Translation guide
A mattress is a large pad for sleeping on, usually placed on a bed frame or directly on the floor. In Japanese, the traditional futon is a thin mattress laid on tatami and stored away during the day, while Western-style thick mattresses are called マットレス. The choice depends on context.
A thick, often spring or foam mattress used on a bed frame, typical in Western bedrooms.
The standard loanword for a Western-style mattress. Used in hotels, homes with beds, and furniture stores.
I bought a new mattress.
This mattress is too firm.
Explicitly 'bed mattress', used when distinguishing from other types like futons or sofa mattresses.
Please measure the bed mattress size.
A thin, foldable mattress used directly on tatami flooring, part of a futon set that is stored in a closet during the day.
The bottom mattress part of a Japanese futon set. 'Shiki' means 'spread out'. Often used with a kakebuton (quilt).
I lay out the futon mattress on the tatami and sleep.
Often refers to the whole futon set (mattress + quilt), but can mean just the mattress in context. Be aware of ambiguity.
May refer to the entire bedding set. Use 敷き布団 when you need to be specific about the mattress part.
A thin padded layer placed on top of an existing mattress for comfort or protection.
A mattress filled with air, used for camping or temporary guests.
Standard term for air mattress.
I'll take an air mattress to the camp.
Literally 'air bed', often used interchangeably with エアマットレス.
Inflate the air bed.
マットレス is a thick Western mattress used on a bed frame. 敷き布団 is a thin Japanese futon mattress placed directly on tatami and stored away daily. Using マットレス for a futon sounds odd, and vice versa.
The hotel has a mattress.
At a ryokan, they use futon mattresses.
布団 can refer to the whole bedding set (mattress + quilt). If you need to specify the mattress part, use 敷き布団. In context, 布団を敷く means 'lay out the futon (mattress)', so it's often clear.
The futon mattress is thin and my back hurts.
布団を干してください。
Please air out the futon (mattress).