卓(たく)

たく
noun
table, desk
1. table, desk
A table or desk surface used for dining, working, or playing games. Often appears in compound words. Also used as a counter for tables at mahjong or similar games.
卓(たく)の上(うえ)に花(はな)を飾(かざ)った。
I put flowers on the table.
円卓(えんたく)を囲(かこ)んで会議(かいぎ)をした。
We held a meeting around a round table.
麻雀(まーじゃん)は4人(にん)で1卓(たく)を囲(かこ)んで遊(あそ)ぶ。
Mahjong is played by four people seated around one table.

卓(たく) means table or desk. On its own it is somewhat formal or literary; it appears much more commonly as part of compound words.

COMMON COMPOUNDS (TABLE):

  • 食卓(しょくたく): dining table
  • 円卓(えんたく): round table
  • 卓上(たくじょう): tabletop, desktop
  • 卓球(たっきゅう): table tennis (literally "table ball")

OTHER COMPOUNDS:

  • 卓越(たくえつ): excellence, superiority (different meaning — uses the "outstanding" sense of 卓(たく))

AS A COUNTER:
Used to count tables in games like 麻雀(まーじゃん): 1卓(たく), 2卓(たく), etc. Also used in restaurants: 3卓(たく) = table number 3.

CONTRAST:

  • 卓(たく): table (formal/literary, compounds)
  • テーブル: table (everyday loanword)
  • 机(つくえ): desk (for work or study)
general
Added 2026.3.20 10:10 · Revised 2026.4.5 20:45
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