Japanese word

民家

Pronunciation

Romajiminka

Meaning

  • nounprivate house

Example

この民家は百年前に建てられました。ko no min ka wa hyaku nen mae ni ta te ra re ma shi ta

This private house was built one hundred years ago.

Illustration for 民家 (private house)

More examples

過疎化が進む地域でも、古い民家が大切に保存されています。ka so ka ga susu mu chi iki de mo furu i min ka ga tai setsu ni ho zon sa re te i ma su

Even in areas experiencing depopulation, old private houses are carefully preserved.

Core concept

Refers to a residence belonging to or occupied by ordinary people, in contrast with buildings serving public or business purposes.

Common phrases

  • 古い民家furu i min ka

    old private house

  • 民家を改修するmin ka o kai shū su ru

    renovate a private house

  • 民家に泊まるmin ka ni to ma ru

    stay at a private house

Similar words

住宅jūtaku: A place built or arranged for people to live in, including a house or apartment.
住居jūkyo: The place that serves as a person's or household's home.
家屋kaoku: A home building viewed mainly as a physical structure.

Definition in Japanese

個人または家族の生活の場として使われる家で、公共用や営業用ではないもの。ko jin ma ta wa ka zoku no sei katsu no ba to shi te tsuka wa re ru ie de kō kyō yō ya ei gyō yō de wa na i mo no

Word origin

The noun 民家 (minka) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 民 (min, "people") and 家 (ka, "house").

Usage tips

  • The English loanword minka often brings to mind traditional Japanese farmhouses, so its architectural use is narrower than the everyday meaning of 民家 (minka).

Word lists with this word