住まい・日常生活

この市しではゴミを4種類しゅるいに分別ぶんべつして捨すてる。

In this city, garbage is sorted into four types before it's thrown out.

Usage Read ぶんべつ, it means sorting, especially garbage: ゴミの分別, 分別して捨てる. Read ふんべつ, it means good sense or discretion: 分別がある (sensible), 分別のある大人.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 別 (to separate) → dividing and separating.

夏はエアコンエアコンなしでは眠ねむれない。

In summer I can't sleep without the air conditioner.

Usage エアコン does both cooling (冷房) and heating (暖房): エアコンをつける / 消す (turn on / off), 設定温度 (the set temperature). The remote is the リモコン.

Remember it From 'air con(ditioner)', clipped the Japanese way, like パソコン and リモコン.

冬ふゆは暖房だんぼうをつけて部屋へやを温あたためる。

In winter I turn on the heating to warm up the room.

Usage 暖房 = heating: 暖房をつける, 暖房が効いている (the heating is working well), 暖房器具 (heaters). The pair is 暖房 / 冷房.

Remember it 暖 (warm) + 房 (room) → warming a room.

電車でんしゃの冷房れいぼうが効ききすぎて寒さむかった。

The air conditioning on the train was so strong that I was cold.

Usage 冷房 = air conditioning, cooling: 冷房が効きすぎる (too cold), 冷房病 (feeling ill from too much air conditioning). The pair is 暖房 (heating).

Remember it 冷 (cold) + 房 (room) → cooling a room.

冷凍れいとうご飯はんを電子でんしレンジで温あたためた。

I heated up some frozen rice in the microwave.

Usage 電子レンジ, usually just レンジ, is a microwave: レンジで温める (heat in the microwave), レンジ対応 (microwave-safe). レンジでチンする is the casual 'nuke it'.

Remember it 電子 (electronic) + レンジ (from English 'range', a cooker) → the electronic cooker.

洗濯機せんたくきが壊こわれてコインランドリーコインランドリーを使つかっている。

My washing machine broke, so I'm using a coin laundry.

Usage 洗濯機 = washing machine: 洗濯機を回す (run the washer). Many people pronounce it せんたっき. ドラム式 is front-loading, 縦型 (たてがた) is top-loading.

Remember it 洗濯 (laundry) + 機 (machine) → the laundry machine.

週末しゅうまつに掃除機そうじきをかけて部屋へやをきれいにきれいにした。

At the weekend I vacuumed and cleaned up my room.

Usage 掃除機をかける = to vacuum, literally to apply the vacuum cleaner. ロボット掃除機 is a robot vacuum. 機 marks machines: 洗濯機, 飛行機, 自動販売機.

Remember it 掃除 (cleaning) + 機 (machine) → the cleaning machine.

インターネットインターネットで調べしらべれば大体だいたいのことは分かるわかる。

If you look it up on the internet, you can find out most things.

Usage In speech, インターネット is almost always ネット: ネットで調べる (look it up online), ネット通販 (online shopping), ネットに繋がる (connect to the internet).

Remember it From English 'internet', seven syllables long in Japanese, which is why ネット won.

パソコンパソコンで資料しりょうを作成さくせいした。

I made the documents on my computer.

Usage パソコン is short for パーソナルコンピューター: ノートパソコン (laptop), デスクトップ (desktop). コンピューター alone sounds more technical.

Remember it From 'perso(nal) com(puter)', clipped to the first sounds of each word.

最近はスマホスマホで何でもなんでもできるできるようになった。

These days you can do almost anything on a smartphone.

Usage スマホ is short for スマートフォン: スマホ依存 (smartphone addiction), スマホ決済 (mobile payment). An old flip phone is a ガラケー.

Remember it From 'sma(rt) pho(ne)', clipped to the first sounds of each word.

スマホスマホの充電じゅうでんが切れるきれる前に充電じゅうでんした。

I charged my phone before the battery ran out.

Usage 充電する = to charge: 充電器 (charger), 充電が切れる (the battery dies), 充電中 (charging). Figuratively, 充電期間 is time off to recharge.

Remember it 充 (to fill) + 電 (electricity) → filling it with electricity.

