部屋
この部屋はとても明るいです。
This room is very bright.
A partitioned space within a building, typically used for living, sleeping, or working.
台所の隣に小さな部屋があります。
There is a small room next to the kitchen.
このホテルの部屋は広いです。
The rooms in this hotel are spacious.
部屋 can refer to any enclosed space, including bedrooms, living rooms, offices, or even storage rooms. It is often used with counters like 一部屋 (one room) or 二部屋 (two rooms).
A room designated for a specific purpose, such as a tea room or a study.
茶道の部屋でお茶をいただきました。
I had tea in the tea ceremony room.
Used in traditional or formal contexts, such as tea rooms (茶室) or study rooms (書斎).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Counting Rooms
Use the counter 間 (けん) for traditional Japanese rooms (e.g., 四間の部屋). For modern rooms, use 部屋 (へや) or the generic counter 部屋 (e.g., 三部屋のアパート).
Gold Rule
部屋 vs. 室
部屋 is more general and commonly used, while 室 often implies a more formal or specific-purpose room (e.g., 教室 for classroom, 会議室 for meeting room).
Word Origin
The kanji 部 (part, section) + 屋 (house, roof). Originally referred to a partitioned space within a house. The word has been in use since the Heian period (794–1185).
Usage Notes
部屋 is the most common word for 'room' in Japanese. It is used in both formal and informal contexts. When counting rooms, use the counter 間 (けん) or 部屋 (へや) depending on the context (e.g., 一間 for traditional rooms, 一部屋 for modern rooms).