Construction Vocabulary in Japanese

In this Post, we will provide a list of several construction words in Japanese. These are fundamental for understanding conversations in certain contexts. In addition, the list below also contains vocabulary from real estate, civil engineering, carpentry, steel and metallurgy.

Read also: What's in a traditional Japanese home?

Civil Construction in Japanese

In construction in Japanese, there are specific to describe the different professions and activities related to this sector. Here are some common Japanese related to construction:

• Construction Industry (kensetsugyō) - Civil Construction
• Architect - Arquiteto
• Architect (kenchikushi) - Technical engineer/architect
• Construction worker - Construction worker
• 大工 (daiku) - Carpenter
• Carpenter - Marceneiro
• 建材 (kenzai) - Construction materials
• Tools - Ferramentas
• Construction machinery (kensetsu kikai) - Construction equipment
• Residential construction (jūtaku kenchiku) - Residential construction
• Commercial building construction (shōgyō biru kensetsu) - Construction of commercial buildings
• Factory construction (kōjō kensetsu) - Factory construction
• 土木工事 (doboku kōji) - Civil engineering works

Japanese construction word list

Now let's go a little further, let's see a gigantic list of construction vocabulary words, involving materials, objects, types of service and others.

• 土木 (どぼく) - doboku - Civil Engineering, Construction, Public Works.
• Infrastructure - infurasutorakucha - Infrastructure.
• Infrastructure - infura - Infrastructure.
• 基盤 (きばん) - kiban - Infrastructure, Base, Foundation, , Base Structure.
• 基礎 (きそ) - kiso - Base, , Foundation.
• Civil Engineering (Undergraduate Course) - doboku kougaku - 土木工学 (どぼくこうがく).
• Engineer - enjinia - Engineer.
• 土木技師 (どぼくぎし) - doboku gishi - Civil Engineer.
• Civil Engineering Works (doboku jigyou) - Civil Engineering Labor, Civil Engineering Projects.
• Architecture - Arquitetura.
• Architect - Arquiteto.
• House (ie, uchi) - Casa.
• ハウス - hausu - House, Home.
• Housing (じゅうたく) - juutaku - House, Residence.
• Address (じゅうしょ) - juusho - Residential Address.
• Apartment Building (きょうどうじゅうたく) - kyoudou juutaku - Residential Complex.
• 一戸建て (いっこだて) - ikkodate - Single-Family House, Detached House, Family House, Autonomous House (it is the only house on a certain plot of land).
• Ikko - One Single House.
• 長屋 (ながや) - nagaya - Terraced House (houses that share walls).
• 小屋 (こや) - koya - Cabin.
• Apartment - apaato - Apartment.
• マンション - manshon - Condominium (of apartments).
• Building - tatemono - Building, Structure.
• 大邸宅 (だいていたく) - daiteitaku - Mansion.
• Construction Company - kensetsugaisha - Construction Company, Builder.
• Biru - biru - Building.
• Building (kenzoubutsu) - Structure, Construction.
• 建設 (けんせつ) - kensetsu - Construction.
• 施工 (せこう) - sekou - Construction.
• Model - Maquette, Model.
• Construction (こうじ) - kouji - Work.
• 工場 (こうじょう) - koujou - Factory.
• Land (とち) - tochi - Lot, Ground.
• Construction Machinery - kensetsu kikai - Construction Equipment.
• Civil Engineering (doboku kouji) - Public Works, Engineering Works.
• Civil Engineer - Engenheiro Civil.
• Construction - doken - Civil Engineering and Construction.
• 梯子 (はしご) - hashigo - Ladder.
• 柱 (はしら) - hashira - Pillar, Pilaster, Column.
• 梁 (はり) - hari - Beam (s), Wooden Beams.
• 建材 (けんざい) - kenzai - Building Material.
• 工法 (こうほう) - kouhou - Construction Method.
• 釘 (くぎ) - kugi - Please.
• 螺子 (ねじ、らし) - neji/rashi - Screw.
• ねじ回し (ねじまわし) - nejimawashi - Screwdriver.
• Twist - nejiru - To screw, To twist, To rotate.
• Under Construction (koujichuu) - In Works, Ongoing Work.
• 足場 (あしば) - ashiba - Scaffold.
• Brick (れんが) - renga - Brick.
