straw mat · fold

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 畳 has 12 strokes and appears in the word for a tatami mat and the verb meaning to fold.
• Basic usage: 畳 is read たたみ, and 畳む is read たたむ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Flooring and folding
  • 畳の上に座って refers to sitting on tatami.
  • シャツをきれいに畳んで means neatly folding a shirt.
  • 畳んで is the connecting form of 畳む.
  • 傘を畳む means to fold an umbrella.