1.
private house, ordinary dwelling
A regular private residence, as opposed to public buildings, commercial properties, or government structures.
火事で近くの民家にも被害が出た。
The fire also caused damage to nearby private houses.
崖のすぐ下に民家が建っている。
There are private houses built right below the cliff.
熊が民家の近くに出没したとの報告があった。
There was a report of a bear appearing near residential houses.
2.
traditional folk house, vernacular dwelling
A traditional Japanese residential building, often with historical or architectural significance. These traditional farmhouses and townhouses are studied and preserved as cultural heritage.
古い民家をカフェに改装した。
They renovated an old folk house into a cafe.
この地域には江戸時代の民家が残っている。
There are folk houses from the Edo period remaining in this area.
民家を移築して保存する野外博物館を見学した。
I visited an open-air museum that relocates and preserves traditional folk houses.
USAGE:
In news reports, 民家 is the standard word for "private house" when describing disasters, crime scenes, or wildlife sightings near residential areas. In architectural and cultural contexts, it refers specifically to traditional Japanese vernacular housing (古民家).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 民家に被害: damage to private houses
- 古民家: old folk house
- 民家再生: folk house renovation/revival
- 民家を改装する: to renovate a folk house
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 住宅: residence, housing (more general, includes apartments)
- 家屋: building, house (formal, used in legal/insurance contexts)
- 一戸建て: detached house (modern standalone house)