Japanese word

座敷

Pronunciation

Romajizashiki

Meaning

  • nountatami room

Example

今日は座敷で食べます。kyō wa za shiki de ta be ma su

We will eat in the tatami room today.

Illustration for 座敷 (tatami room)

More examples

旅館では座敷に案内されました。ryo kan de wa za shiki ni an nai sa re ma shi ta

At the inn, we were shown to a tatami room.

Core concept

Describes 座敷 (zashiki) as a room where the floor is prepared for sitting, usually with tatami rather than chairs.

Common phrases

  • 座敷に上がるza shiki ni a ga ru

    step into a tatami room

  • 座敷に通すza shiki ni tō su

    show someone to a tatami room

Similar words

和室washitsu: A Japanese-style room, usually with tatami flooring and little or no Western-style furniture.

Definition in Japanese

畳を敷き、座って過ごすための和室。tatami o shi ki suwa tte su go su ta me no wa shitsu

Word origin

The native Japanese word 座敷 (zashiki) combines 座 (za, "sitting") and 敷き (shiki, "spreading"), originally naming a place prepared for sitting and later a tatami room.

Usage tips

  • In a restaurant, a 座敷 (zashiki) may be a tatami seating area, so guests usually remove their shoes before entering.

Other meanings

  • Japanese-style roomnoun

Opposites

  • 洋室yōshitsuWestern-style roomnoun

Word lists with this word