Translation guide
A tatami mat is a traditional Japanese flooring mat made of woven rush grass. This guide explains how to refer to tatami mats in Japanese, including counting, types, and related expressions.
The most common way to refer to a tatami mat as an object.
The standard word for a tatami mat. Used for both the material and individual mats.
I bought new tatami mats.
This room has tatami mats laid out.
Refers specifically to the woven rush surface of a tatami mat, not the whole mat. Used in contexts of repair or material.
How to count tatami mats, often used to describe room size.
The counter for tatami mats is 畳 (じょう). It is attached to a number to indicate how many mats, and by extension, room size. Note that the reading changes from たたみ to じょう.
a six-tatami-mat room
This room is eight tatami mats in size.
A noun meaning 'the number of tatami mats' or 'mat count', used in real estate or architectural contexts.
Room size is expressed in tatami mat count.
Referring to specific kinds of tatami, such as half-mats or new materials.
Expressions involving sitting, sleeping, or the condition of tatami.
In Japan, room size is often given in 畳 (じょう). One 畳 is roughly 1.65 m², but exact dimensions vary by region. A 六畳 room is a common size for a single bedroom.
畳 refers to the mats themselves, while 和室 (わしつ) means a Japanese-style room, which typically has tatami flooring. Not all rooms with tatami are called 和室 in casual conversation, but 和室 always implies tatami.
I had the tatami surface replaced.
Okinawan-style tatami, often with a different weave pattern and sometimes without a cloth edge. Considered a regional variation.
Ryukyu tatami is characterized by having no cloth edge.
The tatami is getting old, so it's about time to replace it.