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畳
tatami mat · to fold · to pile up
N2On: じょうKun: たたむ、たたみ
Memory Aid
The top part looks like a 田 (rice field). Tatami mats are made from rice straw. The bottom part resembles 登 (to climb/ascend), which can remind you of stepping up onto a raised tatami floor. Envision the straw from the field being harvested, then neatly folded and piled to create these distinctive mats.
'Tatami' (for the mat) and 'Tatamu' (to fold). Think of 'TA-TA-TOO' many mats to fold.
Vocabulary
畳たたみtatami mat
畳むたたむto fold
六畳ろくじょうsix tatami mats (room size)
折り畳みおりたたみfolding (e.g., folding chair)
Example Sentences
和室には畳が敷いてあります。
Tatami mats are laid in the Japanese-style room.
洗濯物を畳んでください。
Please fold the laundry.
傘を畳んで中に入ってください。
Please fold your umbrella and come inside.
この部屋は八畳あります。
This room is eight tatami mats in size.