How to say "building" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 建物たてものnounThe default word for a building as a physical structure: something you can see, enter, or point to. For 'that tall building' or 'a brick building', this is the word you want.
- 構築こうちくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbBuilding as an act of putting up or erecting something; in practice it is used mostly for systems and frameworks rather than physical structures, so it is seldom the word for an actual building.
- 建造けんぞうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbNames the act or process of building or construction, not the finished structure; typically used for putting up large structures such as ships. For a building as a thing, use 建物.
- 造作ぞうさくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbBuilding, especially of a house. Its focus is houses rather than buildings in general, so for buildings other than houses 建物 is the word to use.
- 家屋かおくnounA house or building as a physical structure, with the emphasis on dwellings; close in meaning to 建物, but in ordinary reference to a building, 建物 is the usual choice.
For a building as a physical structure use 建物, with 家屋 as a house-leaning alternative; for building as construction use 建造, or 構築 when systems rather than physical structures are meant, while 造作 centers on houses.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 建物たてものbuilding
- 構築こうちくconstruction
- 建造けんぞうbuilding
- 造作ぞうさくbuilding (esp. a house)
- 家屋かおくhouse
- 造営ぞうえいbuilding (a temple, palace, etc.)
- 建築物けんちくぶつbuilding
- 新造しんぞうconstruction
- 築造ちくぞうconstruction
- 架設かせつconstruction
- 建造物けんぞうぶつstructure
- 作りつくりmaking
- 普請ふしんbuilding
- 営造えいぞうbuilding
- 営造物えいぞうぶつbuilding
- 屋舎おくしゃbuilding
- 建ち家たちいえhouse
- 屋おくhouse
- 建立こんりゅう(act of) building (temple, monument, etc.)
- 館かん(large) building
See also
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