At the A1 level, you just need to know that 'jō' is a special word used to count how big a room is in Japan. Instead of saying 'meters', Japanese people count 'mats'. One mat is about the size of a person lying down. You will see this word when looking for a place to stay or a hotel. For example, '6-jō' is a small room, and '10-jō' is a bigger room. You read it as 'jō'. Just put a number before it. 1 is ichi-jō, 2 is ni-jō, 6 is roku-jō. It is very useful for basic travel and living needs.
At the A2 level, you should understand that 'jō' comes from the word 'tatami'. Even if a room has a wooden floor, we still use 'jō' to describe its size. You should learn the common room sizes: 4.5 mats (yojō-han), 6 mats (roku-jō), and 8 mats (hachi-jō). A2 learners should be able to ask 'How big is this room?' using 'Nan-jō desu ka?'. You will see this on 'madori' (floor plans). Remember that '4.5' is special: we say 'yojō-han', where 'han' means half. This is a very common size for small bedrooms or tea rooms.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'jō' in various contexts, especially when discussing housing or interior design. You should understand that 'jō' is the standard unit for real estate and that 1 'jō' is roughly 1.62 square meters. You should also recognize the alternative kanji '帖', which is often used for Western-style rooms (flooring) instead of '畳'. B1 learners should be able to describe their living situation in detail, comparing different room sizes and explaining why a certain number of mats is or isn't enough for their needs. You should also be aware that different regions in Japan historically had slightly different mat sizes.
At the B2 level, you should understand the deeper cultural and regional nuances of 'jō'. You should know about 'Kyoma' (Kyoto mats), 'Edoma' (Tokyo mats), and 'Chukyo-ma' (Nagoya mats), and how these historical differences still affect the actual physical space of an apartment today. You should be able to discuss real estate listings fluently, understanding the 'Fair Trade' regulations that standardized 'jō' to 1.62 square meters for advertising. You should also be able to use 'jō' in more complex grammar, such as using it as a modifier for furniture requirements or air conditioning capacity (e.g., '6-jō-yō' meaning 'for a 6-mat room').
At the C1 level, you should have a comprehensive understanding of 'jō' in the context of Japanese architectural history and sociology. You can discuss how the 'jō' system influenced the modular nature of Japanese homes and the concept of 'ma' (space/interval). You should be familiar with the 'yojō-han' culture in Japanese literature and its association with the humble lifestyle of students or tea masters. Furthermore, you should be able to navigate legal documents or technical architectural discussions where 'jō', 'tsubo', and 'heibei' are used interchangeably, and understand the historical transition from 'shaku-kan' units to the metric system.
At the C2 level, you possess a native-like intuition for 'jō'. You can appreciate the aesthetic and philosophical implications of room layouts (such as 'shūgijiki' vs. 'fushūgijiki' mat arrangements) and how the number of mats determines the formal or informal nature of a space. You can engage in professional-level discussions about urban planning, historical preservation of 'machiya' houses, or modern architectural challenges where traditional 'jō' measurements clash with modern building codes. You understand 'jō' not just as a unit of area, but as a fundamental building block of the Japanese sense of 'place' and 'living'.

~畳 30초 만에

  • A counter for room area based on tatami mat size, used universally in Japanese real estate for both traditional and modern rooms.
  • Standardized to at least 1.62 square meters per mat in modern contexts, though historical regional variations exist across Japan.
  • Read as 'jō' when following a number, distinct from the noun 'tatami' which refers to the physical straw mat itself.
  • Commonly seen in floor plans (madori) as 'J' or '帖', helping people visualize space in a human-centric, intuitive way.

The Japanese word ~畳 (jō) is a specialized counter used primarily to measure the area of a room. While the kanji itself refers to the traditional Japanese straw mat known as a tatami, when used as a counter, it transcends the physical presence of mats. In modern Japan, even if a room has wooden flooring (yoshitsu) or carpet, its size is almost universally described using this unit in real estate listings and architectural plans. This cultural quirk reflects how deeply the dimensions of the tatami mat are embedded in the Japanese psyche regarding living space and human scale. Historically, a tatami mat was sized to fit one sleeping person or two sitting people, making it an intuitive human-centric measurement rather than a purely mathematical one like square meters.

Historical Origin
Originally, tatami mats were luxury items for the nobility, used as individual seating cushions. By the Muromachi period, they evolved into full floor coverings, leading to the standardization of room sizes based on the number of mats required to fill the space.
Modern Standardization
To prevent confusion in real estate, the Real Estate Fair Trade Council standardized one 'jō' as being at least 1.62 square meters. However, regional variations like the larger Kyoma (Kyoto style) and smaller Edoma (Tokyo style) still influence local perceptions of space.

