What does 屋 mean in Japanese?
屋 means “shop, roof, house” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 本屋 (bookstore), 花屋 (flower shop), and 部屋 (room).
For learners, the key is to study 屋 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: オク (oku)
Kun’yomi: や (ya)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 屋 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
屋 is not limited to one English translation. In 本屋 (ほんや), it means bookstore; in 花屋 (はなや), it points to flower shop; and in 部屋 (へや), it is used for room. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 本屋（ほんや / honya） — bookstore
- 花屋（はなや / hanaya） — flower shop
- 部屋（へや / heya） — room
- 屋上（おくじょう / okujō） — rooftop
- 屋根（やね / yane） — roof
- 魚屋（さかなや / sakanaya） — fish shop
Example Sentences
-
屋根に雪が積もりました。
やねにゆきがつもりました。 / Yane ni yuki ga tsumorimashita.
Snow piled up on the roof.
-
本屋で辞書を買いました。
ほんやでじしょをかいました。 / Honya de jisho o kaimashita.
I bought a dictionary at a bookstore.
-
部屋をきれいに掃除しました。
へやをきれいにそうじしました。 / Heya o kirei ni sōji shimashita.
I cleaned the room neatly.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 本屋 (ほんや / honya) because it keeps the core meaning of 屋 clear. Then add 花屋 and 部屋 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 屋 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
屋 means “shop, roof, house” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 本屋, 花屋, and 部屋.