布団

• Reading: ふとん
• Romaji: futon
• Kanji breakdown: 布 (fu) — cloth, fabric; 団 (ton) — group, round
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.toɴ/

Meaning

Futon; Japanese bedding. A mattress and duvet set laid on the floor for sleeping.

Central to traditional Japanese sleeping culture. A full set includes 敷き布団 (bottom mattress) and 掛け布団 (top duvet). Unlike Western beds, futons are folded and stored in the 押入れ (closet) each morning. The expression 布団を敷く means to lay out the futon, and 布団を畳む means to fold it up.

Examples

1. 寝る前に布団を敷いてください。 Please lay out the futon before going to sleep.
2. 天気がいいのでベランダに布団を干した。 The weather was nice, so I hung the futon out on the balcony to air it.
3. 冬は暖かい布団から出たくないです。 In winter, I don't want to get out of my warm futon.

Usage Guide

Context: home, sleeping, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 布 (cloth) and 団 (group, round). Originally referred to a round sitting cushion used by monks, later evolving to mean sleeping bedding.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal