1.
separate residence; second home
A residence other than one's main home. Can refer to a secondary house maintained for work, family reasons, or personal circumstances. Sometimes carries the connotation of a dwelling kept for a mistress or secret relationship.
彼は都内に別宅を持っている。
He has a separate residence in central Tokyo.
仕事の関係で会社の近くに別宅を借りた。
I rented a second home near the office for work reasons.
祖父は晩年、静かな田舎の別宅で過ごすことが多かった。
In his later years, my grandfather often spent time at his separate residence in the quiet countryside.
A compound of 別 (separate, different) and 宅 (residence). Unlike 別荘 (vacation home), 別宅 implies a practical secondary residence rather than a leisure property.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 別宅を構える — to set up a separate residence
- 別宅を持つ — to have a second home
- 別宅に住む — to live at a separate residence
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 別荘 — vacation home, villa; used for leisure and relaxation, typically in resort areas
- 自宅 — one's own home (primary residence)
- 本宅 — main residence (as opposed to a secondary one)
- セカンドハウス — second house (loanword, more neutral and modern)
NUANCE:
In some contexts, 別宅 carries an implication that the separate residence is maintained for a secret romantic relationship, especially in older or literary usage. The phrase 別宅を持つ can be a euphemism for keeping a mistress. In modern usage, however, it often simply means a secondary residence for practical purposes like commuting.