間借(まが)り

Describes renting part of a space, not the whole unit. Traditionally refers to renting a room in someone's home, a common arrangement in older Japan and still seen today. Recently also used for businesses sharing commercial space (e.g., a pop-up restaurant operating inside another restaurant's space).

Common collocations

• 間借(まが)りする: to rent a room / to sublet
• 間借(まが)り人(にん): lodger / tenant
• 間借(まが)り生活(せいかつ): life as a lodger
• 間借(まが)りカレー: pop-up curry restaurant (operating inside another space)
• 間借(まが)り営業(えいぎょう): operating out of a shared/borrowed space

Similar words

• 下宿(げしゅく): boarding house / lodging — a house specifically set up to take in boarders, with meals often included
• 賃貸(ちんたい): rental — renting an entire apartment or house
• 同居(どうきょ): living together — sharing a home, but implies a closer relationship

Modern usage

The term 間借(まが)り has gained new life in the food industry, where 間借(まが)り営業(えいぎょう) refers to a restaurant operating inside another establishment's space during off-hours, a popular low-cost way to start a food business.