Translation guide
The English word "floor" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones: the surface you walk on inside a building, a level or story of a building, and the bottom of a natural space like the ocean or a forest. It also touches on specialized uses like a dance floor or factory floor.
The flat surface at the bottom of a room that you stand or walk on.
The most common word for the floor inside a building. Refers to the physical surface, often made of wood, tatami, etc.
Please sit on the floor.
床が冷たい。
The floor is cold.
Loanword from English, often used in commercial or public contexts (e.g., "dance floor", "sales floor"). Can also mean a level of a building.
ダンスフロアで踊りましょう。
Let's dance on the dance floor.
A particular level in a building, like the first floor, second floor, etc.
Counter for floors. Used with numbers: 1階 (first floor), 2階 (second floor), etc. Note: In Japan, the ground floor is 1階, unlike some Western conventions.
私の部屋は3階です。
My room is on the third floor.
このビルは10階建てです。
This building has ten floors.
Also used for a floor/level, especially in hotels, offices, or when referring to a whole floor as a space.
The ground or bottom of a natural area like the sea, a forest, or a valley.
Means 'bottom' and is used for the floor of the ocean, a lake, etc. Often combined with other words.
海底には不思議な生き物がいる。
There are mysterious creatures on the ocean floor.
湖の底は泥で覆われている。
The lake floor is covered with mud.
Technical term for forest floor, used in ecology.
林床には多くの植物が生えている。
Many plants grow on the forest floor.
An area designated for dancing, often in a club or party.
Direct loanword, very common.
ダンスフロアは人でいっぱいだった。
The dance floor was packed with people.
Can mean a dance floor, but more commonly refers to a landing on a staircase. Use with caution.
Often means 'stair landing'. Context is needed to avoid confusion.
The area in a factory where production takes place.
Literally 'factory site/floor', commonly used for the production area.
彼は工場の現場で働いている。
He works on the factory floor.
Loanword used in manufacturing contexts.
ショップフロアの効率を改善する。
Improve efficiency on the shop floor.
The right or opportunity to speak in a formal discussion.
Means 'right to speak'. Used in phrases like 'have the floor'.
彼に発言権が与えられた。
He was given the floor.
Means 'opportunity to speak'.
会議で発言の機会を求めた。
I asked for the floor at the meeting.
床 (yuka) is the physical surface you walk on. 階 (kai) is the counter for building levels. フロア (furoa) can mean either, but is more common in commercial settings or as a loanword for 'floor' as a space.
Saying '2階の床' (nikai no yuka) means 'the floor surface of the second floor', not 'the second floor' as a level. Use 2階 alone.
本が床に落ちた。
The book fell on the floor.
私は4階に住んでいます。
I live on the fourth floor.
彼らは海底を探検した。
They explored the ocean floor.
The meeting will be held on the fifth floor.
彼らは踊り場で踊っていた。
They were dancing on the dance floor.