(べっそう)

べっそう
noun
villa; vacation home
1. villa; vacation home
A secondary residence used for holidays or retreats, typically located in the countryside, mountains, or by the sea.
軽井沢(かるいざわ)別荘(べっそう)がある。
There is a vacation home in Karuizawa.
(なつ)家族(かぞく)別荘(べっそう)()く。
In summer, I go to the vacation home with my family.
祖父(そふ)(やま)(なか)別荘(べっそう)()てたが、(いま)はほとんど使(つか)っていない。
My grandfather built a villa in the mountains, but it's hardly used now.

別荘(べっそう) is a secondary residence used for vacations and retreats, typically in scenic locations like mountains, coastlines, or hot spring areas.

WORD FORMATION:
(べつ) (separate) + (そう) (villa, manor).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 別荘(べっそう)()てる: to build a vacation home
  • 別荘(べっそう)()りる: to rent a villa
  • 別荘(べっそう)(): resort area, vacation home district
  • 別荘(べっそう)()つ: to own a vacation home

CULTURAL NOTE:
Owning a 別荘(べっそう) has traditionally been associated with wealth. Popular areas include 軽井沢(かるいざわ) (Karuizawa), 箱根(はこね) (Hakone), and 那須(なす) (Nasu). In recent years, remote work has renewed interest in countryside properties as semi-permanent residences.

CONTRAST:
別荘(べっそう) is a private vacation home. For rental accommodations, (かし)別荘(べっそう) (rental villa) or ペンション (pension/lodge) are used.