この部屋は広くて、ちょうど十あります。(This room is spacious; it is exactly ten mats in size.)

You will encounter this word most frequently when looking for an apartment or house. A typical studio apartment (1K) might be 6-畳 (roku-jō), while a comfortable living room in a family home might be 10-畳 (jū-jō) or 12-畳 (jūni-jō). It is important to note that the kanji is used for traditional washitsu (Japanese-style rooms), while the variant kanji is often used for western-style rooms, though they are both pronounced 'jō' and represent the same unit of measurement.

一間のアパートに住んでいます。(I live in a one-room apartment of six mats.)

Furthermore, the use of ~畳 provides a tactile sense of the room. Japanese people often mentally arrange mats to judge if furniture will fit. For instance, a 4.5-mat room (yojō-han) is a classic size for a tea room or a small bedroom, often arranged with four full mats and one half-mat in the center. Understanding this counter is essential for navigating the Japanese housing market and understanding the spatial logic of Japanese architecture.

Using ~畳 (jō) is grammatically straightforward as it functions as a standard Japanese counter. You simply attach the reading 'jō' to a number. However, unlike some counters that have complex phonetic changes (like 'ippon' or 'hisshiki'), 'jō' remains relatively stable, though some numbers require attention to their specific readings. For example, 4.5 mats is read as 'yojō-han', not 'yon-ten-go-jō'. This 'han' (half) is very common because tatami mats are often laid out in patterns that require a half-sized mat to complete the rectangle.

Sentence Structure
[Number] + 畳 + [Particle]. For example: 「八畳の部屋」(A room of eight mats). The particle 'no' is frequently used to turn the measurement into an adjective describing the room.

私の寝室は四半しかありません。(My bedroom is only four and a half mats.)

When asking about the size of a room, you use the interrogative 'nan-jō'. For example, 「その部屋は何畳ですか?」(How many mats is that room?). In response, one might say 「六畳です」(It is six mats). Note that while the standard reading for 4 is 'yon', in the context of 4.5 mats, it is almost always 'yo' (yojō-han). Similarly, for 7 mats, 'nana-jō' is more common than 'shichi-jō' to avoid confusion with 'ichi-jō' (1 mat).

リビングは広めの十二になっています。(The living room is a relatively spacious twelve mats.)

Another important aspect is the 'plus' notation. Sometimes you will see '6畳+K' or '6畳+DK'. This means a six-mat room plus a kitchen (K) or a dining-kitchen (DK). In these cases, the 'jō' only refers to the primary living space, not the total area including the kitchen and bathroom. Therefore, a 6-jō apartment is actually larger than just 10 square meters because the auxiliary spaces are counted separately. Understanding this distinction is vital for accurately comparing properties.

The most common place to hear ~畳 (jō) is inside a real estate agency (fudousan-ya). When a broker is showing you various 'madori' (floor plans), they will point to the rooms and say things like 「こちらは六畳の洋室です」(This is a six-mat Western-style room). It is the primary language of housing in Japan. Even in high-end modern condominiums with no actual tatami mats in sight, the sales representatives will still use 'jō' to explain the size because square meters are often too abstract for people to visualize quickly.

TV and Media
Home renovation shows (like 'Before After') or variety shows where celebrities visit unique homes often use 'jō' to emphasize how small or surprisingly large a space is. A 'narrow house' might be described as having a 'three-mat bedroom'.

不動産屋:「この物件は、リビングが二十もあって、とても開放的ですよ。」(Real estate agent: This property has a living room of 20 mats, so it feels very open.)

In social settings, you might hear 'jō' when people discuss their living situations or move to a new place. A friend might complain, 「私の部屋、四畳半だから、友達を呼ぶと狭いんだよね」(My room is only 4.5 mats, so it's cramped when I invite friends over). It serves as a benchmark for social status and comfort. A 'roku-jō' (6-mat) room is considered the standard minimum for a single person's living space in cities like Tokyo.

旅館のスタッフ:「本日のお部屋は、十の和室でございます。」(Ryokan staff: Your room for today is a ten-mat Japanese-style room.)

