Japanese word

襖

Pronunciation

Romajifusuma

Meaning

  • nounsliding screen

Example

襖を開けます。fusuma o a ke ma su

I open the sliding screen.

Illustration for 襖 (sliding screen)

More examples

冬は冷たい風が入らないように、襖を閉めておきます。fuyu wa tsume ta i kaze ga hai ra na i yō ni fusuma o shi me te o ki ma su

In winter, I keep the sliding screen closed so that cold air does not come in.

Core concept

A 襖 (fusuma) is a movable opaque panel that separates rooms and slides aside to open a passage.

Common phrases

  • 襖を開けるfusuma o a ke ru

    open a sliding screen

  • 襖を閉めるfusuma o shi me ru

    close a sliding screen

  • 襖を外すfusuma o hazu su

    remove a sliding screen

Similar words

障子shōji: A translucent paper-covered panel that lets light pass through while separating rooms.

Definition in Japanese

部屋と部屋の間を仕切り、左右に滑らせて開閉する建具。heya to heya no aida o shi ki ri sa yū ni sube ra se te kai hei su ru tate gu

Word origin

The Japanese noun 襖 (fusuma) is traditionally linked to 衾 (fusuma), "bedding," because early partitions used thick cloth, while the kanji 襖 (ō) has the clothing radical 衤 (koromo hen).

Usage tips

  • English texts on Japanese architecture often retain 襖 (fusuma) without translation because it denotes a specifically Japanese opaque room partition, unlike a translucent paper screen.

Other meanings

  • sliding doornoun

Word lists with this word