居間(いま)

Forms

居(い) (to be, to stay) + 間(ま) (room, space). Literally "the room where one stays."

Similar words

• 居間(いま): living room (traditional Japanese term)
• リビング: living room (loanword, very common in modern speech)
• リビングルーム: living room (full loanword, less common)
• 茶(ちゃ)の間(ま): family sitting room (traditional, associated with tatami)

Register

居間(いま) is an ordinary, neutral everyday word. It sounds slightly more traditional than リビング. In real estate listings and modern conversation, リビング or LDK (living-dining-kitchen) is far more common.

Usage

In traditional Japanese houses, the 居間(いま) was the central gathering room with tatami flooring. In modern usage, it simply means the main living area regardless of style.