Lastly, in the context of interior design and furniture shopping, sales clerks might ask about your room size to recommend the right rug or sofa. They might say, 「六畳の部屋なら、このサイズのラグがぴったりですよ」(For a six-mat room, this size rug is perfect). Because the 'jō' unit is so standard, many products like carpets and air conditioners are sold with labels like 'For 6-8 mats' (6〜8畳用). This makes 'jō' an essential word for daily life and consumer decisions in Japan.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing the reading of the kanji . When it stands alone as a noun referring to the physical mat, it is read as tatami. However, when it follows a number as a counter, it must be read as . Saying 'roku-tatami' instead of 'roku-jō' is a tell-tale sign of a beginner. Always remember: Number + Jō.

Confusing Jō with Tsubo
Another common error is mixing up 'jō' with 'tsubo'. A 'tsubo' is approximately 3.3 square meters, which is exactly the area of two tatami mats. If you tell someone your room is 6 tsubo, they will think it is a massive 12-mat room!

❌ 六たたみの部屋 (Incorrect reading)
✅ 六じょうの部屋 (Correct reading)

Regional variation is another trap. While a 'jō' is officially 1.62 square meters in modern real estate, older buildings in Kyoto (Kyoma) have mats that are nearly 1.82 square meters, while Tokyo (Edoma) mats are smaller (about 1.55 square meters). If you are moving between regions, a '6-jō' apartment in Kyoto will feel significantly larger than a '6-jō' apartment in Tokyo. Learners often assume a 'jō' is a fixed universal size like a meter, but it can be surprisingly flexible depending on the age and location of the building.

❌ 四てんごじょう (Unnatural)
✅ 四じょうはん (Natural)

Finally, learners sometimes use 'jō' to measure the size of a whole house or a piece of land. This is incorrect. 'Jō' is strictly for individual rooms or specific floor areas within a building. For the total area of a house or the size of a garden, 'tsubo' or '平米' (heibei/square meters) are the appropriate units. Using 'jō' for a 200-square-meter plot of land would sound very strange to a native speaker.

While ~畳 (jō) is the most common way to describe room size, there are several other terms you should know to navigate Japanese real estate and architecture. The most direct alternative is 平米 (heibei), which is the Japanese word for square meters (m²). While 'jō' is intuitive and visual, 'heibei' is the legal and scientific standard. Most listings will provide both: for example, '20.5m² (approx. 12.6 mats)'.

畳 vs. 帖
As mentioned before, 畳 (jō) is the traditional kanji. However, 帖 (jō) is increasingly used for Western-style rooms (flooring) to distinguish them from Japanese-style rooms (tatami). They are identical in measurement and pronunciation.
畳 vs. 坪 (tsubo)
1 tsubo = 2 jō. Tsubo is used for land area or the total floor area of a house, whereas jō is for individual rooms. If a house is 30 tsubo, it is a decent size for a family; if a room is 30 jō, it is a massive hall.

このワンルームは十八平米なので、約十一です。(This studio is 18 square meters, so it is about 11 mats.)

Another related term is 間 (ken). This is a unit of length (approx. 1.82 meters), roughly the length of one tatami mat. You might hear the phrase 'roku-jō ikken' (six mats, one 'ken' wide closet). This helps describe the layout and storage capacity of a room. While 'jō' tells you the floor area, 'ken' gives you a sense of the dimensions of the walls and closets.

土地の広さは三十ですが、建物の各部屋は六です。(The land size is 30 tsubo, but each room in the building is 6 mats.)

To summarize: use ~畳 for room sizes in conversation and floor plans, 平米 for official measurements and precise calculations, and for land and total house size. Mastering these three will make you sound like a pro when discussing living spaces in Japan.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The size of a tatami mat was actually based on the size of an average person's body. One mat was meant to be the perfect size for one person to sleep on comfortably.

발음 가이드

UK dʒəʊ
US dʒoʊ
Flat. In Japanese, 'jō' (じょう) has a long vowel but no strong stress accent on either syllable.
라임이 맞는 단어
Kō (こう) Sō (そう) Hō (ほう) Mō (もう) Tō (とう) Nō (のう) Rō (ろう) Gō (ごう)
자주 하는 실수
  • Reading it as 'tatami' when used as a counter.
  • Pronouncing it as 'jo' (short) instead of 'jō' (long).
  • Confusing it with 'cho' (as in 'chotto').
  • Using 'yon-jō' instead of the more common 'yo-jō' for 4 mats.
  • Misplacing the long vowel sound.

난이도

독해 2/5

The kanji is common, but you must remember to read it as 'jō' not 'tatami'.

쓰기 3/5

The kanji 畳 is somewhat complex to write by hand.