• Lay Bricks - renga wo shiku - Assentar Tijolos.
• セメント - semento - Cement.
• Concrete - konkuriito - Concrete.
• Tile - Tairu - Tile, Floor.
• Scale - sukeeru - Tape measure.
• nuki - Traverse.
• Parts (buhin) - Piece, Component.
• Tool - Ferramenta (s).
• Facilities - Equipment - Accommodations.
• Equipment Utilization Rate (せつびりようりつ) - setsubiri youritsu - Equipment Utilization Rate.
• 歯車 (はぐるま) - haguruma - Gear.
• ギア - gia - Gear.
• Shovel - sukoppu - Dad.
• Construction Site (kouji genba) - Construction Location.
• 鋸 (のこぎり) - Nokogiri - Saw, Saw.
• Dry Concrete (kansou konkuriito) - Dry Concrete.
• Helmet - herumetto - Helmet.
• Set Hammer - Setto Hanmaa - Sledgehammer.
• Kanadzuchi (かなづち) - Hammer.
• ハンマー - hanmaa - Hammer.
• tonkachi - tonkachi - Hammer (colloquial).
• Hammer (tsuchi) - Hammer, Sledgehammer.
• Driving a Nail - kugi wo utsu - Hammer the Nail.
• Steelmaking (seikou) - Steel Industry, Steel Manufacturing.
• Steelworks - Siderurgical (factory that produces steel).
• 冶金 (やきん) - yakin - Metallurgy.
• Steel Industry - seikougyou - Steel Industry.
• Drill - doriru - Broca, Drill.
• 突破 (とっぱ) - toppa - Penetration, Drilling.
• 突破する (とっぱする) - toppa suru - Penetrate, Burrow, Piercing, Reach.
• Break through (tsukiyaburu) - To break, to penetrate, to pierce.
• Pipe - paipu - Pipe, Tube.
• 管 (かん、くだ) - kan/kuda - Pipe, Tube.
• 筒 (つつ) - tsutsu - Cylinder, Cylindrical Tube.
• Water supply - suidou - Plumbing, Water Service.
• 配管 (はいかん) - haikan - Piping, Plumbing, Pipes.
• Hole - hooru - Hole.
• Hose - hoosu - Hose.
• Thunder - sandaa - Sander.
• スコヤー - sukoyaa - Square Meter, Square Meter Ruler.
• Crane - kureen - Crane.
• Skyscraper - Arranha-Céu, Edifício (s) Alto (s).
• Skyscraper (まてんろう) - matenrou - Sky Spider.
• Skyscraper - sukaisu kureepaa - Sky Spider.
• 塔 (とう) - tou - Tower.
• 高い (たかい) - takai - High.
• Low (ひくい) - hikui - Low.
• Fence - fensu - Fence, Grade, Wall.
• Traffic Cone - torafikku koon - Traffic Cone.
• Viaduct - kouka - Viaduto.
• Koukashita - Under the Viaduct.
• Kawara (かわら) - Tile.
• Roof (やね) - yane - Roof.
• Ceiling - tenjou - Teto.
• Attic - Sótão.
• Floor (yuka) - Floor, Ground.
• Floor Space (yuka shita) - Under the Floor, Beneath the Ground.
• Room - Quarto.
• 寝室 (しんしつ) - shinshitsu - Bedroom, Sleeping Room.
• Ryou - Hotel, Dormitory.
• 宿 (やど) - yado - Hotel, Accommodation, Lodging.
• 座敷 (ざしき) - zashiki - Tatami Room (traditional Japanese).
• 廊下 (ろうか) - rouka - Hallway.
• Living Room - Sala de Estar.
• リビング - ribingu - Living Room.
• ルーム - ruumu - Room, Bedroom.
• Dining - dainingu - Dining Room.
• Guest Room - gesuto ruumu - Guest Room.
• Tokonoma (とこのま) - toko no ma - Visiting Area, Guest Area (usually has paintings, frames, etc.).
• Garage - Garagem.
• Garage - gareeji - Garage.
• Shed - monooki - Warehouse.
• Mailbox (yuubin'uke) - Mailbox.
• 玄関 (げんかん) - genkan - Entrance.
• 鍵 (かぎ) - kagi - Key.
• Elasticity (しんしゅくせい) - shinsukusei - Elasticity.
• 新素材 (しんそざい) - shinsozai - Latest Generation Materials, New Material.
