Whether you’re moving into an apartment in Japan, furnishing your home, or studying for the JLPT, learning furniture-related Japanese vocabulary is both practical and essential. From beds to bookshelves, these words will help you navigate shopping, conversations, and daily life more smoothly. In this blog, you’ll find a comprehensive list of furniture terms in Japanese with meanings, romaji, hiragana, and example sentences to build your confidence.
🛋️ Why Learn Furniture Vocabulary in Japanese?
Knowing the names of furniture helps in a variety of situations:
- 🛒 Shopping at Japanese furniture stores like Nitori or IKEA
- 🏠 Describing your home in conversations
- 📦 Setting up utilities or deliveries for your new apartment
- 📝 JLPT N5–N4 level vocabulary preparation
📚 Japanese Furniture Vocabulary List
Here is a table of 15+ common furniture words used in Japanese homes. Each entry includes the Japanese kanji/kana, hiragana, romaji, English meaning, and a useful example sentence.
| Japanese | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 家具 | かぐ | kagu | furniture | 新しい家具を買いました。 (Atarashii kagu o kaimashita.) – I bought new furniture. |
| いす | いす | isu | chair | このいすは快適です。 (Kono isu wa kaiteki desu.) – This chair is comfortable. |
| テーブル | てーぶる | tēburu | table | テーブルの上に本があります。 (Tēburu no ue ni hon ga arimasu.) – There’s a book on the table. |
| 机 | つくえ | tsukue | desk | 机で勉強します。 (Tsukue de benkyō shimasu.) – I study at the desk. |
| ベッド | べっど | beddo | bed | 夜はベッドで寝ます。 (Yoru wa beddo de nemasu.) – I sleep in the bed at night. |
| 本棚 | ほんだな | hondana | bookshelf | 本棚に漫画があります。 (Hondana ni manga ga arimasu.) – There are manga on the bookshelf. |
| ソファ | そふぁ | sofā | sofa | ソファに座ってテレビを見ます。 (Sofā ni suwatte terebi o mimasu.) – I watch TV while sitting on the sofa. |
| 棚 | たな | tana | shelf | 棚には写真があります。 (Tana ni wa shashin ga arimasu.) – There are photos on the shelf. |
| タンス | たんす | tansu | dresser/chest | タンスに服を入れます。 (Tansu ni fuku o iremasu.) – I put clothes in the dresser. |
| 鏡 | かがみ | kagami | mirror | 鏡で髪を整えます。 (Kagami de kami o totonoemasu.) – I fix my hair in the mirror. |
| 照明 | しょうめい | shōmei | lighting/lamp | 照明が明るいです。 (Shōmei ga akarui desu.) – The lighting is bright. |
| カーテン | かーてん | kāten | curtain | カーテンを開けましょう。 (Kāten o akemashou.) – Let’s open the curtains. |
| クローゼット | くろーぜっと | kurōzetto | closet | クローゼットは広いです。 (Kurōzetto wa hiroi desu.) – The closet is spacious. |
| マットレス | まっとれす | mattoresu | mattress | 新しいマットレスでよく眠れました。 (Atarashii mattoresu de yoku nemuremashita.) – I slept well on the new mattress. |
| じゅうたん | じゅうたん | jūtan | carpet | じゅうたんを掃除します。 (Jūtan o sōji shimasu.) – I clean the carpet. |
📝 Tips to Learn Furniture Words in Japanese
- 🧾 Label furniture in your home with sticky notes for passive memorization.
- 🛍 Visit furniture stores in Japan and read item tags to learn contextually.
- 🎧 Watch Japanese home tour videos or real estate YouTube channels.
- 📱 Use spaced repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet to reinforce memory.
🏠 Cultural Insight: Japanese Homes and Furniture
Japanese homes often combine traditional and modern furniture. You might find tatami mats alongside Western-style beds, or sliding doors (fusuma) next to closets. Knowing the Japanese words for home furnishings not only improves your language skills but also deepens your understanding of Japanese lifestyle and culture.
📘 Conclusion
This list of furniture-related vocabulary is an excellent way to expand your daily Japanese and survive comfortably in a Japanese home. These words are commonly used, easy to remember, and helpful for JLPT study, especially levels N5 to N4. Practice them often and use them in real-life situations to make them stick!
Want more themed vocabulary lists? Let us know! We can prepare similar guides for rooms, electronics, kitchen items, and more.