(かおく)

かおく
noun
house; building
1. house; building; dwelling
A formal or official term for a house or building used for residence. Often appears in legal, real estate, and insurance contexts.
Many houses were damaged by the typhoon.
The building inspection will be conducted next week.
[Note: Formal/official usage]
Old buildings may be vulnerable to earthquakes.

REGISTER: Formal/official. Used in legal documents, news reports, insurance, and real estate contexts.

COMMON CONTEXTS:

  • 家屋(かおく)調査(ちょうさ) (building inspection)
  • 家屋(かおく)(ぜい) (property tax on buildings)
  • 家屋(かおく)倒壊(とうかい) (building collapse)
  • 家屋(かおく)被害(ひがい) (building damage)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (いえ) (house - general, casual)
  • 住宅(じゅうたく) (residence, housing - slightly formal)
  • 建物(たてもの) (building - general)
  • 住居(じゅうきょ) (dwelling - formal)

NOTE: In everyday conversation, use (いえ) or 建物(たてもの). 家屋(かおく) sounds formal or bureaucratic.