(すわ)(かた)

すわりかた
noun
way of sitting; sitting posture
1. way of sitting; sitting posture; manner of sitting
The manner or style in which a person sits. In Japanese culture, there are several distinct sitting styles, and the appropriate one depends on the setting and level of formality.
(すわ)(かた)(わる)いと(こし)(いた)める。
If your sitting posture is bad, you'll hurt your back.
(ただ)しい(すわ)(かた)(こころ)がけている。
I try to maintain proper sitting posture.
和室(わしつ)での(すわ)(かた)にはマナーがあり、正座(せいざ)正式(せいしき)とされている。
There are manners for how to sit in a Japanese-style room, and seiza is considered the formal way.

Compound of (すわ)り (sitting, from (すわ)る) and (かた) (way, method). The (かた) suffix is productive and attaches to verb stems to mean "way of doing."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (ただ)しい(すわ)(かた): correct sitting posture
  • (すわ)(かた)(わる)い: poor sitting posture
  • (すわ)(かた)(なお)す: to fix one's sitting posture
  • 椅子(いす)(すわ)(かた): how to sit in a chair

CULTURAL NOTE:

Japanese culture distinguishes several sitting styles:

  • 正座(せいざ): kneeling with legs folded underneath — the most formal
  • 胡座(あぐら): cross-legged — casual, traditionally masculine
  • 横座(よこずわ)り: sitting with legs to one side — traditionally feminine
  • 体育座(たいいくずわ)り: sitting with knees up and arms around them — used in school gymnasiums