1.
under the floor; space beneath the floor; crawl space
The area underneath the floorboards of a building, often used for ventilation, plumbing, or storage in traditional Japanese houses.
A compound of 床 (floor) and 下 (under/below). Traditional Japanese houses are often built with raised floors, creating a space underneath for air circulation. This design helps manage Japan's humid climate but also makes homes vulnerable to termites and moisture damage.
The 床下 is a frequent topic in home maintenance conversations, as it needs regular inspection for moisture, pests, and structural integrity. Door-to-door scammers in Japan sometimes use fake 床下 inspections as a pretext to sell unnecessary services to elderly homeowners.
Common collocations
- 床下換気: underfloor ventilation
- 床下収納: underfloor storage
- 床下点検: underfloor inspection
- 床下浸水: flooding under the floor