控(ひか)え室(しつ)

A 控(ひか)え室(しつ) is a room set aside for people who are waiting for their turn at something scheduled — an interview, a ceremony, a performance, an appearance. The 控(ひか)える in it is the sense of standing by.

Usage

• 面接(めんせつ)の控(ひか)え室(しつ): where candidates wait
• 出演者(しゅつえんしゃ)の控(ひか)え室(しつ): a green room
• 来客(らいきゃく)の控(ひか)え室(しつ): a room for visitors to an office

Common collocations

• 控(ひか)え室(しつ)で待(ま)つ: wait in the room
• 控(ひか)え室(しつ)に案内(あんない)する: show someone to it
• 控(ひか)え室(しつ)に通(とお)す: usher someone in (said of a host or receptionist)

Similar words

• 待合室(まちあいしつ) is the open waiting room of a hospital or station, where anyone waits and no one has been invited. This, not 控(ひか)え室(しつ), is the word for a hospital waiting room.
• 楽屋(がくや) is a performer's dressing room, used for changing and preparing, and belongs to the theatre. A 控(ひか)え室(しつ) is only for waiting.