屋根
yane[ja̠ne̞]
The Japanese word for "roof" is 屋根 (yane).
屋根 refers to the cover at the top of a building.
Meaning: the cover at the top of a building (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 屋根 is composed of two parts: the kanji for house/shelter (屋) and the kanji for root/base (根).
How do you pronounce it?
yane
Did you know?
- The word 屋根 (yane) literally translates to 'house root' because, in ancient pit dwellings, the structure's roof extended all the way down to the ground, acting as the foundation.
- In certain traditional contexts, the way a 屋根 is shaped can actually indicate the social status or the type of building it covers.
- Some traditional Japanese roofs use hiwadabuki, a technique using cypress bark instead of tiles or straw.
Examples in context
- 私の家の屋根は赤い。The roof of my house is red.This sentence is useful for describing the color of the 屋根 on a house.Tatoeba #164017 by bunbuku, translation #250493 by CM
- 屋根に穴が空いてる。There are holes in the roof.This sentence is useful for mentioning holes in the 屋根.Tatoeba #11483580 by small_snow, translation #1676719 by Spamster
- 彼女は屋根から下りた。She climbed down from the roof.This sentence is useful for describing someone moving down from a 屋根.Tatoeba #90985 by bunbuku, translation #312729 by CK
- この建物の屋根は赤いです。The roof of this building is red.
- 屋根修理の専門家に相談しましょう。Let's consult a roofing specialist.
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are looking at a house for sale.
- 蓮 Renこの家の屋根はすごく大きいですね。Kono ie no yane wa sugoku ookii desu ne.This house's roof is very large, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、瓦の屋根がとても綺麗です。Hai, kawara no yane ga totemo kirei desu.Yes, the tile roof is very beautiful.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは、この屋根が好きですか？Himari-san wa, kono yane ga suki desu ka?Himari, do you like this roof?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても素敵だと思います。Hai, totemo suteki da to omoimasu.Yes, I think it is very lovely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roof” translations and entries 屋根, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 屋根, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
