historical or formal contexts.
Alternate kanji spelling with the same meaning.
Compound of 町 (machi, 'town') and 家 (ie, 'house'). The reading まちや is the standard kun'yomi combination; ちょうか uses the on'yomi of 町.