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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "tatami mat" in Japanese?
畳
tatami
In Japanese, "tatami mat" is 畳 (tatami).
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Pronunciation
畳 is written using kanji. Romanised as tatami, it sounds roughly like "tah-tah-mee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
This single kanji represents the woven straw mat fundamental to Japanese rooms. Tatami mats define traditional floor spaces and even room sizes.
Example sentence
畳を使います。
Tatami wo tsukaimasu.
I use the tatami mat.
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How to remember 畳
The shape of the kanji suggests bundled straw tied together, the core material of tatami.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 畳
How do you pronounce 畳?
畳 is romanised as tatami. Say it roughly like "tah-tah-mee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 畳 formal or casual?
畳 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 畳 written in Japanese?
畳 is written using kanji. This single kanji represents the woven straw mat fundamental to Japanese rooms.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Tatami mat" in other languages
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