民 家(みんか)

みんか

noun

private house, folk house

building

1. private house, ordinary dwelling

A regular private residence, as opposed to public buildings, commercial properties, or government structures.

火事(かじ)で近(ちか)くの民家(みんか)にも被害(ひがい)が出(で)た。

The fire also caused damage to nearby private houses.

崖(がけ)のすぐ下(した)に民家(みんか)が建(た)っている。

There are private houses built right below the cliff.

熊(くま)が民家(みんか)の近(ちか)くに出没(しゅつぼつ)したとの報告(ほうこく)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(ふる)い民家(みんか)をカフェに改装(かいそう)した。

They renovated an old folk house into a cafe.

この地域(ちいき)には江戸(えど)時代(じだい)の民家(みんか)が残(のこ)っている。

There are folk houses from the Edo period remaining in this area.

民家(みんか)を移築(いちく)して保存(ほぞん)する野外(やがい)博物館(はくぶつかん)を見学(けんがく)した。

I visited an open-air museum that relocates and preserves traditional folk houses.

Usage

In news reports, 民家(みんか) 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(ふる)民家(みんか)).

Common collocations

民家(みんか)に被害(ひがい): damage to private houses
古(ふる)民家(みんか): old folk house
民家(みんか)再生(さいせい): folk house renovation/revival
民家(みんか)を改装(かいそう)する: to renovate a folk house

Similar words

住宅(じゅうたく): residence, housing (more general, includes apartments)
家屋(かおく): building, house (formal, used in legal/insurance contexts)
一戸建(いっこだ)て: detached house (modern standalone house)

Related Words

Synonym: 住宅(じゅうたく) (residence, housing (general))

Compare: 家屋(かおく) (building, house)

Compare: 一戸建(いっこだ)て (detached house)

general

Added 2026.2.24 15:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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