1.
earthen or concrete floor at a Japanese entrance
The hard-floored lower area at the entrance of a Japanese house (genkan) where shoes are removed. Originally made by pounding a mixture of earth, lime, and bittern, now typically concrete or tile.
三和土で靴を脱ぐ。
To take off shoes on the entrance floor.
三和土が汚れていたので、掃除した。
The entrance floor was dirty, so I cleaned it.
古い民家の三和土は土を固めて作られている。
The entrance floors of old traditional houses are made of compacted earth.
ETYMOLOGY:
The word 三和土 comes from the process of making the floor: three materials (土, 石灰, and にがり) were mixed and pounded (たたく) to create a hard surface. The kanji 三和土 literally means "three-mixed earth."
CULTURAL NOTE:
The 三和土 is the lowest level of the 玄関 (entrance). Visitors step up from the 三和土 onto the raised floor (上がり框) when entering the house. In modern homes, the 三和土 is usually tiled or made of concrete.
NOTE:
Not to be confused with たたき as in 鰹のたたき (seared bonito), which is a different word.