Japanese Conversation · Level 127
60 words
Japanese word
書斎
Pronunciation
Romajishosai
Meaning
- nounstudy
Example
父は書斎で本を読みます。chichi wa sho sai de hon o yo mi ma su
My father reads in the study.
More examples
兄は午後になると書斎にこもって原稿を書きます。ani wa go go ni na ru to sho sai ni ko mo tte gen kō o ka ki ma su
In the afternoon, my older brother shuts himself away in the study and writes his manuscript.
Core concept
Describes a quiet room set aside for reading, studying, and keeping books.
Common phrases
書斎にこもるsho sai ni ko mo ru
shut oneself away in the study
書斎で仕事をするsho sai de shi goto o su ru
work in the study
書斎を片づけるsho sai o kata zu ke ru
tidy the study
Similar words
書房shobō: A room in a home used for reading, writing, and other quiet work.
勉強部屋benkyōheya: A personal room where someone does schoolwork or other study.
読書室dokushoshitsu: A room provided for reading, whether in a home or a public facility.
Definition in Japanese
本を読んだり勉強したりするための部屋。hon o yo n da ri ben kyō shi ta ri su ru ta me no heya
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 書斎 (shosai) combines 書 (sho, "writing" or "books") with 斎 (sai, "purification" or "religious observance"), and denotes a room for reading and writing.
Usage tips
- Sherlock Holmes's study is a familiar example of the private reading-and-work room that 書斎 (shosai) describes.
Other meanings
- home officenoun
- librarynoun