Archaic or literary word for a house or building. In modern Japanese, 家 (いえ) or 建物 (たてもの) are used instead. The reading おく is rare; the more common reading や (sense 4 in the や entry) is the usual way to express this meaning.
See also: 屋 (や)
In old documents, 屋 (おく) means a house.
Archaic or literary word for a roof. The modern term is 屋根 (やね). The reading おく is rare; the more common reading や (sense 5 in the や entry) is the usual way to express this meaning.
The expression 屋を葺く (おくをふく, to roof a house) is found in old writings.
建物 is the standard modern word for 'building', whereas 屋 (おく) is a rarely-used classical equivalent.
屋 written the same way is read や in everyday Japanese (for 'shop' or 'house'), while the おく reading is archaic and confined to classical or literary contexts.
The kanji 屋 originally depicted a roof or covering over a dwelling. The reading おく is a native Japanese word (kun'yomi) that has become archaic, while や is the more common modern reading.
principal residence; main house
private house; ordinary person's home
dilapidated house; tumbledown house
thatched cottage; humble cottage
thatched hut
cramped home; humble abode; hovel
gilding the lily; adding redundant things