noun
woven mat; straw mat
A traditional mat woven from straw, rushes, or bamboo, used for sitting, sleeping, or as a floor covering. Often associated with rustic or historical settings.
昔の家では、床にむしろを敷いて座っていた。
In old houses, people sat on woven mats spread on the floor.
農家の納屋にむしろが何枚も積んであっ
Several straw mats were stacked in the farm shed.
noun
Formal or literary term for a seat; occasionally written with the kanji 席. Rare in modern everyday speech.
古い文書には「むしろを譲る」という表現が見られる。
In old documents, the expression 'yield one's seat' can be found.
Kanji form for 'woven mat'; also read えん in some contexts.
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in certain contexts.
Rarely used kanji form.
Variant kanji form for 'woven mat'.
The origin is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word. The kanji 筵 and 莚 are used for their meaning, not for phonetic reasons.