Key words for buying a house in Japanese
Key words for buying a house in Japanese
Buying property in Japan involves a small but very specific vocabulary set. The most useful words are 不動産, 物件, 購入, ローン, 仲介手数料, 間取り, and 築年数, because they appear constantly in listings, contracts, and conversations with agents.
Basic words for property and housing
- 不動産 (ふどうさん, Fudosan) - Real estate
- 物件 (ぶっけん, Bukken) - Property
- 家 (いえ, Ie) - House
- 一戸建て (いっこだて, Ikko-date) - Detached house
- マンション (Manshon) - Apartment (usually a condo or multi-floor building)
- 新築 (しんちく, Shinchiku) - Newly built
- 間取り (まどり, Madori) - Layout (floor plan)
不動産 is the broadest term and can refer to the real estate industry, a real estate office, or property as an asset. In everyday speech, 物件 is the more practical word for a specific listing: a house, apartment, or commercial unit being sold or rented.
マンション in Japanese does not mean a detached mansion. It usually refers to a reinforced apartment building, often with multiple floors and individual owned or rented units. A smaller detached home is typically 一戸建て.
間取り is especially important because Japanese listings often describe homes by room arrangement, such as 2LDK or 3LDK. In that system, L means living room, D dining room, and K kitchen. The number shows how many separate rooms there are besides the shared living space.
Words used in the buying process
- 購入 (こうにゅう, Kounyuu) - Purchase, buying
- 手付金 (てつけきん, Tetsukekin) - Deposit, money paid to secure the purchase
- 買付証明書 (かいつけしょうめいしょ, Kaitsukeshomeisho) - Buyer’s certificate of intent
- 購入申込書 (こうにゅうもうしこみしょ, Kounyuu Moshikomisho) - Written application to buy
- ローン (Roon) - Loan, mortgage
- 仲介手数料 (ちゅうかいてすうりょう, Chuukai Tesuuryou) - Brokerage fee
- インスペクション / 建物状況調査 (Insupekushon / Tatemono Joukyou Chousa) - Home inspection
- 修繕 (しゅうぜん, Shuzen) - Repairs
These are the words that appear once a buyer moves from browsing listings to making an actual offer. 買付証明書 and 購入申込書 are both forms that show a buyer’s intention to purchase, but the exact meaning can vary by agency and transaction. In practice, real estate agents may use one term more often than the other, so it helps to recognize both.
手付金 is the deposit paid to show seriousness and secure the deal. In Japanese property transactions, it is often part of the total purchase price rather than an extra fee, but the exact handling depends on the contract. 仲介手数料 is the commission paid to the agent handling the sale, and it is a major cost to understand early.
Describing a property
- 立地 (りっち, Ricchi) - Location
- 築年数 (ちくねんすう, Chikunensuu) - Age of the building
- 新築 (しんちく, Shinchiku) - Newly built
- 間取り (まどり, Madori) - Layout
立地 is one of the most important words in any property discussion because it covers not just the address, but the practical convenience of the area: train access, shops, schools, noise, and commute time. 築年数 tells how old a building is, and it is especially relevant in Japan because age can affect maintenance expectations, earthquake standards, and resale value.
A useful mini vocabulary set for conversations
A few extra words often appear in real estate conversations:
- 値段 (ねだん, Nedan) - Price
- 面積 (めんせき, Menseki) - Floor area
- 駅 (えき, Eki) - Station
- 徒歩 (とほ, Toho) - Walking distance
- 南向き (みなみむき, Minamimuki) - South-facing
- 駐車場 (ちゅうしゃじょう, Chuushajou) - Parking
- 管理費 (かんりひ, Kanrihi) - Maintenance fee
- 修繕積立金 (しゅうぜんつみたてきん, Shuuzen tsumitatekin) - Repair reserve fund
These words help in real conversations because many Japanese listings emphasize the commute, building condition, and monthly running costs as much as the purchase price itself. For example, a home may look affordable until 管理費 and 修繕積立金 are added.
Example phrases that are easy to recognize
- この物件はいくらですか。- How much is this property?
- 新築ですか。- Is it newly built?
- 駅から徒歩何分ですか。- How many minutes is it on foot from the station?
- ローンは使えますか。- Can a loan be used?
- ここは修繕が必要ですか。- Does this need repairs?
Recognizing these words makes it much easier to follow property viewings, agent explanations, and listing descriptions. In speaking practice, repeated use of concrete home-buying phrases tends to be more useful than memorizing abstract vocabulary lists, because the same terms recur in very similar situations.
Quick reading tips for Japanese property listings
Japanese listings often combine kanji, kana, and loanwords in compact ways. 2LDK means two rooms plus a living-dining-kitchen area, 築10年 means a building that is 10 years old, and 駅徒歩8分 means an 8-minute walk from the station. The ability to read these patterns quickly is often more useful than knowing a large number of rare words.
Common points of confusion
マンション and 一戸建て are not the same type of home, and マンション does not mean a luxury mansion in the English sense. 不動産 is not a specific property; it is the broader real estate category. 手付金 is not always a simple refundable deposit, so the contract wording matters. 築年数 does not automatically mean poor quality, but older buildings may require more attention to maintenance records and repair history.
Essential words at a glance
- 不動産 - real estate
- 物件 - property
- 一戸建て - detached house
- マンション - apartment/condo building
- 購入 - purchase
- 手付金 - deposit
- ローン - loan, mortgage
- 仲介手数料 - brokerage fee
- 立地 - location
- 築年数 - age of the building
- 間取り - floor plan
These are the core words most likely to appear in Japanese house-buying conversations, contracts, and listings.