noun
stepping stone for removing shoes
A flat stone placed at the entrance of a traditional Japanese house or tea room, used as a step when taking off shoes before stepping up into the building.
玄関の前に靴脱ぎ石が置いてある。
There is a stepping stone for removing shoes in front of the entrance.
Standard kanji spelling using 靴 (shoe).
Variant using 沓, an older character for shoe; less common in modern usage.
踏み石 is a general stepping stone in a garden or path, while 靴脱ぎ石 specifically refers to a stone used when taking off shoes at an entrance.
Compound of 靴脱ぎ (kutsu-nugi, 'shoe removal') + 石 (ishi, 'stone'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term describes a practical architectural feature in traditional Japanese homes.