It may be interpreted as a gable roof with sheeted roofs (may be called the eaves) on all four sides but is also used in yosemune-zukuri style roofs (a square or rectangular building, covered with a hipped roof) such as that of Todai-ji Temple Nenbutsudo Hall.
切妻造の屋根の4方向に葺き下ろしの屋根（庇とも）を付けたものと解釈されることがあるが、東大寺念仏堂のように寄棟造の屋根にも用いられている。