1. Meaning and Usage
The core meaning of the kanji 屋 is "roof," "house," "shop," or "dealer." It is an extremely common kanji used both for physical buildings and to denote a person's profession or trade.
Common Readings and Words:
おく (oku): The Sino-Japanese reading, used in some compound words.
屋上 (okujō): Rooftop. (屋-roof + 上-top)
や (ya): The native Japanese reading, which is far more common.
屋根 (yane): Roof (of a building). (屋-roof + 根-base)
本屋 (hon'ya): Bookstore. (本-book + 屋-shop)
肉屋 (nikuya): Butcher shop. (肉-meat + 屋-shop)
～屋 (~ya): A suffix meaning "shop" or "dealer." It can also characterize a person's trait, e.g., 恥ずかしがり屋 (hazukashigariya) - a shy person.
2. Correct Stroke Order
Writing 屋 correctly is essential for balance. The kanji is composed of two main parts: the top radical 尸 (shikabane) and the bottom component 至 (ita(ru)).
Total Strokes: 9
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
Top Radical: 尸 (Shikabane - Corpse/Flag)
Stroke 1: The horizontal折 (oritsu). This stroke forms the top and the right side of the radical.
Stroke 2: The left vertical stroke (竖).
Bottom Component: 至 (Ita(ru) - To Arrive)
Stroke 3: The horizontal折 (oritsu) at the top.
Stroke 4: The dot on the lower left (点).
Stroke 5: The short horizontal stroke (横).
Stroke 6: The vertical stroke (竖).
Stroke 7: The short horizontal stroke (横).
Stroke 8: The second short horizontal stroke (横).
Stroke 9: The long horizontal stroke (横) at the bottom.
Key Stroke Order Rules Applied:
Top to Bottom: The entire top radical 尸 is written before the bottom component 至.
Enclose before Close: The structure is built from the outside in.
3. Historical Origins and Etymology (The "Story" Behind the Kanji)
The history of 屋 is a clear example of an ideographic compound (会意文字 kaii moji), where the original meaning is logically derived from its parts.
Let's break down its components:
尸 (Shikabane): While its modern meaning is "corpse," this radical originally depicted a "person sitting or kneeling." In the context of 屋, it represents a person under a roof.
至 (Itaru): This character means "to arrive," "to reach," or "utmost." Its original pictograph showed an arrow hitting a target, emphasizing the idea of something coming to a point or reaching a destination.
The Combined Meaning:
The character 屋 creates a powerful and intuitive image:
"A person (尸) who has reached/arrived (至) at a settled place (under a roof)."
This "settled place" is the house. The character doesn't just mean a building; it implies a dwelling place—a location where a person has settled and arrived to stay.
Evolution of Meaning:
From this core idea of a "dwelling," the meaning expanded logically:
The Building Itself: The physical structure, the roof (屋根 yane).
A Place of Business: A shop is a "dwelling place" for commerce and trade (本屋 hon'ya - bookstore).
A Person in a Trade: The proprietor of a shop becomes identified with the shop itself, hence ～屋 (~ya) also means a "dealer" or a person characterized by a certain trait.
4. Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences showing the different uses of 屋.
As "Shop" (や):
Romaji: Ano pan'ya wa totemo oishii.
English: That bakery is very delicious.
あのパン屋はとても美味しい。
As "Roof" (や):
Romaji: Tsuyoi kaze de yane ga tonda.
English: The roof was blown off by the strong wind.
強い風で屋根が飛んだ。
As "Rooftop" (おく):
Romaji: Okujō de bābekyū o shita.
English: We had a barbecue on the rooftop.
屋上でバーベキューをした。
As a Suffix for a Person:
Romaji: Kare wa ganbariya da.
English: He is a hard worker (a "striving" person).
彼は頑張り屋だ。
Summary
Meaning: Roof, house, shop, dealer.
Writing: 9 strokes. Write the top radical 尸 first, then the bottom component 至.
Origin: An ideographic compound. It combines 尸 (a person) with 至 (to arrive) to represent the concept of a "person who has arrived at a settled dwelling"—a house. This core idea of a settled place explains all its modern meanings, from the physical roof to a commercial shop and even the person who runs it.