屋

Physical structure of a dwelling; roof or eaves; interior room.

Primarily used as a noun. In compounds, it can specify either the boundary of domestic space (the walls/roof) or the volume of the space (the room).

• 屋 vs 家: Physical structure versus social household and family unit.
• 屋 vs 室: General spatial volume versus a private chamber or functional interior.
• 屋 vs 舍: Permanent structure versus temporary lodging, hut, or place of transit.
• 屋 vs 宅: Basic physical building versus a legal residence or estate.

The term exhibits a semantic shift over time: earlier contexts often refer specifically to the roof or upper structure; this expanded to the general building, and later shifted inward to denote a room or specific interior volume.

If "house" feels imprecise in a passage—particularly regarding positioning (e.g., "under the 屋")—test "roof" or "eaves."