wet area; plumbing area
Refers to parts of a building where water is used, such as kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, and laundry areas. Often used in real estate and construction contexts.
The wet areas in this apartment have been newly renovated.
It's better to fix plumbing problems early.
水場 is a more general term for a place with water, such as a watering hole or a spot by a river, while 水回り specifically refers to the water-using areas inside a building.
Most common spelling for this term.
Kana-mixed spelling, common in everyday writing.
Less common variant using 周.
Alternate kanji form using 廻, which carries a nuance of circulation.
Compound of 水 (water) and 回り (circulation, surroundings), literally 'water surroundings'. The term likely originated in architectural or real estate contexts to describe the water-using sections of a building.