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.
京都の町家を改装したカフェが増えている。
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.
江戸時代、多くの町家は間口が狭く奥行きが深かった。
In the Edo period, many merchant houses had narrow frontages and deep interiors.
町家の格子戸から柔らかな光が漏れていた。
Soft light was leaking through the lattice door of the machiya.
He was born into a long-established merchant family.
商家 is a more general term for a merchant house or business, not necessarily implying the traditional wooden architecture of 町家.
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.