Meaning
The kanji 畳 (JŌ, tatamu, tatami) is a fascinating character in Japanese, carrying two main meanings: the traditional Japanese 畳 mat, and the action of folding or piling things up. Its historical roots and visual composition help us understand these dual concepts.
Originally, this kanji was more complex, often depicted as 疊, a semantic-phonetic compound. The top component 覃 (tan) is phonetic, but it also subtly suggests extension or repetition. When combined with 田 (den, rice field), the kanji can visually evoke layers or a repeated arrangement, similar to how fields are laid out. The 田 radical itself is central to its meaning, representing a field or, by extension, a flat surface or a layered structure. This connection to something flat and layered is key to understanding the 'tatami mat' meaning. Tatami mats, constructed from tightly woven straw layers, form a thick, firm flooring material. This perfectly aligns with the visual suggestion of layers or fields.
The meaning of 'to fold' or 'to pile up' stems from the idea of arranging things in layers or making them compact. Think of how clothes are folded neatly, or items are stacked on top of each other. This action verb highlights the practicality of space-saving and organization, a common practice in traditional Japanese households. The character's form, particularly the 田 (field) radical, visually reinforces the idea of something flat that can be arranged, laid out, or folded.
This kanji has 14 strokes and is a Joyo Kanji, taught in secondary school (equivalent to Grade 8 in terms of complexity and frequency on the Joyo list). This kanji holds deep relevance in Japanese culture, appearing everywhere from architecture to daily chores. It's truly essential for N2 learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 畳 is ジョウ (JŌ). While it exists, its usage is quite limited compared to the kun'yomi readings, especially when referring to a tatami mat. Instead, you'll mainly find it in specialized compounds, often for counting or other specific concepts.
- 一畳 (ichijō) — one tatami mat (This is the most common use of ジョウ when referring to mats, acting as a counter.)
- 何畳 (nanjō) — how many tatami mats
- 畳語 (jōgo) — reduplication; a word or phrase formed by repeating a word or part of a word (This is a more abstract use, unrelated to mats or folding.)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi (native Japanese readings) are much more common and crucial for understanding 畳 in everyday situations. There are two primary kun'yomi:
たたむ (tatamu) — This transitive verb means "to fold," "to close (a shop)," or "to put away." It implies the action of making something compact or orderly.
傘を畳む (kasa o tatamu) — to close/fold an umbrella
店を畳む (mise o tatamu) — to close down a shop (figurative folding)
布団を畳む (futon o tatamu) — to fold a futon
たたみ (tatami) — This is the noun that refers to the traditional Japanese tatami mat, a distinctive type of flooring. It's one of the most iconic symbols of Japanese interior design.
畳 (tatami) — tatami mat
畳部屋 (tatamibeya) — tatami room
畳替え (tatamigae) — changing tatami mats
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 畳 appears in many words and compounds, reflecting its dual meaning as both a type of flooring and an action verb. Below, these words are categorized for easier understanding:
Words related to Tatami Mats:
- 畳 (tatami) — The well-known Japanese tatami mat itself.
- 畳部屋 (tatamibeya) — A room floored with tatami mats.
- 畳敷き (tatamijiki) — Tatami flooring; having tatami mats laid.
- 畳替え (tatamigae) — The act of replacing or renewing tatami mats.
- 畳表 (tatamiomote) — The surface covering of a tatami mat, typically woven rush.
- 畳縁 (tatamiberi) — The fabric border/trim around the edges of a tatami mat.
- 畳職人 (tatami shokunin) — A craftsman who makes or repairs tatami mats.
- 畳の目 (tatami no me) — The texture or weave pattern of a tatami mat.
Words related to Folding/Piling:
- 畳む (tatamu) — To fold, to close (e.g., a business), to put away.
- 折り畳み (oritatami) — Folding (as in a folding chair, 折り畳み椅子).
- 畳み方 (tatamikata) — The way or method of folding something.
- 重ね畳む (kasanetatamu) — To fold repeatedly; to pile up by folding.
- 畳める (tatameru) — Potential form of tatamu; to be able to fold (e.g., この椅子は畳める - Kono isu wa tatameru - This chair is foldable).
Example Sentences
毎日、寝る前に布団を畳みます。
Mainichi, neru mae ni futon o tatamimasu.
Every day, I fold my futon before sleeping.
新しい和室には、六畳の畳が敷いてあります。
Atarashii washitsu ni wa, rokujō no tatami ga shiite arimasu.
The new Japanese-style room has six tatami mats laid out.
風が強くなってきたので、洗濯物を畳んで入れました。
Kaze ga tsuyoku natte kita node, sentakumono o tatande iremashita.
The wind got strong, so I folded the laundry and brought it in.
この部屋の畳はもう古いので、そろそろ畳替えが必要です。
Kono heya no tatami wa mō furui node, sorosoro tatamigae ga hitsuyō desu.
The tatami mats in this room are old, so it's about time to replace them.
使い終わったら、この椅子は折り畳んでください。
Tsukaiowattara, kono isu wa oritatande kudasai.
Please fold this chair when you are finished using it.
祖母は座布団の畳み方にとても詳しいです。
Sobo wa zabuton no tatamikata ni totemo kuwashii desu.
My grandmother is very knowledgeable about how to fold zabuton cushions.
彼は経営不振で店を畳むことを決意した。
Kare wa keiei fushin de mise o tatamu koto o ketsui shita.
He decided to close down his shop due to poor management.
先日、友人宅で初めて伝統的な畳の部屋に泊まりました。
Senjitsu, yūjintaku de hajimete dentōteki na tatami no heya ni tomarimashita.
The other day, I stayed in a traditional tatami room at a friend's house for the first time.
このキャンプチェアは軽くて、簡単に畳めるので便利です。
Kono kyanpu chea wa karukute, kantan ni tatameru node benri desu.
This camping chair is light and easy to fold, so it's convenient.
Memory Tip
To remember 畳, imagine a field (田) where things are being laid out or folded. The 田 radical can represent the flat surface of a mat or the flat items that are being folded. Picture someone meticulously folding laundry on a vast rice field. Alternatively, imagine a tatami mat itself, which is essentially a structured, layered "field" for walking or sitting. The other components of the kanji can then represent the hands or actions involved in this careful folding or arranging. Think of the kanji as a bird's-eye view of neatly arranged fields that can be 'folded' or that make up a 'mat'. This connection helps link the visual form to both the noun 'tatami mat' and the verb 'to fold'.