말하기 1/5

The pronunciation 'jō' is very easy for English speakers.

듣기 2/5

Easy to hear, but must distinguish between 'jō' and other similar sounds.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

畳 (tatami) 部屋 (heya) 数字 (numbers) 広い (hiroi) 狭い (semai)

다음에 배울 것

坪 (tsubo) 平米 (heibei) 間取り (madori) 家賃 (yachin) 敷金 (shikikin)

고급

尺貫法 (shakkanhō) 京間 (kyōma) 江戸間 (edoma) 建築基準法 (kenchiku kijun hō)

알아야 할 문법

Counter System

一畳、二畳、三畳...

Noun Modifying Noun (no)

六畳の部屋

Half suffix (han)

四畳半

Suffix (yō - for/intended for)

六畳用

State of existence (arimasu)

八畳あります

수준별 예문

1

この部屋は六畳です。

This room is six mats.

Number + 畳 (jō) + desu.

2

私の部屋は八畳です。

My room is eight mats.

Possessive 'watashi no' + room.

3

このアパートは十畳あります。

This apartment has ten mats.

Using 'arimasu' to state existence/quantity.

4

一畳はどのくらいですか?

How big is one mat?

Asking for definition/size.

5

二畳のスペースがあります。

There is a space of two mats.

Noun + no + noun.

6

三畳の部屋は狭いです。

A three-mat room is small.

Adjective 'semai'.

7

広い四畳半ですね。

It's a spacious 4.5-mat room, isn't it?

Using 'han' for half.

8

五畳の部屋に住んでいます。

I live in a five-mat room.

Verb 'sunde imasu'.

1

何畳の部屋をお探しですか?

How many mats (size) room are you looking for?

Interrogative 'nan-jō'.

2

六畳の洋室があります。

There is a six-mat Western-style room.

Western room (yoshitsu).

3

この和室は四畳半です。

This Japanese-style room is four and a half mats.

Japanese room (washitsu).

4

十二畳のリビングはとても広いです。

A twelve-mat living room is very spacious.

Adjective 'hiroi'.

5

隣の部屋は六畳半です。

The next room is six and a half mats.

Using 'han' for .5.

6

七畳の部屋にベッドを置きます。

I will put a bed in the seven-mat room.

Object marker 'o' + verb.

7

畳の数は全部で二十畳です。

The total number of mats is twenty.

Counter as a noun phrase.

8

一畳の大きさを教えてください。

Please tell me the size of one mat.

Request form 'te kudasai'.

1

六畳一間のアパートで一人暮らしをしています。

I live alone in a one-room, six-mat apartment.

Compound 'rokujō-ichigen'.

2

このエアコンは十畳用ですか?

Is this air conditioner for a ten-mat room?

Suffix 'yō' (for/intended for).

3

不動産広告には「6帖」と書いてありました。

The real estate ad said '6 mats' (using the variant kanji).

Variant kanji 帖.

4

四畳半の部屋に机を置くと、少し狭く感じます。

If I put a desk in a 4.5-mat room, it feels a bit cramped.

Conditional 'to' + 'kanjimasu'.

5

この家は、全部の部屋を合わせると三十畳くらいです。

If you combine all the rooms, this house is about 30 mats.

Verb 'awaseru' (combine).

6

最近は六畳よりも八畳の部屋が人気です。

Lately, eight-mat rooms are more popular than six-mat ones.

Comparison 'yori mo'.

7

一畳が1.62平米以上と決められています。

It is decided that one mat is 1.62 square meters or more.

Passive 'kimerarete imasu'.

8

和室を六畳から八畳にリフォームしたいです。

I want to renovate the Japanese room from six mats to eight mats.

From/to 'kara/ni'.

1

江戸間の六畳は、京間よりも少し狭いんです。

A six-mat room in Tokyo style is slightly smaller than the Kyoto style.

Regional terms 'Edoma' and 'Kyoma'.

2

このリビングは二十畳近い広さがありますね。

This living room is nearly twenty mats in size, isn't it?

Adjective 'chikai' (near/close to).

3

畳の枚数で部屋の広さを判断するのは日本独特の文化です。

Judging room size by the number of mats is a culture unique to Japan.

Noun phrase + 'dandun suru'.

4

四畳半という空間は、茶室として理想的なサイズです。

The 4.5-mat space is an ideal size for a tea room.

Topic marker 'to iu' (called/known as).

