Japanese word

別荘

Pronunciation

Romajibessō

Meaning

  • nounvacation home

Example

私たちは夏を別荘で過ごします。watashi ta chi wa natsu o bes sō de su go shi ma su

We spend the summer at our vacation home.

Illustration for 別荘 (vacation home)

More examples

週末には友人を別荘に招きます。shū matsu ni wa yū jin o bes sō ni mane ki ma su

On weekends, I invite friends to my vacation home.

Core concept

Centers on having a separate residence where people spend holidays or other extended periods away from their main home.

Common phrases

  • 別荘を持つbes sō o mo tsu

    own a vacation home

  • 別荘に滞在するbes sō ni tai zai su ru

    stay at a vacation home

Similar words

別宅bettaku: A second residence located away from the owner's main home and used for various purposes.
別邸bettei: A separate residence belonging to a person or family in addition to the main residence.
セカンドハウスsekandohausu: A home used in addition to the primary residence, usually for occasional stays.

Definition in Japanese

日常生活を送る家とは別に、休暇や長期滞在のために持つ住まい。nichi jō sei katsu o oku ru ie to wa betsu ni kyū ka ya chō ki tai zai no ta me ni mo tsu su ma i

Word origin

別 (betsu, "separate") and 荘 (sō, "residence or estate") form the compound 別荘 (bessō), which denotes a residence separate from the owner's ordinary home.

Usage tips

  • Unlike villa in some English contexts, 別荘 (bessō) does not necessarily suggest grandeur and may refer to a simple country or seaside home.

Other meanings

  • holiday housenoun
  • villanoun

Word lists with this word