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茶の間 (ちゃのま) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
living room ; family room
Refers to a traditional Japanese-style living room where the family gathers, often with a low table and tatami flooring. In modern usage, it can also refer to a casual family room in any style of home.
茶ちゃ
の
間ま
で
お
茶ちゃ
を
飲の
ん
で
いる
。
Grandmother is always drinking tea in the family room.
Written forms 茶ちゃ の 間ま Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling; the word is commonly written this way.
チャノマ Usage 1%
Similar words 居い 間ま 居間 is a more general term for a living room or sitting room, often in a Western-style house, while 茶の間 specifically evokes a traditional Japanese family gathering space.
リビング リビング is a loanword from English 'living' and refers to a modern living room, often with sofas and a TV, without the traditional connotations of 茶の間.
Etymology Compound of 茶 (cha, 'tea') and 間 (ma, 'room'), literally 'tea room'. Historically, it referred to a room where the family would gather to drink tea and relax.