noun
A garden design where the ground level is lower than the surrounding area, often for aesthetic or practical reasons. The term is a direct Japanese equivalent of the English 'sunken garden' and is used in landscaping contexts.
See also: サンクンガーデン
この公園の沈床園は、春になると色とりどりの花が咲き誇る。
In spring, the sunken garden in this park bursts into bloom with colorful flowers.
サンクンガーデン is the direct loanword from English, while 沈床園 is a native Japanese term with the same meaning. 沈床園 may be preferred in more formal or traditional landscaping contexts.
Compound of 沈 (chin, 'sink') + 床 (shō, 'floor' or 'bed') + 園 (en, 'garden'). The term is a calque of the English 'sunken garden'.