Japanese word

敷く

Pronunciation

Romajishiku

Meaning

  • verbspread out

Example

床にマットを敷きます。yuka ni ma tto o shi ki ma su

I spread a mat on the floor.

Illustration for 敷く (spread out)

More examples

公園では、芝生にシートを敷きます。kō en de wa shibafu ni shī to o shi ki ma su

At the park, I lay out a sheet on the grass.

Core concept

Describes placing something flat over a surface so that it covers or rests on it.

Common phrases

  • 布団を敷くfu ton o shi ku

    lay out a futon

  • シートを敷くshī to o shi ku

    lay out a sheet

  • カーペットを敷くkā pe tto o shi ku

    lay a carpet

Similar words

広げるhirogeru: To unfold or open something so that it extends across a wider area.
置くoku: To put something in a particular place or position.

Definition in Japanese

物を床や地面などの面に平らに広げて置く。mono o yuka ya ji men na do no men ni tai ra ni hiro ge te o ku

Word origin

敷く (shiku, "to spread or lay") is a native Japanese verb rather than a compound or loanword, with an old basic sense of making something lie flat.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 敷く (shiku) commonly describes putting down a futon, mat, or rug, so it is used where English often says "lay out" rather than only "spread out."

Other meanings

  • lay outverb

Opposites

  • 畳むtatamufoldverb

Related words

  • 敷き方shikikataway of laying outnoun

Word lists with this word