小屋
also: しょうおく
Meanings
A small, simple building, often for shelter, storage, work, or keeping animals. Common in compounds such as 山小屋, 犬小屋, and 鶏小屋.
We built a shed in the garden to store tools.
In the evening, I put the chickens back in the pen.
small theatre; temporary playhouse; circus tent; booth
Only with reading こや
Used for small or temporary entertainment structures, especially in compounds like 芝居小屋, 見世物小屋, and サーカス小屋. This sense is read こや.
We watched a play in an old small theatre.
People had gathered at the show booth at the festival.
my humble home; one's own house
Humble colloquial use for referring to one's own house; the reading しょうおく is especially associated with this sense. It is uncommon in everyday modern speech compared with 家 or 自宅.
小屋, read しょうおく, is used as a humble way to refer to one's own home.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉に小屋を建てるto build a hut/shed in a place
I built a small shed in the backyard.
- 小屋を掛けるto set up a temporary theatre/booth (e.g. at a festival)
They set up a sideshow tent in the festival square.
- 小屋に住むto live in a hut/cabin
He lives alone in a cabin in the forest.