• Sand (すな) - suna - Sand.
• 土砂 (どしゃ) - dosha - Sediment(s), Soil and Sand.
• Sand Grain - sunatsubu - Grains of Sand.
• Mud (どろ) - doro - Lama.
• 埃 (ほこり) - hokori - Dust.
• Construction Noise - Barulho de Obra.
• Urusai - Noisy.
• Pure - Genuine.
• Mixed Body (kongoutai) - Mixture, Binder.
• Alloy - goukin - Alloy, Binder.
• Aloy - aroi - League, Binder.
• Steel Frame (tekkotsu) - Steel Framework, Steel Beam.
• 鋼 (はがね) - hagane - Steel.
• Iron (てつ) - tetsu - Iron.
• 鉄道 (てつどう) - tetsudou - Railway.
• 鋼板 (こうばん) kouban - Steel Plates.
• Iron - airon - Iron.
• Seidou - Bronze - Bronze.
• 銅 (どう) - dou - Bronze.
• 銀 (ぎん) - gin - Silver.
• Kin - Gold.
• Pure Gold (じゅんきん) - junkin - Pure Gold.
• Alloy Steel (goukinkou) - Steel Alloy.
• Wood - mokuzai - Wood.
• ガラス - garasu - Glass.
• ゴム - gomu - Rubber.
• アルミ - arumi - Aluminum.
• Aluminum - aruminiumu - Aluminum.
• Aluminum foil - arumihoiru - Aluminum Paper, Aluminum Sheet.
• Substance - Material - 物質 (ぶっしつ) - busshitsu.
• 固い (かたい) - katai - Solid, Solid Material.
• 固体 (こたい) - kotai - Solid (solid state).
• 傾斜 (けいしゃ) - keisha - Inclination.
• Straight - sutoreeto - Reto.
• 曲がった (まがった) - magatta - Curved, Bent.
• 壁 (かべ) - kabe - Wall.
• Exterior Wall - Parede Externa.
• Exterior Wall Material (gaihekizai) - Exterior Finishing Material, Material for Outer Wall.
• Interior Wall - Parede Interna.
• Wall - hei - Wall, Barrier, Fence, Enclosure.
• Brick Wall - Parede de Tijolos, Muro de Tijolos.
• Brickwork - renga dzukuri - Masonry.
• 囲む (かこむ) - kakomu - Surround.
• Estimate - mitsumoru - Estimar.
• 石 (いし) - ishi - Stone.
• 石垣 (いしがき) - ishigaki - Stone Wall, Stone Rampart.
• Asphalt - asufaruto - Asphalt.
• Window - Janela.
• エレベーター - erebeetaa - Elevator.
• ドア - doa - Door.
• 扉 (とびら) - tobira - Door, Gate, Entrance.
• To (と) - door - Japanese Door, Japanese Style Door.
• Shouji (障子) - shouji - Sliding Door (of Japanese style).
• Fusuma (ふすま) - fusuma - Type of Sliding , Sliding Door (in Japanese style).
• 宅 (たく) - taku - A House, Home.
• taku - Desk.
• 食卓 (しょくたく) - shokutaku - Dining Table.
• テーブル (てーぶる) - teeburu - Table, Desk.
• 椅子 (いす) - isu - Chair.
• 押入れ (おしいれ) - oshiire - Wardrobe, Closet, Drawer.
• Storage (shuunou) - Compartment(s), Drawer(s), Cabinet.
• ery - Marcenaria.
• Veranda - beranda - Balcony, Porch.
• Engawa - Japanese Balcony.
• 庭 (にわ) - niwa - Garden.
• Jacuzzi - jagujii - Jacuzzi.
• Bubble bath - kihou buro - Hot Tub, Jacuzzi.
• Electricity (denki) - Electricity, Light.
• ランプ - ranpu - Lamp.
• 照明 (しょうめい) - shoumei - Lighting.
• Wiring - Fiação.
• 簾 (すだれ) - sudare - Bamboo Curtain.
• Ranma - s that are located above the Fusuma and assist with ventilation.
• Ventilation (かんき) - kanki - Ventilation.
• Kazetooshi - Ventilation.
• Expansion - Expansão.
• リフォーム - rifoomu - Reform.
• Improvement (s), Reform (s).
• Infrastructure Development (infrastructure development) - Improvement(s) of Infrastructure.
