Japanese word

一階

Pronunciation

Romajiikkai

Meaning

  • nounfirst floor

Example

一階で待っています。ik kai de ma tte i ma su

I am waiting on the first floor.

Illustration for 一階 (first floor)

More examples

私の部屋は一階にあります。watashi no heya wa ik kai ni a ri ma su

My room is on the first floor.

Core concept

Identifies the building level counted as number one from the ground upward.

Common phrases

  • 一階に住むik kai ni su mu

    live on the first floor

  • 一階へ行くik kai e i ku

    go to the first floor

  • 一階の部屋ik kai no heya

    room on the first floor

Definition in Japanese

建物の下から数えて最初にあたる階。tate mono no shita ka ra kazo e te sai sho ni a ta ru kizahashi

Word origin

一階 (ikkai, "first floor") combines 一 (ichi, "one") with 階 (kai, "floor or story"), and the k sound is doubled in the compound pronunciation.

Usage tips

  • The numbering differs across English varieties: 一階 (ikkai) is the ground floor in British English but the first floor in American English.

Word lists with this word