座敷

A compound of 座 (za, “sitting”) +‎ 敷 (shiki, “spreading, covering”), the stem noun form of verb 敷く (shiku, “to spread or lay out on the floor or ground”).

Japanese houses originally had wood floors, and mats or cushions called 座 (za) would be laid out (敷く (shiku)) for sitting upon. Tatami (畳) flooring did not become common until some time during the Muromachi Period, approximately 1337 to 1573.

• (Tokyo) ざしき (Odaka – )
• IPA^(key):

座(ざ)敷(しき) • (zashiki) 

1. a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami flooring, or in older times, with wood flooring and mats or cushions for sitting upon
2. such a room used as a parlor to receive guests
3. by extension from the meaning of entertaining guests:
   1. a seat at a feast or party
   2. an invitation to a feast or party
   3. a feast or party
   4. (euphemistic) used by geisha and other entertainers, meaning a customer or patron
   5. (Noh, archaic) the audience of a Noh performance

• 土間(どま) (doma): The earthen floor-level at the entrance of traditional Japanese houses; farmhouses, townhouses, etc.
• 広間(ひろま) (hiroma): The raised-wooden main floor-level in a traditional Japanese houses; farmhouses, townhouses, etc.

• 座敷 on the Japanese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ja
• Minka on Wikipedia.Wikipedia