• Seibi (整備) - seibi - Improvement(s), Maintenance.
• Infrastructure Development - Infrastructure Development.
• Kaizen (改善する) - kaizen suru - Enhance, Improve.
• koujou suru - Improve, Progress, Increase, Elevate, Rise.
• Progress - Progredir - Progredir.
• Inch - inchi - Inch (s). Unit of Measurement.
• Ground - guraundo - Land, Earth, Soil.
• Underground - andaaguraundo - Below the Earth, Subterranean.
• Ground (じばん) - jiban - Base (of construction), Soil, Land.
• Chichuu (地下) - chichuu - Beneath the Earth, Subsoil, Underground.
• Underground (ちか) - chika - Basement.
• Earthquake Resistance - Resistant to Earthquakes.
• Can withstand large earthquakes - daijishin ni taerareru
• Spring - bane - Mola.
• Spring - supuringu - Mola.
• Tile - tairu - Tile, Ceramic tile, Coating, Floor.
• Wood Interlocking Flooring Tile - mokusei intaa rokkingu furooringu tairu - Wood Flooring for Interlocking Pavements.
• Interlocking Block - intaa rokkingu burokku - Interlocking Paving Blocks.
• Dimensions - Measurement, Size.
• 壊す (こわす) - kowasu - Break.
• Hor (ほる) - horu - Dig.
• Dynamite - Dainamaito - Dynamite.
• Construction Lift - kensetsu rift - Construction Elevator.
• 縄 (なわ) - nawa - Rope.
• Rope - roopu - Cord.
• 漏る (もる) - moru - To leak.
• Leak (ろうすい) - rousui - Water leak.
• 漏り (もり) - mori - Leak.
• Rent (monthly) - yachin.
• Rent - Aluguel, Locação, Arrendamento.
• Chingashi - Rent, Rental, Lease.
• 借料 (しゃくりょう) - shakuryou - Rent (the amount of money, the debt).
• Share House - shea hausu - Shared Room, Shared House.
• Room Fee (へやだい) - heyadai - Room Charge, Rental Fee (for the room).
• Real Estate - Properties, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Sector.
• Real Estate Stocks - fudousan kabu - Real Estate Market Stocks.
• Real Estate Agent - Corretor(a) de Imóveis.
• Real Estate Company - fudousangaisha - Real Estate Agency.
• Tenant (shakuyanin) - Tenant, Lessee.
• Borrower (かりて) - karite - Tenant, Leaseholder.
• Owner (しょゆうしゃ) - shoyuusha - Owner, Lessor.
• 敷金 (しききん) and 敷き (しき) - shikikin and shiki - Security deposit, Deposit of Guarantee.
• Deposit (ほしょうきん) - hoshoukin - Security Deposit (usually the first and second month of rent).
• Mortgage (ていとう) - teitou - Guarantee.
• Guarantor (ほしょうにん) - hoshounin - Guarantor, Surety.
• Mortgage (じゅうたくろーん) - juutaku roon - Hipoteca.
• Real Estate Mortgage Bond (fudousan tanpo shouken) - Secured by real estate (mortgage).
• Real Estate Registration - Registro do Imóvel.
• Real Estate Financing - Financiamento (Imobiliário).
• Collaterals (たんぽ) - tanpo - Guarantee, Insurance, Mortgage.
• Insurance (hoken) - Seguro.
• Fire Insurance (kasai hoken) - Fire Insurance.
• Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) - juutaku tanpo shouken - Residential Mortgage Certificate.
• Housing loan tax deduction - Deduction (rate) on housing credit.
• Moving (hikkoshi) - Move, Being in the Process of Moving.
• Work (こうさく) - kousaku - Manufacturing, Handicrafts, Engineering.
• Chiku (ちく) - chiku - Year of Construction.
• 築造 (ちくぞう) - chikuzou - Construction, Building, Structure.
• 城 (しろ) - shiro - Castle.
• 橋 (はし) - hashi - Bridge.
• 大工 (だいく) - daiku - Carpenter, er.
• カーペンター - kaapentaa - Carpenter, er.
• Bricklayer - renga shokunin - Bricklayer (tile worker).
• Laborer (ろうどうしゃ) - roudousha - Worker.
• 土建屋 (どけんや) - dokenya - Contractor.
• Construction Contractor - dokengyousha - Contractor.
