Meaning

Primary

Japanese Inn

Alternatives

Japanese Style Hotel, Ryokan

Word Type

noun

Explanation

When you’re taking a trip to a public building, you might be staying at a Japanese inn. Those were very much public buildings for all kinds of travellers back in the day, when you think about it.

Alternatively, you could call this a Japanese style hotel, or just by its Japanese name, ryokan.

Reading

りょかん
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 旅館の主人

    proprietor of the Japanese inn

    旅館の一階

    first floor of the Japanese inn

    旅館の部屋

    room in a Japanese inn

Context Sentences

すごくいい旅館ですね!

It's a very nice ryokan!

来月日本に旅行に行くんだけど、旅館とホテルとどっちにステイするのがいいと思う?

I'm traveling to Japan next month. Where do you think I should stay: a Japanese-style inn or a hotel?

なんでこの旅館、こんなにゴキブリが出るの?

Why are there so many cockroaches in this Japanese inn?

Kanji Composition