お宅

• Reading: おたく
• Romaji: otaku
• Kanji breakdown: お (o) — honorific prefix; 宅 (taku) — home, residence
• Pronunciation: /o.ta.kɯ/

Meaning

Your house; your home. A polite way to refer to someone else's residence.

The polite/honorific form of 家 (いえ/うち). Used when referring to another person's home in formal or polite conversation. Can also be used as a polite second-person pronoun meaning 'you' in formal settings. Note: the word おたく (otaku) meaning 'enthusiast' is written in hiragana or katakana and has a different nuance.

Examples

1. お宅はどちらですか。 Where is your home?
2. 明日お宅に伺ってもよろしいですか。 May I visit your home tomorrow?
3. お宅のお庭はいつもきれいですね。 Your garden is always so beautiful.

Usage Guide

Context: polite conversation, visiting, formal settings

Tone: polite

Origin & History

Honorific prefix お plus 宅 (home, residence). 宅 originally referred to a house or dwelling, and the お prefix adds politeness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal