榻 (tà) - A low, long, narrow bed or couch & a daybed

榻Tone 4

tà ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

榻 · tà

A low, long, narrow bed or couch;

a daybed;

often refers to ancient-style wooden beds used in traditional Chinese settings.

A low, long, narrow bed or coucha daybedoften refers to ancient-style wooden beds used in

Usage highlights

Wooden couchGuest bedReading couchSacrificial couchBed and couchCouch and mat

Synonyms

  • 床— bed (more general term)
  • 卧榻— reclining couch

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He rested on the wooden couch (木榻).
  • The guest room has a daybed (客榻).
  • The scholar's study featured a reading couch (书榻).
  • They placed the offering on the sacrificial couch (祭榻).

Collocations

  • Wooden couch(木榻)
  • Guest bed(客榻)
  • Reading couch(书榻)
  • Sacrificial couch(祭榻)
  • Bed and couch(床榻)
  • Couch and mat(榻席)

Idioms

  • Don't let others sleep soundly beside your bed(卧榻之侧，岂容他人鼾睡)
  • Sitting upright on the couch(正襟危坐于榻上)
  • Sick and confined to bed(病卧于榻)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 榻 was a common piece of furniture in ancient China, typically lower than modern beds and used for sitting, resting, or receiving guests.
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, 榻 was often placed in studies, guest rooms, or main halls as both functional furniture and decorative element.
  • The idiom '卧榻之侧，岂容他人鼾睡' reflects the political metaphor of not tolerating threats close to one's power center.

FAQ