床

• Reading: とこ
• Romaji: toko
• Kanji breakdown: 床 (toko/yuka/shou) — bed, floor
• Pronunciation: /to.ko/

Meaning

Bed; bedding. A place for sleeping, traditionally a futon laid on the floor.

When read as とこ, this kanji refers to a sleeping place or bedding. The common expression 床に就く (toko ni tsuku) means to go to bed, and 床を上げる means to put away the futon after waking. Also appears in 床の間 (tokonoma), the traditional decorative alcove in a Japanese room. Note: when read as ゆか, this kanji means 'floor.'

Examples

1. 風邪をひいて三日間床に就いていた。 I caught a cold and was in bed for three days.
2. 朝起きたらすぐ床を上げましょう。 Let's put away the bedding as soon as we wake up in the morning.
3. 祖母の家には立派な床の間があります。 My grandmother's house has a beautiful tokonoma alcove.

Usage Guide

Context: home, traditional housing, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 床 originally depicted a raised wooden platform for sleeping. Over time it came to refer to both the floor surface and the sleeping place.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal