The Meaning of onshitsu [温室] In Japanese

温室
おんしつ
Romaji: onshitsu N4

What does 温室 mean?

Translation and Meaning

greenhouse, heated room

Definition

温室 means a greenhouse: a glass-covered structure used for cultivating plants in a controlled climate, where temperature, humidity, and light are managed to optimize growth.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense as a glass-covered structure for plant cultivation in controlled environments
  • Found in compounds such as 温室栽培 (onshitsu saibai) and 温室効果 (onshitsu kōka) to denote cultivation methods and the greenhouse effect respectively

Etymology

温 (オン) + 室 (シツ) form a Sino-Japanese compound; the reading onshitsu reflects the on’yomi combination rather than a native wording.

Composition

  • 温: warmth, heat
  • 室: room
  • Overall: a room kept warm, typically with glass panels to trap heat for plant growth

Usage

Used in formal contexts such as agriculture, horticulture, architecture, and scientific writing; in everyday language it refers to a real greenhouse at a farm or garden; common phrases include 温室栽培 and 温室の設備.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a sunlit glass room where warmth is locked in; 温 suggests warmth and 室 means room, together signaling a warm, plant-friendly space.

Variations

  • ハウス (hausu) — loanword commonly used as a synonym for greenhouse
  • ガラス温室 (garasu onshitsu) — glass greenhouse variant
  • 露地栽培 (roji saibai) — open-field cultivation, often contrasted with greenhouse methods

Example Phrases

  • 温室で花を見て帰るのが楽しい。
    onshitsu de hana o mite kaeru no ga tanoshii.
    It’s fun to go home after looking at flowers in the greenhouse.
    Lista:
    • 温室で (onshitsu de) – at the greenhouse
    • 花を (hana o) – flowers
    • 見て (mite) – see
    • 帰るのが (kaeru no ga) – returning
    • 楽しい (tanoshii) – fun
    Core grammar: the location particle 「で」 marks where the action occurs, as in 「温室」で花を見て帰る; 「のが」 nominalizes the preceding verb to express enjoyment.
温室