空調(くうちょう)

くうちょう
noun
air conditioning; HVAC
1. air conditioning; climate control (HVAC, in buildings)
The general term for the equipment and systems that regulate the temperature, humidity, and circulation of air inside a building. Short for 空気調和(くうきちょうわ) ("air conditioning," literally "air harmonization"). 空調(くうちょう) typically refers to the whole system at a building or facility level — covering both heating and cooling — whereas the everyday loanword エアコン usually refers to a single residential unit.
空調(くうちょう)が効(き)いている。
The air conditioning is working well.
この建物(たてもの)の空調(くうちょう)設備(せつび)は古(ふる)い。
This building's HVAC equipment is old.
省(しょう)エネのため、空調(くうちょう)の設定(せってい)温度(おんど)を1度(ど)下(さ)げた。
To save energy, we lowered the air conditioning's set temperature by one degree.
オフィスビルの空調(くうちょう)は、季節(きせつ)や使用(しよう)状況(じょうきょう)に応(おう)じて自動(じどう)的(てき)に制御(せいぎょ)されている。
Office-building air-conditioning systems are automatically controlled according to the season and usage conditions.

空調(くうちょう) is a building-engineering term covering all aspects of climate control — heating, cooling, ventilation, and humidity. It is the standard word in Japanese architecture, building management, and engineering for what English speakers call "HVAC."

FORMATION:

  • Short form of 空気調和(くうきちょうわ) ("air harmonization")
  • 空気(くうき) ("air") + 調和(ちょうわ) ("harmony, balance") → 空気調和(くうきちょうわ) → 空調(くうちょう)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 空調(くうちょう)設備(せつび): HVAC equipment, climate control system
  • 空調(くうちょう)システム(しすてむ): HVAC system
  • 空調(くうちょう)を入(い)れる / 切(き)る: to turn the air conditioning on / off
  • 空調(くうちょう)が効(き)く: for the air conditioning to work / be effective
  • 空調(くうちょう)管理(かんり): HVAC management
  • 空調(くうちょう)工事(こうじ): HVAC installation work
  • 全館(ぜんかん)空調(くうちょう): whole-building air conditioning

SIMILAR / RELATED TERMS:

  • エアコン: air conditioner (loanword; more colloquial; usually a single residential unit)
  • 冷房(れいぼう): cooling, air conditioning (specifically the cooling function)
  • 暖房(だんぼう): heating
  • 換気(かんき): ventilation (air exchange between inside and outside)
  • 通気(つうき): ventilation, airflow (more passive than 換気(かんき))
  • 湿度(しつど)調整(ちょうせい): humidity control
  • ヒートポンプ: heat pump

USAGE NOTES:

  • 空調(くうちょう) sounds technical or institutional — used in offices, hospitals, factories, transit stations, and rental contracts. For your apartment in everyday speech, エアコン or 冷暖房(れいだんぼう) sounds more natural.
  • In job listings and building specifications, 全館(ぜんかん)空調(くうちょう) ("central air conditioning throughout the building") is a selling point that goes beyond having window-mounted エアコン units in each room.
  • Verbs that take 空調(くうちょう) as object: 入(い)れる, 切(き)る, 止(と)める, 点検(てんけん)する ("to inspect"), 調整(ちょうせい)する ("to adjust").
general
Added 2026.5.10 10:56
27000/27362_kuuchou