畳

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 畳の上で寝た。▶ —
   I slept on the tatami.
2. 六畳の部屋に住んでいる。▶ —
   I live in a six-mat room.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Tatami (畳) is "tatami mat" — an A entry, a Japan-specific cultural concept originating in Heian (8th century), reaching commoners in Muromachi, settling in Edo, persisting today. Precise: (1) structure — tatami-doko (formerly straw, now synthetic) plus tatami-omote (igusa-rush mat with herbal smell and humidity control, yellowing in about 4 years, flipped, replaced at 8) plus tatami-heri (cloth border with traditional motifs); (2) sizing — 1 jou about 1.62 m² with Kyouma, Chuukyouma, Edoma, Danchima regional differences; (3) layout rules — shuugi-shiki (auspicious, corners avoid meeting at weddings) vs fushuugi-shiki (mourning, corners meet); (4) seating — seiza or agura; (5) tatami no heri wo fumanai (do not step on the cloth border) is essential Japanese etiquette, strongest in tea-ceremony rooms and top-tier ryokan. Korean ondol differs; Chinese ta-ta-mi loans from Japanese. JLPT N5 plus Japans housing cultural artifact keystone.

Quick check

1. Rite of "do not step on the tatami border"?

   • Do not step on the cloth border of the tatami — Japanese politeness, especially strong in tea rooms and top ryokan
   • Shoes OK
   • Not enforced
   • Recent only