Japanese word

奥

Pronunciation

Romajioku

Meaning

  • nounback

Example

かばんの奥に本があります。ka ba n no oku ni hon ga a ri ma su

There is a book at the back of the bag.

Illustration for 奥 (back)

More examples

冷蔵庫の奥から牛乳を取り出しました。rei zō ko no oku ka ra gyū nyū o to ri da shi ma shi ta

I took the milk from the back of the refrigerator.

Core concept

奥 (oku, "the inner back") identifies the deepest area of a place or container, beyond its opening or front.

Common phrases

  • 部屋の奥heya no oku

    the back of the room

  • 店の奥mise no oku

    the back of the store

  • 奥に置くoku ni o ku

    put at the back

Similar words

内uchi: The space inside a place or container, without specifying how far in it is.
中naka: The space within a place or container.
後ろushiro: The space or position behind a person, place, or object.

Definition in Japanese

建物や容器などで、入口や外側から遠い内側の部分。tate mono ya yō ki na do de iri guchi ya soto gawa ka ra tō i uchi gawa no bu bun

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 奥 (oku, "inner part") is not a loanword and centers on the idea of distance from an entrance or outer surface.

Usage tips

  • For a bag or room, 奥 (oku) points toward the deepest area, while English back can also refer to the rear side of a separate object.

Other meanings

  • insidenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word