5

都市部では、三畳という極小のアパートも増えています。

In urban areas, ultra-small three-mat apartments are increasing.

Prefix 'gokushō' (ultra-small).

6

このカーペットは六畳の部屋にぴったり収まります。

This carpet fits perfectly into a six-mat room.

Verb 'osamaru' (fit/settle).

7

建築基準法ではなく、不動産競争規約で一畳の広さが定義されています。

The size of one mat is defined by real estate competition rules, not the Building Standards Act.

Contrast 'de wa naku'.

8

八畳二間の間取りは、昭和の住宅によく見られました。

A layout of two eight-mat rooms was often seen in Showa era housing.

Historical reference 'Showa'.

1

四畳半一間という言葉は、かつての貧しい学生生活の象徴でした。

The phrase 'one room of 4.5 mats' was once a symbol of a poor student's life.

Symbolism 'shōchō'.

2

空間の広さを「畳」という身体的な単位で捉える感覚は、今も健在です。

The sense of perceiving space through the physical unit of 'mats' is still very much alive.

Abstract noun 'kenzai' (alive/well).

3

団地間と呼ばれるサイズの畳は、一般的なものより一回り小さいです。

Mats of the size called 'Danchima' are one size smaller than general ones.

Called 'to yobareru'.

4

この物件は、表記上は六畳ですが、実際はもう少し狭く感じられます。

This property is listed as six mats, but in reality, it feels a bit smaller.

On paper 'hyōkijō'.

5

茶の湯の精神において、四畳半は宇宙の広がりを内包するとされています。

In the spirit of tea ceremony, 4.5 mats are said to encompass the vastness of the universe.

Passive 'to sarete iru'.

6

畳の敷き方には「祝儀敷き」と「不祝儀敷き」の二種類があります。

There are two ways to lay tatami: 'auspicious laying' and 'inauspicious laying'.

Specific cultural terms.

7

延べ床面積を畳数に換算すると、この家の広さがより具体的にイメージできます。

Converting the total floor area into the number of mats allows for a more concrete image of the house's size.

Conversion 'kanzan'.

8

現代のマンション設計においても、畳のモジュールは密かに踏襲されています。

Even in modern apartment design, the tatami module is secretly followed.

Following tradition 'tōshū'.

1

中京間、京間、江戸間といった畳の規格の変遷は、日本の度量衡の歴史そのものです。

The transition of tatami standards like Chukyo-ma, Kyoma, and Edoma is the very history of Japanese weights and measures.

Metonymy 'rekishi sono mono'.

2

一畳という単位が持つ身体性は、西洋のメートル法が普及した後も日本人の空間意識を規定し続けている。

The physicality of the 'one-mat' unit continues to define the Japanese sense of space even after the metric system became widespread.

Continuing to define 'kitei shi tsuzukete iru'.

3

不動産取引における「一畳=1.62平米以上」という規定は、消費者の利益を保護するための苦肉の策であった。

The regulation '1 mat = 1.62 sqm or more' in real estate was a desperate measure to protect consumer interests.

Desperate measure 'kuniku no saku'.

4

方丈記に見られる「一丈四方」という空間概念は、後の四畳半の原型とも言えるでしょう。

The concept of a 'ten-foot square' space seen in Hojoki can be called the prototype of the later 4.5-mat room.

Prototype 'genkei'.

5

畳の枚数によって規定される建築様式は、住まい手の身分や儀礼を映し出す鏡であった。

Architectural styles defined by the number of mats were a mirror reflecting the status and rituals of the inhabitants.

Reflecting mirror 'utsushidasu kagami'.

6

都市の過密化に伴い、三畳一間という極小空間が、皮肉にもミニマリズムの文脈で再評価されている。

With urban overcrowding, the tiny 3-mat space is ironically being re-evaluated in the context of minimalism.

Re-evaluation 'sai-hyōka'.

7

日本人が「畳」という単位に抱く郷愁は、単なる面積の多寡を超えた、文化的な原風景に根ざしている。

The nostalgia Japanese people feel for the 'mat' unit exceeds mere area; it is rooted in a cultural primal landscape.

Primal landscape 'gen-fūkei'.

8

畳の縁の合わせ方一つにまで、茶道の侘び寂びや陰翳礼讃の精神が息づいている。

In every single alignment of the tatami edges, the spirit of wabi-sabi and the praise of shadows lives on.

Living spirit 'ikizuite iru'.