• Manufacturing - Production - Manufatura, Produção.
• Statue - Estátua.
• Shikkui (漆喰) - shikkui - Gesso.
• Gypsum (せっこう) - sekkou - Gesso.
• Gypsum board (sekkou boodo) - Gypsum Board.
• Granite (かこうがん) - kakougan - Granite.
• Granite - guranitto - Granite.
• Concrete Mixer - konkuriito mikisaa - Concrete Mixer.
• Gravel (じゃり) - Jyari - Brita, Gravel.
• 鉱石 (こうせき) - kouseki - Ore.
• 岩 (いわ) - Iwa - Rock.
• Konagona - powdered - In pieces, grains.
• 塗る (ぬる) - nuru - Paint, Plaster.
• Floor (kai) - kai - Walk, Level.
• Top Floor - Last Floor, Last Level.
• Beautiful View (utsukushii nagame) - Beautiful View, Pretty View.
• 景色 (けしき) - keshiki - Landscape.
• ペンキ - penki - Paint.
• Freshly Painted - Tinta Fresca.
• 絵の具 (えのぐ) - enogu - Paints, Painting Tools.
• Ink - inku - Ink.
• Paint (toryou) - Paint, Paint Smudge(s), Paint Material(s).
• Brush (ふで) - fude - Brush.
• Welding (ようせつ) - yousetsu - Welding.
• Welding (of thermoplastics and non-ferrous metals) - Soldagem (de termoplásticos e metais não ferrosos).
• Welding Dot - yousetsudaten - Welding Point.
• Welding Rod - Vareta de Soldagem.
• Tractor - torakutaa - Trator.
• 牽引車 (けんいんしゃ) - ken'insha - Towing, Tow Truck, Tow Vehicle.
• Omotegamae (表構え) - omotegamae - Facade (of the establishment).
• Building Facade - birudingu fasaado - Building Facade, Edifice Facade.
• Facade - facade - Facade.
• 正面 (しょうめん) - shoumen - Front, In Front, The Front, Facade, Frontal Part.
• Stairs (kaidan) - Escada.
• Escalator - esukareetaa - Escalator.
• Structure (physical) - Structure
• Shikumi - Structure, Mechanism, Functioning, Process, Agreement.
• Durable House (じょうぶないえ) - joubu na ie - Resistant House, Sturdy House.
• House Building (iedzukuri) - House Construction, Build a House.
• 間取り (まどり) - madori - House Layout, Apartment Layout, House Style.
• 式 (しき) - shiki - Style.
• Spacious - Espaçoso, Espaçosa.
• 楽 (らく) - raku - Comfort.
• 楽に暮らす (らくにくらす) - raku ni kurasu - Living with Comfort, Living Comfortably.
• 住み心地 (すみごこち) - sumigokochi - Comfort (of home, of the house, etc).
• 居心地 (いごこち) - igokochi - Comfort.
• igokochi ii - Comfortable, Pleasant.
• Room Temperature - Temperatura do Quarto.
• ing the Building - To the building.
• Building Parts - Partes do Edifício.
• 造る (つくる) - tsukuru - Build, Create.
• Skeleton (of the building) - Esqueleto (do edifício).
• Rectangle - Formato Retangular.
• Vertical - Vertical.
• Suihei (水平) - suihei - Horizontal.
• 木造 (もくぞう) - mokuzou - Wooden Structure, Made of Wood.
• Wood (mokusei) - Made of Wood, Manufactured (a) from Wood, Produced with Wood.
• Steel Frame (tekkotsuzou) - Steel Structure.
• Reinforced Concrete Structure - tekkin konkuriito zou - Reinforced/Steel Framework Construction.
• アールシーぞう (RCぞう) - aarushiizou - Reinforced/Armored Concrete Construction, Steel Frame Construction.
• Architecture (けんちくようご) - kenchiku yougo - Construction , Words of Architecture.
• Jikugumi (軸組) - Framework, Structure.
• Wooden Frame (mokuzou jikugumi) - Wooden Structure.
• 耐力壁 (たいりょくへき) - tairyokuheki - ing Wall.
• Wooden House (mokuzou juutaku) - Wooden House.
• Woodworking - kidzukuri - Carpentry, Wood Construction.
• Foundation (dodai) - Foundations, Base, Base (of construction).
• Construction Period - kouki.