リモコンリモコンの電池でんちが切れたきれたので交換こうかんした。

The batteries in the remote ran out, so I replaced them.

Usage 電池 is a battery, especially disposable ones: 乾電池 (dry cell), 単三電池 (AA), 電池が切れる (die). バッテリー is a rechargeable battery, as in a phone or car.

Remember it 電 (electricity) + 池 (pond) → a pond of electricity.

カレンダーカレンダーに予定よていを書かき込こんだ。

I wrote my plans on the calendar.

Usage カレンダー is a wall or desk calendar. スケジュール is your schedule; 手帳 (てちょう) is a pocket planner. Japanese companies often give out calendars at year's end.

Remember it From English 'calendar'.

郵便ゆうびんで書類しょるいを送おくった。

I sent the documents by post.

Usage 郵便 = mail, postal service: 郵便局 (post office), 郵便番号 (postal code), 郵便受け (mailbox), 速達 (そくたつ, express mail), 書留 (かきとめ, registered mail).

Remember it 郵 (post station) + 便 (convenience, delivery) → delivery via the post stations.

重おもい荷物にもつを運はこぶのを手伝てつだってもらった。

Someone helped me carry my heavy luggage.

Usage 荷物 is luggage, bags or parcels: 荷物を預ける (check a bag, leave it with someone), 荷物が届く (a parcel arrives), 手荷物 (hand luggage). お荷物 figuratively means a burden.

Remember it 荷 (load) + 物 (things) → the things you carry.

来月らいげつ引越しひっこしするので荷物にもつを整理せいりしている。

I'm moving next month, so I'm sorting through my belongings.

Usage 引越し (also 引っ越し) = moving house: 引越しする, 引越し業者 (movers). In Japan it is customary to greet your new neighbors with a small gift: 引越しの挨拶.

Remember it 引く (to pull) + 越す (to cross over) → pulling your life across to a new place.

賃貸ちんたいマンションマンションを探さがして不動産屋ふどうさんやに行いった。

I went to a real estate agency to look for a rental apartment.

Usage 賃貸 = renting or rental: 賃貸マンション (rental apartment), 賃貸物件 (rental property), 賃貸契約 (lease). Buying is 分譲 or 購入. Rent itself is 家賃 (やちん).

Remember it 賃 (fee, rent) + 貸 (to lend) → lending for a fee.

分譲ぶんじょうマンションを購入こうにゅうして念願ねんがんのマイホームを持もった。

I bought a condo and finally got the home I'd always wanted.

Usage 分譲 means selling property in units: 分譲マンション (an owner-occupied condo), 分譲住宅 (houses built for sale), 分譲地 (subdivided plots). The opposite is 賃貸.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 譲 (to hand over) → dividing property up and handing it over.

部屋へやを借かりる際さいに敷金しききん2ヶ月分かげつぶんを払はらった。

When I rented the apartment, I paid a two-month deposit.

Usage 敷金 is a refundable security deposit, minus repair costs when you leave. 礼金 is key money, which you never get back. Listings saying 敷金礼金なし mean no deposit and no key money.

Remember it 敷 (to lay down) + 金 (money) → money laid down in advance.

礼金れいきんは返金へんきんされないので注意ちゅういが必要ひつようだ。

Be careful, because key money isn't refunded.

Usage 礼金 is key money, a non-refundable 'thank you' payment to the landlord, often one or two months' rent, a Japanese custom. 敷金 is the refundable deposit.

Remember it 礼 (thanks, gratitude) + 金 (money) → money paid as thanks.

家賃やちんとは別べつに毎月まいつき管理費かんりひを払はらっている。

Besides rent, I pay a management fee every month.

Usage 管理費 is the monthly fee for building upkeep: cleaning, elevators, shared areas. Listings show 家賃 plus 管理費 (or 共益費). Owners also pay 修繕積立金 (a repair reserve fund).

Remember it 管理 (management) + 費 (expense) → management expenses.

間取りまどりが広ひろい物件ぶっけんを探さがしている。

I'm looking for a property with a spacious layout.