동의어

平米 面積 広さ スクエアメートル マット 空間

반의어

屋外 狭小 無限

자주 쓰는 조합

六畳一間
四畳半
何畳
十畳用
畳数
帖数
六畳半
三畳
八畳間
畳の枚数

자주 쓰는 구문

六畳一間のアパート

— A tiny one-room apartment of 6 mats, typical for students.

昔は六畳一間のアパートで暮らしていた。

四畳半の神話

— The 'Myth of the 4.5-mat room', referring to a famous novel/anime about student life.

「四畳半神話大系」というアニメが好きです。

広めの十畳

— A spacious ten-mat room.

リビングは広めの十畳になっています。

わずか三畳

— A mere three mats (emphasizing smallness).

彼の部屋はわずか三畳しかない。

畳を敷く

— To lay down tatami mats.

新しい部屋に畳を敷く。

一畳のスペース

— The space of one mat.

一畳のスペースがあればヨガができる。

何畳分

— An amount equivalent to X mats.

この庭は十畳分くらいの広さだ。

畳一畳分

— Exactly the size of one tatami mat.

畳一畳分の布を買った。

帖数表示

— The display of room size in mats on a plan.

帖数表示を確認してください。

畳換算

— Conversion into the number of mats.

平米を畳換算すると分かりやすい。

자주 혼동되는 단어

~畳 vs 畳 (tatami)

Read as 'tatami' for the object, 'jō' for the counter.

~畳 vs 坪 (tsubo)

1 tsubo = 2 jō. Don't mix them up!

~畳 vs 帖 (jō)

Same pronunciation and size, but different kanji for Western rooms.

관용어 및 표현

"起きて半畳寝て一畳"

— Even if you are wealthy, you only need half a mat to sit and one mat to sleep; a lesson in contentment.

贅沢を言わず、起きて半畳寝て一畳の精神で生きる。

Proverbial
"畳の上で死ぬ"

— To die a natural death at home (not in battle or accident).

最後は畳の上で死にたいものだ。

Literary
"畳の上の水練"

— Practicing swimming on tatami; theoretical knowledge without practical experience.

いくら本を読んでも、畳の上の水練では意味がない。

Idiomatic
"新しい畳は気持ちいい"

— Metaphor for the freshness of a new start or new relationship.

新しい畳と同じで、新生活はワクワクする。

Informal
"四畳半のユートピア"

— A 4.5-mat utopia; finding happiness in a very small, private world.

ここは僕にとっての四畳半のユートピアだ。

Poetic
"畳みかける"

— To press hard or follow up quickly (derived from the way mats are laid tightly together).

質問を畳みかける。

Common
"畳を汚す"

— To disgrace one's home or family (literally 'to stain the mats').

家の畳を汚すような真似はするな。

Archaic
"一畳の主"

— The master of one mat; someone who is king of their very small domain.

彼はこの一畳の主だ。

Informal
"畳が泣く"

— The mats are crying; said when someone is heavy or clumsy on the floor.

そんなに暴れたら畳が泣くよ。

Humorous
"畳の目"

— The weave of the mat; often used to describe looking at something very closely.

畳の目を見るように細かくチェックする。

Descriptive

혼동하기 쉬운

~畳 vs 畳 (tatami)

Same kanji.

'Tatami' is the noun for the mat; 'jō' is the counter for area.

畳(たたみ)の上に、六畳(ろくじょう)のスペースがある。

~畳 vs 坪 (tsubo)

Both are traditional area units.

Tsubo is twice the size of a jō and used for land.

この土地は三十坪で、部屋は六畳です。

~畳 vs 平米 (heibei)

Both measure area.

Heibei is metric (m²); jō is traditional (mats).

10平米は約6畳です。

~畳 vs 間 (ken)

Both relate to tatami dimensions.

Ken is length (1.82m); jō is area.

一間の幅がある六畳間。

~畳 vs 帖 (jō)

Identical reading.

帖 is usually for flooring/Western rooms in modern ads.

洋室は8帖、和室は6畳。

문장 패턴

A1

[Number]畳です。

六畳です。

A2

[Number]畳の[Noun]。

八畳の部屋。

B1

[Number]畳+[K/DK/LDK]。

6畳+DKのアパート。

B1

[Number]畳用です。

これは十畳用です。

B2

[Number]畳近い。

二十畳近い広さ。

C1

[Number]畳一間。

四畳半一間の生活。

C2

[Number]畳という規格。

六畳という規格の変遷。

C2

[Number]畳に込めた思い。

四畳半に込めた思い。

어휘 가족

명사

畳 (tatami - the mat)
畳屋 (tatamiya - mat maker)
畳表 (tatamiomote - mat surface)

동사

畳む (tatamu - to fold)
畳みかける (tatamikakeru - to press hard)

형용사

畳敷きの (tatamishiki-no - tatami-floored)

관련

和室 (washitsu)
洋室 (yoshitsu)
坪 (tsubo)
間 (ken)
平米 (heibei)

사용법

frequency

Extremely high in daily life, real estate, and home-related topics.

