Home Vocabulary — Japanese N1
Essential Japanese vocabulary for rooms, furniture, household items, chores, daily routines. N1 level reference with readings, romaji, and examples.
Home Vocabulary — JLPT N1
At the N1 level, vocabulary regarding the home shifts from basic objects to nuanced descriptions of architecture, interior aesthetics, maintenance, and the complexities of domestic life. Mastering these terms is essential for reading contemporary Japanese literature, understanding real estate contracts, and navigating sophisticated social conversations about lifestyle and living environments.
Core Vocabulary
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English | Part of Speech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 邸宅 | ていたく | teitaku | mansion/residence | Noun |
| 居間 | いま | ima | living room | Noun |
| 書斎 | しょさい | shosai | study/library | Noun |
| 離れ | はなれ | hanare | detached building | Noun |
| 軒先 | のきさき | nokisaki | eaves/doorstep | Noun |
| 敷居 | しきい | shikii | threshold | Noun |
| 敷地 | しきち | shikichi | site/plot of land | Noun |
| 備え付け | そなえつけ | sonaetsuke | built-in/furnished | Noun/Adj |
| 什器 | じゅうき | juuki | fixtures/furniture | Noun |
| 箪笥 | たんす | tansu | chest of drawers | Noun |
| 障子 | しょうじ | shouji | paper sliding door | Noun |
| 襖 | ふすま | fusuma | opaque sliding door | Noun |
| 畳 | たたみ | tatami | straw mat | Noun |
| 網戸 | あみど | amido | screen door | Noun |
| 換気扇 | かんきせん | kankisen | ventilation fan | Noun |
| 浄水器 | じょうすいき | jousuiki | water purifier | Noun |
| 炊飯器 | すいはんき | suihanki | rice cooker | Noun |
| 掃除機 | そうじき | soujiki | vacuum cleaner | Noun |
| 雑巾 | ぞうきん | zoukin | dust cloth | Noun |
| 埃 | ほこり | hokori | dust | Noun |
| 垢 | あか | aka | dirt/grime | Noun |
| 散らかる | ちらかる | chirakaru | to be cluttered | Verb |
| 片付ける | かたづける | katadukeru | to tidy up | Verb |
| 整理整頓 | せいりせいとん | seiriseiton | tidiness/organization | Noun |
| 模様替え | もようがえ | moyougae | redecorating | Noun |
| 修繕 | しゅうぜん | shuuzen | repair/mending | Noun |
| 補修 | ほしゅう | hoshuu | patching up/repair | Noun |
| 賃貸 | ちんたい | chintai | lease/rental | Noun |
| 分譲 | ぶんじょう | bunjou | sale of lots/condos | Noun |
| 管理費 | かんりひ | kanrihi | management fee | Noun |
| 家賃 | やちん | yachin | rent | Noun |
| 契約更新 | けいやくこうしん | keiyaku koushin | lease renewal | Noun |
| 立ち退く | たちのく | tachinoku | to move out/evict | Verb |
| 移転 | いてん | iten | relocation | Noun |
| 引っ越し | ひっこし | hikkoshi | moving house | Noun |
| 騒音 | そうおん | souon | noise pollution | Noun |
| 近所付き合い | きんじょづきあい | kinjo zukiai | neighborhood relations | Noun |
| 独り暮らし | ひとりぐらし | hitorigurashi | living alone | Noun |
| 同居 | どうきょ | doukyo | living together | Noun |
| 帰宅 | きたく | kitaku | returning home | Noun |
| 寛ぐ | くつろぐ | kutsurogu | to relax | Verb |
| 団欒 | だんらん | danran | happy circle (family) | Noun |
| 施錠 | せじょう | sejou | locking up | Noun |
| 防犯 | ぼうはん | bouhan | crime prevention | Noun |
| 節約 | せつやく | setsuyaku | saving/frugality | Noun |
Key Phrases
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| 敷居が高い | しきいがたかい | The threshold is high (hard to approach). |
| 掃除が行き届く | そうじがいきとどく | To be thoroughly cleaned. |
| 部屋を模様替えする | へやをもようがえする | To rearrange/redecorate the room. |
| 契約を更新する | けいやくをこうしんする | To renew the contract. |
| 埃を払う | ほこりをはらう | To dust off. |
| 整理整頓を心がける | せいりせいとんをこころがける | To keep things organized. |
| 騒音トラブルに巻き込まれる | そうおんとらぶるにまきこまれる | To get involved in a noise dispute. |
| 備え付けの家具 | そなえつけのかぐ | Built-in furniture. |
| 団欒のひととき | だんらんのひととき | A moment of family harmony. |
| 施錠を確認する | せじょうをかくにんする | To check that the door is locked. |
Practice Dialogue
Scenario: Discussing a new apartment lease.
A: このマンション、立地はいいけど、管理費が少し高いね。 (このまんしょん、りっちはいいけど、かんりひがすこしたかいね。 / Kono manshon, ritchi wa ii kedo, kanrihi ga sukoshi takai ne.) This apartment has a great location, but the management fee is a bit high.
B: そうだね。でも、セキュリティがしっかりしているし、防犯面では安心だよ。 (そうだね。でも、せきゅりてぃがしっかりしているし、ぼうはんめんではあんしんだよ。 / Sou da ne. Demo, sekyuriti ga shikkari shite iru shi, bouhan-men de wa anshin da yo.) True. But the security is solid, so it’s safe in terms of crime prevention.
A: 確かに。備え付けの家具も充実しているし、引っ越しも楽そうだ。 (たしかに。そなえつけのかぐもじゅうじつしているし、ひっこしもらくそうだ。 / Tashika ni. Sonaetsuke no kagu mo juujitsu shite iru shi, hikkoshi mo raku sou da.) True. The built-in furniture is well-equipped, and moving seems easy.
B: 契約更新の条件はどうなっているの？ (けいやくこうしんのじょうけんはどうなっているの？ / Keiyaku koushin no jouken wa dou natte iru no?) What are the terms for lease renewal?
A: 2年ごとに更新料がかかるみたい。 (にねんごとにこうしんりょうがかかるみたい。 / Ni-nen goto ni koushinryou ga kakaru mitai.) It seems there is a renewal fee every two years.
Self-Study Tips
- Contextualize with Real Estate Sites: Browse Japanese real estate websites like SUUMO or Homes.co.jp. Reading the descriptions of properties will expose you to N1-level vocabulary regarding housing features and contract terms.
- The "Home Tour" Monologue: Try to narrate your daily chores in Japanese. Instead of saying "I am cleaning," use more specific verbs like 片付ける (katadukeru - tidy up) or 埃を払う (hokori o harau - dust).
- Analyze Kanji Compounds: Many N1 home-related words are compound kanji (e.g., 整理整頓). Break them down into their individual meanings to understand why they are paired together, which helps in retaining the vocabulary long-term.