Washitsu
/wɑːˈʃɪt.suː/noun
A traditional Japanese-style room, typically featuring tatami flooring and low furnishings.
Did you know?The first element, 和 (wa), originally carried meanings including harmony and peace before becoming a traditional shorthand for Japanese identity and culture.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Old Chinese
和
“Harmony, peace, agreement”
Ancient China
Old Chinese
室
“Room, chamber, enclosed dwelling space”
Early Japanese
Japanese
wa
“Harmony; later, Japan or Japanese-style culture”
Middle Japanese
Japanese
shitsu
“Room or chamber, from Sino-Japanese reading of 室”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
和室 (washitsu)
“A Japanese-style room, especially one with tatami flooring”
20th Century–Modern English
English
washitsu
“A traditional Japanese room, used especially in discussions of architecture, interiors, and Japanese culture”