자주 하는 실수
  • Reading it as 'roku-tatami'. roku-jō

    The counter reading is 'jō', never 'tatami'.

  • Saying 'yon-jō-han'. yojō-han

    While 'yon' is 4, the standard reading for 4.5 mats is 'yo-jō-han'.

  • Using 'jō' for land size. tsubo / heibei

    'Jō' is for rooms; 'tsubo' or 'heibei' is for land.

  • Mixing up 1 jō and 1 tsubo. 2 jō = 1 tsubo

    A tsubo is twice as big as a jō.

  • Pronouncing it as 'jo' (short). jō (long)

    It must be a long vowel sound 'jō'.

Real Estate Tip

When looking at floor plans, 'J' always stands for 'jō'. So '6.0J' means a six-mat room.

Tea Ceremony

The 4.5-mat room is the standard size for a tea room. It represents a microcosm of the world.

Visualization

Try to visualize your own bedroom in mats. If a twin bed fits, that's about one mat.

Ryokan Tip

When booking a Ryokan, the room size (e.g., 10-jō) tells you how many people can sleep there comfortably.

Number Reading

Remember 'yojō' for 4, 'nanajō' for 7, and 'kujō' for 9 are the most common readings.

Appliance Tip

Air conditioners are sold by 'jō'. Make sure you buy one that matches your room's mat count!

Small Talk

Asking 'Heya wa nan-jō desu ka?' is a common way to talk about living in expensive cities like Tokyo.

Kyoto vs Tokyo

Be aware that Kyoto mats are bigger. A 6-jō room in Kyoto is actually bigger than a 6-jō room in Tokyo!

Kanji Choice

Use 畳 for traditional rooms and 帖 for modern ones to look like an expert.

Math Tip

Multiply the number of mats by 1.6 to get a rough estimate of square meters.

암기하기

기억법

Think of a person named 'Joe' lying on a mat. Every mat is one 'Joe'. So a 6-mat room is a 6-Joe room.

시각적 연상

Imagine a grid of rectangles. Each rectangle is a tatami mat. Count the rectangles to find the 'jō'.

Word Web

Tatami Room Floor Size Apartment Real Estate Japan Layout

챌린지

Go to a Japanese real estate website (like SUUMO) and try to find five apartments. List their sizes in 'jō' and try to convert them to square meters in your head.

어원

The kanji 畳 comes from the verb 'tatamu', which means 'to fold' or 'to pile up'. In ancient times, mats were thin and could be folded or stacked when not in use.

원래 의미: A foldable or stackable floor covering made of grass or straw.

Japanese (Yamato Kotoba origin for 'tatamu', Sino-Japanese 'jō' for the counter).

문화적 맥락

Be careful not to step on the borders (縁 - heri) of tatami mats in formal situations, as it is considered disrespectful.

English speakers usually think in square feet or square meters. 'Jō' is unique because it is based on a specific object (a mat).

The Tatami Galaxy (Anime/Novel) - Centers on the 4.5-mat room. Hojoki (The Ten Foot Square Hut) - A classic of Japanese literature. Yasujiro Ozu's films - Often feature low-angle shots of tatami rooms.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Real Estate Agency

  • 何畳ですか?
  • 六畳の洋室
  • 帖数を確認
  • 広いリビング

Furniture Shopping

  • 六畳用ラグ
  • 八畳に合うソファ
  • サイズを測る
  • 四畳半に置く

Hotels/Ryokan

  • 十畳の和室
  • 広いお部屋
  • 畳のお部屋
  • 布団を敷く

Home Renovation

  • 畳を替える
  • 六畳から八畳へ
  • フローリングにする
  • 間取り変更

Daily Conversation

  • 私の部屋は六畳
  • 狭い四畳半
  • 広い十畳
  • 畳の匂い

대화 시작하기

"あなたの部屋は何畳くらいありますか? (How many mats is your room?)"

"六畳の部屋と八畳の部屋、どちらが好きですか? (Do you prefer a 6-mat or 8-mat room?)"

