ござ

ご

ざ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

usually written using kana alone

A traditional Japanese mat woven from rushes or similar plant fibers, often used as a floor covering or for sitting. Commonly encountered in the polite phrase ございます, which is etymologically related but now functions as a copula.

夏なつになると、部屋へやにござを敷しきます。
In summer, I put down a rush mat in the room.

このござは手て触ざわりが良よくて気き持もちいい。

This mat feels nice and comfortable to the touch.

Written forms

ござUsage43%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
茣ご蓙ざUsage29%
Rare kanji spelling; the first character is not a standard jōyō kanji.
ゴザUsage28%
蓙ござ
Abbreviated kanji form; very rare.
呉ご蓙ざ
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; not recommended for learners.

Kanji

茣mat, matting
蓙mat, matting, (kokuji)
呉give, do something for, kingdom of Wu

Similar words

畳たたみ
畳 is a thicker, more structured straw mat used as flooring, while ござ is a thinner, portable rush mat often used for sitting or as a covering.

Etymology

The word is native Japanese. The kanji 茣蓙 are ateji chosen for their sound rather than meaning. The polite auxiliary ございます derives from the humble form of ござる, which originally meant 'to be' or 'to exist' and is related to this noun.