Usage 間取り is a floor plan: 間取り図 (floor-plan drawing). Japanese layouts use codes: 1K (one room plus kitchen), 1LDK (one bedroom plus living, dining and kitchen).

Remember it 間 (room, space) + 取り (taking) → how the space is taken up.

築年数ちくねんすうが古いふるい物件ぶっけんでもリフォームリフォームされていれば問題もんだいない。

Even an older building is fine if it's been renovated.

Usage 築年数 is the age of a building: 築10年 (ten years old), 築浅 (ちくあさ, recently built). Buildings from before 1981 follow old earthquake standards (旧耐震).

Remember it 築 (to build) + 年数 (number of years) → the number of years since it was built.

キッチンキッチンをリフォームしてきれいになった。

We renovated the kitchen and it looks great now.

Usage In Japanese, リフォーム means renovating a home, not reforming anything. リノベーション is a bigger overhaul that changes the whole layout.

Remember it From English 'reform', but used in Japanese to mean home renovation.

耐震たいしん工事こうじを行おこなって安全あんぜんな建物たてものにした。

We did earthquake-proofing work to make the building safe.

Usage 耐震 = earthquake resistance: 耐震工事 (retrofitting), 耐震基準 (seismic standards), 耐震補強 (reinforcement). 免震 (めんしん) is base isolation, a building that floats on dampers.

Remember it 耐 (to endure) + 震 (to quake) → enduring earthquakes.

廊下ろうかを走はしってはいけない。

You mustn't run in the hallway.

Usage 廊下 is an indoor corridor in a house, school or hospital: 廊下を走らない is a rule every Japanese schoolchild knows. 通路 (つうろ) is any passageway or aisle.

Remember it 廊 (covered walkway) + 下 (below) → the roofed passage you walk beneath.

押し入れおしいれに布団ふとんや季節きせつの荷物にもつを収納しゅうのうした。

I put away the futon and seasonal things in the closet.

Usage 押し入れ is a traditional Japanese closet with sliding doors and a middle shelf, designed for storing futons. A Western-style closet is クローゼット.

Remember it 押す (to push) + 入れる (to put in) → the place you push things into.

縁側えんがわに座すわって庭にわを眺めながめた。

I sat on the veranda and gazed at the garden.

Usage 縁側 is the wooden veranda running along a traditional Japanese house, between the rooms and the garden. It is a classic image of relaxed country life.

Remember it 縁 (edge) + 側 (side) → the strip along the edge of the house.

この部屋へやは天井てんじょうが高たかくて開放感かいほうかんがある。

This room has high ceilings, so it feels open.

Usage 天井 = ceiling: 天井が高い / 低い. It works figuratively too: 天井知らず (sky-high, no limit), 株価が天井を打つ (stock prices peak). The floor is 床 (ゆか).

Remember it 天 (heaven) + 井 (well) → the sky above, framed like the mouth of a well.

料理りょうりの後あとは窓まどを開あけて換気かんきした。

After cooking, I opened the windows to air the room out.

Usage 換気する = to ventilate: 換気扇 (kitchen or bathroom fan), 換気を良くする (improve airflow). Since 2003, new Japanese homes must have 24-hour ventilation.

Remember it 換 (to exchange) + 気 (air) → exchanging the air.

冬ふゆは光熱費こうねつひが高たかくなる。

Utility bills go up in winter.

Usage 光熱費 covers electricity and gas, and often water too: 光熱費を節約する (save on utilities). Individually they are 電気代, ガス代 and 水道代.

Remember it 光 (light, electricity) + 熱 (heat, gas) + 費 (cost) → the cost of light and heat.

自治会じちかいの会合かいごうに参加さんかして地域ちいきの問題もんだいを話はなし合あった。

I attended a neighborhood association meeting and we discussed local issues.

Usage 自治会 (also 町内会) is a neighborhood association that handles garbage rules, festivals and disaster drills. 回覧板 (かいらんばん) is the notice board passed from house to house.

Remember it 自治 (self-government) + 会 (association) → an association that governs itself.

不動産ふどうさん会社かいしゃに行いって物件ぶっけんを探さがした。

I went to a real estate agency to look for a property.

