(ざいす)

ざいす
noun
floor chair; legless chair
1. floor chair; legless chair
A chair without legs designed to be placed directly on the floor or on tatami mats. It has a back support but sits at floor level, used in Japanese-style rooms.
座椅子(ざいす)(すわ)る。
To sit in a floor chair.
こたつには座椅子(ざいす)()う。
A floor chair goes well with a kotatsu.
リクライニング()きの座椅子(ざいす)()ったら、読書(どくしょ)(らく)になった。
After buying a reclining floor chair, reading became more comfortable.

A distinctly Japanese piece of furniture — a chair with a back support but no legs, designed for sitting on the floor. Popular for use with こたつ (heated tables) or in 和室(わしつ) (Japanese-style rooms).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 座椅子(ざいす)(すわ)る: to sit in a floor chair
  • リクライニング座椅子(ざいす): reclining floor chair
  • 回転(かいてん)座椅子(ざいす): swivel floor chair
  • 座椅子(ざいす)カバー: floor chair cover

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Floor chairs are common in Japanese homes where rooms have tatami flooring. Unlike 座布団(ざぶとん) (floor cushions), 座椅子(ざいす) provide back support, making them popular for long periods of sitting on the floor. Modern versions often feature reclining mechanisms and padding.

FORMATION:
() (sitting) + 椅子(いす) (chair) — a chair for floor-level sitting.