noun
hard-packed dirt floor; concrete floor
Refers to a traditional Japanese earthen floor, typically found in entryways (genkan) or kitchens, made of a mixture of clay, gravel, and lime that is tamped down. Can also refer to a concrete floor in modern contexts.
古い家の玄関は三和土になっている。
The entrance of the old house has a hard-packed dirt floor.
土間のたたきをほうきで掃く。
Sweep the earthen floor of the doma with a broom.
The kanji 三和土 literally means 'three harmony earth', referring to the three materials (clay, gravel, and lime) mixed to create the hard-packed floor. The reading たたき comes from the verb 叩く (to beat/tamp), describing the process of tamping the mixture to harden it.