floor · bed

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 床 is used for a floor or bed; its readings include kun-reading ゆか and on-reading しょう.
• Basic usage: 床(ゆか) means a floor, while 病床(びょうしょう) means a sickbed.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The floor and life confined to bed
  • 床の上 means on the floor. 床 names the floor that is wiped clean or on which a cat curls up to sleep.
  • 病床から means from one's sickbed. 病床生活 refers to life confined to bed, with 床 differing in meaning and reading from the word for a floor.