"四畳半の部屋に住んだことがありますか? (Have you ever lived in a 4.5-mat room?)"

"日本の「畳」という単位についてどう思いますか? (What do you think about the Japanese 'jō' unit?)"

"広い十畳のリビングがあれば何をしたいですか? (If you had a spacious 10-mat living room, what would you do?)"

일기 주제

今の自分の部屋の広さを「畳」で説明して、その感想を書いてください。 (Describe your current room size in 'jō' and write your thoughts.)

理想的な部屋の広さは何畳ですか?その理由も教えてください。 (What is your ideal room size in 'jō'? Please explain why.)

「四畳半」という言葉からイメージすることを自由に書いてください。 (Write freely about what the word 'yojō-han' makes you imagine.)

日本のアパート探しで「畳」の単位が便利な理由を考えて書いてください。 (Think about and write why the 'jō' unit is convenient for apartment hunting in Japan.)

もし三畳の部屋に住むことになったら、どんな工夫をしますか? (If you had to live in a 3-mat room, what kind of creative solutions would you use?)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It is a traditional system that has remained because it is very intuitive. Since people know the size of one mat (about the size of a person), they can easily visualize the room size.

In modern real estate, yes, it is standardized to at least 1.62 square meters. However, in older houses, the size can vary by region (Kyoto mats are larger than Tokyo mats).

Usually no. 'Jō' is for indoor rooms. For outdoor areas or land, people use '坪' (tsubo) or square meters.

It means 4.5 mats. It's a very famous and common room size in Japan, often used for tea rooms or small student apartments.

Yes! Even in modern apartments with no tatami mats, the size of the wooden-floored rooms is still measured in 'jō'.

You can write it as 六畳 (kanji) or 6畳 (Arabic numerals). In real estate ads, you might also see 6帖.

They are read the same and mean the same thing. 畳 is the traditional kanji, while 帖 is often used for Western-style flooring rooms.

Approximately 9.72 square meters (6 x 1.62).

For a single person's bedroom, 8-jō is considered quite comfortable and slightly larger than the average 6-jō starter room.

It creates a perfect square layout with four mats around one half-mat, which is aesthetically pleasing and functional for traditional ceremonies.

셀프 테스트 200 질문

writing

Describe your current bedroom size using 'jō'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence asking a real estate agent about the size of a living room.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Explain the difference between 畳 and 帖 in your own words.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'My apartment is a six-mat one-room.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a short paragraph about why 'jō' is a useful unit.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Compare 'jō' and 'square meters' in three sentences.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence using 'yojō-han'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Describe a 10-mat room in Japanese.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'Is this air conditioner for a six-mat room?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a dialogue between a customer and a real estate agent using 'nan-jō'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Explain the idiom '起きて半畳寝て一畳'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Describe the layout of a traditional Japanese room you've seen.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'This room is 20 square meters, so it's about 12 mats.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence using the word 'madori' and 'jō'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

How would you describe an ultra-small 3-mat room?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence about renovating a room size.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Translate: 'The living room is a spacious twelve mats.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write about the smell of new tatami.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Explain the concept of 'Edoma' versus 'Kyoma'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
writing

Write a sentence using 'jō-suu' (number of mats).

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Pronounce 'jō' correctly.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say '6-mat room' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'How many mats?' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say '4.5 mats' correctly.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say '8-mat Japanese room' in Japanese.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'My room is 10 mats.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'This is for a 6-mat room.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Explain your room size to a partner.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Ask: 'Is this room eight mats?'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Practice saying 'yojō-han' five times fast.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say '12-mat living room'.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'It is about six mats.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'I live in a 6-jō apartment.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Discuss the size of your house in mats.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Roleplay: You are a real estate agent showing a 6-mat room.

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'One mat is 1.62 square meters.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'I prefer a larger room.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'This carpet is for 8 mats.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'The room feels small.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
speaking

Say 'The total is 20 mats.'

Read this aloud:

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the number of mats mentioned: 'Kono heya wa hachijō desu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Yojō-han no heya.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Nan-jō desu ka?'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the room type: 'Rokujō no yoshitsu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify the total: 'Zenbu de jūni-jō desu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen for the counter: 'Jū-jō-yō no eakon.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Semai san-jō no heya.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Hiroi jū-jō no ribingu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Rokujō-han desu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Tatami no maisū o kazoeru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Edoma no rokujō.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Hyōkijō wa rokujō desu.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Kyōma wa hiroi.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: '1.62 heibei.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Madori o miru.'

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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