Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 豪邸 | gōtei | [ɡo̞ːte̞ː] (narrow) |
| 大邸宅 | daiteitaku | [da̠ite̞ːta̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| マンション | manshon | [mã̠ɰ̃ɕõ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word used depends on whether you are describing a grand, stately house or a modern apartment building. To describe a large, luxurious or grand house, you should use 豪邸 (gōtei) or 大邸宅 (daiteitaku).
What does it mean word for word?
The term 豪邸 is composed of 豪, meaning grand or luxurious and 邸, meaning residence or mansion. The term 大邸宅 is composed of 大, meaning large or great and 邸宅, meaning mansion or residence.
Which one should you use?
Be careful with the loanword マンション (manshon). It is a false friend. It does not mean a large, stately house, but instead refers to a modern apartment building or condominium. To describe a truly large and luxurious residence, use 豪邸 (gōtei) or 大邸宅 (daiteitaku).
How do you pronounce it?
gōtei
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use マンション to describe a grand, stately house, as this refers to an apartment or condominium. Instead, use 豪邸.
Did you know?
- The kanji 豪 in 豪邸 is also used in the word 豪雨 (gōu) to describe a torrential downpour.
- The term マンション was adopted during the 1950s specifically to lend an air of Western-style luxury to new residential developments.
- In Japan, the word マンション is used for buildings made of concrete or steel, whereas アパート usually refers to wooden structures.
Examples in context
- 政府役人の豪邸が略奪された。A government official's stately mansion was looted.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a government official's stately mansion using 豪邸.Tatoeba #143056 by mookeee, translation #271512 by CM
- 丘の上に豪邸が建っている。oka no ue ni goutei ga tatte iru.A mansion stands on top of the hill.
- 彼は海辺に豪邸を持っている。kare wa umibe ni goutei o motte iru.He owns a mansion by the sea.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are walking through a wealthy neighborhood.
- 健太 Kenta見て、あそこにすごい豪邸があるよ。Mite, asoko ni sugoi gōtei ga aru yo.Look, there is an amazing mansion over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に大きい家ですね。Hontō ni ōkii ie desu ne.It really is a huge house.
- 健太 Kenta誰が住んでいるんだろうか。Dare ga sunde iru ndarō ka.I wonder who lives there.
- 陽葵 Himariきっと有名な人だと思います。Kitto yūmei na hito da to omoimasu.I bet it's someone famous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mansion” translations and entries 豪邸, 大邸宅, マンション, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries マンション, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
