1.
room (suffix)
A suffix attached to words to indicate a room for a specific purpose.
休憩室で休む。
To rest in the break room.
会議室を予約した。
I reserved a meeting room.
待合室で待っていてください。
Please wait in the waiting room.
室 is a suffix meaning 'room' attached to nouns to indicate a room designated for a specific purpose. It is more formal than 部屋.
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 会議室: meeting room, conference room
- 休憩室: break room, rest room
- 待合室: waiting room
- 研究室: research lab, study
- 応接室: reception room
- 図書室: library room
- 教{室|きょうしつ}: classroom
CONTRAST:
- 室: room (suffix, formal, purpose-specific)
- 部屋: room (standalone word, general)
- 間: room (traditional Japanese rooms, e.g., 茶の間)
The kanji can also be read むろ in some words, but しつ is the standard suffix reading.