机
つくえ
tsukue
= desk / table
Tsukue (机) is the everyday Japanese word for a desk or table used for work, studying, or eating—a fundamental piece of furniture found in homes, schools, and offices.
Tsukue specifically refers to a flat-surfaced furniture piece used for individual work or study. In Japanese homes, tsukue serves as the focal point of personal workspace; schoolchildren use tsukue for homework, office workers spend hours at tsukue. The word carries connotations of productivity and focused activity, unlike casual dining tables.
Tsukue is different from teeburu (table) and shinbun (newspaper desk in compounds). In school contexts, ‘tsukue no ue’ (on the desk) is common. The word appears in compound phrases like ‘tsukue-shigoto’ (desk job).
机 combines 木 (tree/wood) as the radical, reflecting that tsukue are traditionally wooden furniture.
Everyday use
私の机の上には、パソコンと書類がたくさん置いてある。
Watashi no tsukue no ue ni wa, pasokon to shorui ga takusan oite aru.
On my desk are a computer and many documents.
Casual / Social Media
図書館では、静かに机で勉強している学生がいっぱいいる。
Toshokan de wa, shizuka ni tsukue de benkyō shite iru gakusei ga ippai iru.
At the library, many students study quietly at desks.
Formal / Cultural context
オフィスでは、各従業員に個別の机が与えられることが一般的である。
Ofisu de wa, kaku jūgyōin ni kobetsu no tsukue ga ataerareru.
In offices, each employee typically has an individual desk.
The arrangement of tsukue in Japanese schools reflects social hierarchy and classroom dynamics. In traditional classrooms, students face forward toward the teacher’s desk.
Japanese culture emphasizes cleanliness and order; a tidy tsukue is considered essential for mental clarity and productivity.
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