建築

• Reading: けんちく
• Romaji: kenchiku
• Kanji breakdown: 建 (ken) — build, erect; 築 (chiku) — construct, pile up
• Pronunciation: /keɴ.t͡ɕi.kɯ/

Meaning

Construction; architecture. The art and practice of designing and constructing buildings.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (建築する). While 建設 covers large-scale construction broadly, 建築 focuses specifically on buildings and architectural design. Common compounds include 建築家 (architect), 建築物 (a building/structure), and 建築学 (architecture studies). Encompasses both the process and the art form.

Examples

1. この神社は三百年前に建築されたものだ。 This shrine was built three hundred years ago.
2. 彼女は有名な建築家を目指している。 She aspires to become a famous architect.
3. 日本の伝統的な建築にはとても興味がある。 I'm very interested in traditional Japanese architecture.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, real estate, art

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 建 (ken, to build) and 築 (chiku, to construct/pile up). The kanji 築 originally depicted building up layers of earth (竹 bamboo rods + 木 wood + 凡 earth mound), a traditional construction method.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal