Japanese symbol for “couch”

寝台

しんだい

Romaji: shindai

bed; couch

In Japanese, couch is 寝台, read しんだい (shindai).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n bed; couch

Written forms: 寝台. Readings: しんだい、ねだい.

Kanji and stroke order

寝

lie down, sleep, rest

on: シン
kun: ね.る、ね.かす、い.ぬ、みたまや

13 strokes · JLPT 2

台

pedestal, a stand, counter for machines and vehicles

on: ダイ、タイ
kun: うてな、われ、つかさ

5 strokes · JLPT 3

Other Japanese words for “couch”

Word	Reading	Meaning
ソファ	ソファ sofa	sofa; couch
長椅子	ながいす nagaisu	couch; bench; ottoman
カウチ	カウチ kauchi	couch
斜に構える	しゃにかまえる shanikamaeru	to couch (a sword)
寝椅子	ねいす neisu	sofa; couch; lounge chair

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
寝る	ねる neru	to sleep (lying down)
寝室	しんしつ shinshitsu	bedroom
昼寝	ひるね hirune	(afternoon) nap; sleeping during the day; siesta
寝不足	ねぶそく nebusoku	lack of sleep; insufficient sleep
就寝	しゅうしん shuushin	going to bed; retiring (for the night)
舞台	ぶたい butai	stage (of a theatre, concert hall, etc.)
台風	たいふう taifuu	typhoon; hurricane
台湾	たいわん taiwan	Taiwan

See also: Chinese symbol for “couch”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.