Japanese word

お宅

Pronunciation

Romajiotaku

Meaning

  • nounyour home

Example

お宅は駅から近いですか。o taku wa eki ka ra chika i de su ka

Is your home close to the station?

Illustration for お宅 (your home)

More examples

先日はお宅に招いてくださって、ありがとうございました。sen jitsu wa o taku ni mane i te ku da sa tte a ri ga tō go za i ma shi ta

Thank you for inviting me to your home the other day.

Core concept

Marks the other person's home as a respectful place of reference and can also include the household living there.

Common phrases

  • お宅に伺うo taku ni ukaga u

    visit your home

Similar words

家ie: A neutral word for a home or house, used in ordinary conversation.
うちuchi: A familiar word for one's home or household in everyday conversation.

Definition in Japanese

相手の家を敬っていう語で、そこに住む家族を指すこともある。ai te no ie o uyama tte i u go de so ko ni su mu ka zoku o sa su ko to mo a ru

Word origin

お宅 (otaku) is formed from お (o, "honorific prefix") and 宅 (taku, "home"), so the expression respectfully points to another person's dwelling or household.

Usage tips

  • The phrase お宅は (otaku wa) is a polite way to ask about someone's home or household, whereas 家は (ie wa) is more neutral in ordinary conversation.

Other meanings

  • your housenoun
  • your familynoun

Word lists with this word