住宅

• Reading: じゅうたく
• Romaji: juutaku
• Kanji breakdown: 住 (juu) — dwell, live; 宅 (taku) — house, residence
• Pronunciation: /dʑɯː.ta.kɯ/

Meaning

Residence; housing; dwelling. A formal term for a place where people live.

A noun used in formal and official contexts to refer to residential buildings or housing in general. Appears frequently in real estate, urban planning, and news. Common compounds include 住宅地 (residential area), 住宅ローン (housing loan), and 公営住宅 (public housing). More formal than 家 or うち.

Examples

1. この辺りは住宅が多い静かな地域だ。 This area is a quiet neighborhood with lots of houses.
2. 住宅の値段が年々上がっている。 Housing prices have been going up every year.
3. 新しい住宅地の開発が始まった。 Development of a new residential area has begun.

Usage Guide

Context: real estate, urban planning, news

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Composed of 住 (dwell, live) and 宅 (house, residence). Both kanji relate to habitation, with 宅 carrying a slightly more formal tone.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal