社宅

しゃたく

company owned house

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

What is 社宅?

社宅 (しゃたく) refers to housing provided by a company for its employees. It is a common benefit in Japan, especially for large corporations, to offer affordable or subsidized accommodation to workers.

Usage and Context

社宅 is often used when discussing employee benefits, housing arrangements, or commuting convenience. It implies a residence owned or rented by the company, not by the individual employee.

Common Collocations

  • 社宅に住む: to live in company housing
  • 社宅の家賃: rent for company housing
  • 社宅制度: company housing system

Register and Nuance

The term is formal and typically used in business or official contexts. It is not casual conversation but appears in workplace discussions, HR documents, and housing policies.

Learner Tips

Don’t confuse 社宅 with 寮 (りょう), which usually means a dormitory-style shared living space. 社宅 often refers to private apartments or houses provided by the company. When talking about your own housing, specify 社宅 to highlight the company-provided aspect.

Example Sentences

かれはしゃたくにすんでいるので、つうきんがとてもらくです。

He lives in a company-owned house, so his commute is very easy.

しゃたくのやちんはつうじょうよりやすくせっていされています。

The rent for company housing is usually set lower than normal.

しんにゅうしゃいんはさいしょのすうねんかん、しゃたくにすむことがおおいです。

New employees often live in company housing for the first few years.