also: じょく
Traditional Japanese term for a thick cushion or mattress used for sitting or sleeping, often associated with historical or formal contexts. In modern usage, 座布団 (zabuton) or マットレス (mattress) are more common.
In the ryokan room, a mattress was laid out on the tatami.
In the old days, people piled up cushions to make a bed.
Standard kanji for the reading しとね; also used for じょく.
Alternate kanji for しとね, less common than 褥.
Kana spelling is practical for learners and common in modern writing when the kanji is obscure.
Rarely used kanji form for じょく.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 褥 and 茵 are conventionally associated with bedding and cushions.