N2 · 40 words
Building, renovation and property in Japanese
How a house is designed, built, repaired, pulled down and paid for.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
These are the words of building sites, renovation quotes and property adverts. Two families are worth learning as families. 新築, 改築 and 増築 share their last kanji, “build”, and the first one says what kind: new, remade, enlarged. 建築 and 建設 both translate as construction, but the first is buildings and the profession of architecture, the second large works such as roads, dams and hospitals. Watch the verb 建て替える, to rebuild: written 立て替える, the same sound means paying for someone until they pay you back.
The words
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Verb (3)
取り壊すto demolish; to pull downVerbN2
古い映画館が取り壊され、跡地に駐車場ができた。The old cinema was pulled down and a car park was built on the site.
建て替えるto rebuild (a building)VerbN2
古くなった実家を、思い切って建て替えることにした。We made up our minds to rebuild my parents’ old house.
建ち並ぶto stand in a row; to line (a street)VerbN2
大通りの両側に、高いビルが建ち並んでいる。Tall buildings line both sides of the main street.
Noun (37)
建築architecture; construction (of a building)NounN2
大学で建築を学んだ姉は、古い家を見て歩くのが好きだ。My sister studied architecture at university and loves walking round looking at old houses.
建設construction (of large works)NounN2
駅の近くに、新しい病院が建設される予定だ。A new hospital is to be built near the station.
着工start of construction workNounN2
新しい図書館の着工が、予算の問題で半年遅れた。Because of budget problems, work on the new library started six months late.
施工carrying out construction workNounN2
この家は、地元の工務店が施工した。This house was built by a local building firm.
Sometimes also read しこう.
設計design; plan (of a building or machine)NounN2
台所が広くなるように、家の設計を少し変えてもらった。We had the design of the house changed slightly to make the kitchen bigger.
基礎foundation(s); basicsNounN2
家を建てる前に、まずコンクリートで基礎を作る。Before the house goes up, the foundations are laid in concrete.
土台base; sill (of a wooden house); groundworkNounN2
古い家の土台が腐っていて、修理が必要だった。The base timbers of the old house had rotted and needed repairing.
瓦roof tileNounN2
台風で、屋根の瓦が何枚か飛ばされた。The typhoon blew several tiles off the roof.
Counted with 〜枚.
外壁outer wall; exterior wallNounN2
十年ぶりに、家の外壁を塗り直した。We repainted the outside walls of the house for the first time in ten years.
木造wooden; timber-builtNounN2
日本の古い住宅の多くは木造だ。Many old houses in Japan are built of wood.
鉄筋reinforcing steel; rebarNounN2
鉄筋コンクリートの建物は、火事に強い。Reinforced-concrete buildings stand up well to fire.
Mostly in 鉄筋コンクリート, reinforced concrete.
鉄骨steel frameNounN2
工事現場では、クレーンが鉄骨を持ち上げている。At the building site, a crane is lifting the steel frame.
木材timber; wood (as material)NounN2
この地域で取れた木材を使って、新しい校舎が建てられた。The new school building was built with timber from this area.
断熱insulation (against heat or cold)NounN2
断熱がしっかりしている家は、冬でも暖房があまりいらない。A well-insulated house does not need much heating, even in winter.
換気ventilation; airingNounN2
料理をするときは、窓を開けて換気しましょう。Open the window and let the air in when you cook.
Also a verb: 換気する; the kitchen fan is a 換気扇.
構造structure; constructionNounN2
この建物は、地震に強い構造になっている。This building has a structure designed to withstand earthquakes.
足場scaffolding; footholdNounN2
壁を直すために、家の周りに足場が組まれた。Scaffolding was put up round the house so the walls could be repaired.
塗装painting; coatingNounN2
雨の日は、屋根の塗装作業ができない。The roof cannot be painted on rainy days.
配管piping; plumbingNounN2
古いマンションなので、配管を全部取り替えることになった。It is an old block of flats, so all the pipes are to be replaced.
改築rebuilding; reconstructionNounN2
祖父の家を改築して、カフェとして使っている。They rebuilt their grandfather’s house and now use it as a café.
増築extension (to a building)NounN2
子どもが生まれたので、二階に部屋を一つ増築した。When the baby was born, we added a room upstairs.
改装refurbishment; redecorationNounN2
駅前の本屋は、改装のため来週まで休んでいる。The bookshop by the station is closed for refurbishment until next week.
Inside and appearance only; 改築 changes the structure.
修繕repair (of buildings); maintenanceNounN2
マンションの修繕のために、住民は毎月お金を積み立てている。The residents put money aside every month for repairs to the building.
平屋single-storey house; bungalowNounN2
祖父母は、階段のない平屋に住みたいと言っている。My grandparents say they want to live in a bungalow with no stairs.
老朽化deterioration with ageNounN2
老朽化した橋を架け替える工事が始まった。Work has started on replacing the old, worn-out bridge.
解体demolition; dismantlingNounN2
空き家になっていた隣の家が、来月解体される。The house next door, which has stood empty, is to be demolished next month.
新築newly built; new buildingNounN2
新築の家は、木のいい香りがする。A newly built house smells nicely of wood.
宅地residential land; building plotNounN2
畑だった土地が宅地になり、家が次々と建った。What had been fields became building land, and houses went up one after another.
敷地site; grounds; premisesNounN2
学校の敷地内は禁煙です。Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the school grounds.
分譲sale (of land or flats, in lots)NounN2
分譲マンションは、賃貸より設備がいいことが多い。Flats built for sale often have better fittings than rented ones.
住宅ローンmortgage; home loanNounN2
住宅ローンの返済が、家計の大きな負担になっている。Paying off the mortgage is a heavy burden on the household budget.
頭金down payment; depositNounN2
家を買うために、夫婦で頭金を貯めている。The couple are saving up for a deposit on a house.
持ち家owner-occupied home; one’s own houseNounN2
持ち家にするか賃貸にするかは、人によって考えが違う。Whether to buy your own home or rent is something people see differently.
住まいhome; where one livesNounN2
定年後は、海の近くに住まいを移したい。After I retire, I want to move house to somewhere near the sea.
Softer and a little more formal than 家.
住宅街residential areaNounN2
静かな住宅街なので、夜は車もほとんど通らない。It is a quiet residential area, so hardly any cars pass at night.
不動産real estate; propertyNounN2
親から受け継いだ不動産を、売ることにした。I have decided to sell the property I inherited from my parents.
欠陥defect; flawNounN2
引っ越してすぐ、建物に欠陥が見つかった。Soon after we moved in, a defect was found in the building.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Home and daily life — ten lists and 406 words that can also be practised as a whole.