Usage 不動産 = real estate: 不動産屋 (real estate agent), 不動産投資 (property investment). 物件 (ぶっけん) is an individual property listing.

Remember it 不 (not) + 動 (to move) + 産 (property) → property that can't be moved.

不動産ふどうさん会社かいしゃを通とおして仲介ちゅうかいしてもらった。

I had a real estate agency act as the go-between.

Usage 仲介 is acting as a go-between: 仲介する, 仲介業者 (broker), 仲介手数料 (brokerage fee, often a month's rent). 仲裁 (ちゅうさい) is mediating a dispute.

Remember it 仲 (relationship, middle) + 介 (to stand between) → standing in the middle of two parties.

水漏れみずもれが発生はっせいしたので管理会社かんりがいしゃに連絡れんらくした。

There was a water leak, so I contacted the management company.

Usage 水漏れ = a water leak: 水漏れが起きる, 天井から水漏れする. 漏れる (もれる) = to leak, used for gas, light and secrets too: 情報が漏れる.

Remember it 水 (water) + 漏れる (to leak) → leaking water.

冬ふゆは窓まどに結露けつろが発生はっせいしやすい。

In winter, condensation tends to form on the windows.

Usage 結露 is condensation on cold surfaces, a common winter problem in Japanese homes that leads to mold (カビ): 結露対策 (preventing condensation).

Remember it 結 (to form, tie) + 露 (dew) → dew forming.

防音ぼうおん工事こうじをして音おとが漏もれないようにした。

We did soundproofing work so that noise doesn't leak out.

Usage 防音 = soundproofing: 防音室 (soundproof room), 防音対策. 防 means protection against: 防犯 (crime prevention), 防水 (waterproof), 防災 (disaster prevention).

Remember it 防 (to guard against) + 音 (sound) → guarding against sound.

壁かべに断熱材だんねつざいを入いれて省エネしょうエネになった。

We put insulation in the walls and it saves energy.

Usage 断熱材 is insulation material: 断熱材を入れる, 断熱性 (insulating performance). 断熱 alone means thermal insulation. Good insulation means lower 光熱費.

Remember it 断 (to cut off) + 熱 (heat) + 材 (material) → material that cuts off heat.

ゴミ置き場おきばは朝あさ8時じまでに出ださなければならない。

Garbage has to be put out at the collection point by 8 a.m.

Usage ゴミ置き場 is the neighborhood garbage collection point. Put the right type out on the right day: 燃えるゴミ (burnable), 燃えないゴミ (non-burnable), 資源ゴミ (recyclables).

Remember it ゴミ (garbage) + 置く (to put) + 場 (place) → the place you put the garbage.

分別収集ぶんべつしゅうしゅうのルールを守まもらないと罰則ばっそくがある。

If you don't follow the sorted collection rules, there are penalties.

Usage 分別収集 is garbage collection by category. Rules and schedules vary by city, and newcomers get a detailed chart. 粗大ゴミ (そだいゴミ) is bulky waste that needs booking.

Remember it 分別 (sorting) + 収集 (collection) → collecting sorted garbage.

引越し業者ひっこしぎょうしゃに見積みつもりを依頼いらいした。

I asked a moving company for a quote.

Usage 引越し業者 = a moving company. It is common to get several quotes (相見積もり, あいみつもり). 業者 means a contractor or trader in general: 清掃業者 (cleaning company).

Remember it 引越し (moving) + 業者 (business operator) → the business that does your move.

リフォームリフォームの間あいだ、仮住まいかりずまいとしてホテルホテルに泊とまった。

While the house was being renovated, I stayed in a hotel temporarily.

Usage 仮住まい is temporary housing during rebuilding, renovation or after a disaster. 仮 means temporary: 仮設住宅 (temporary housing after disasters), 仮免許 (learner's permit).

Remember it 仮 (temporary) + 住まい (home) → a temporary home.

地主じぬしから立ち退きたちのきを求もとめられた。

The landowner asked me to vacate.

Usage 立ち退き is being required to leave a property: 立ち退きを求める, 立ち退き料 (compensation paid to tenants who leave). The verb is 立ち退く.

Remember it 立つ (to stand up) + 退く (to withdraw) → standing up and withdrawing from a place.