Japanese word

帳

Pronunciation

Romajitobari

Meaning

  • nouncurtain

Example

夜の帳が下ります。yoru no tobari ga kuda ri ma su

The curtain of night falls.

Illustration for 帳 (curtain)

More examples

舞台には赤い帳が掛かっています。bu tai ni wa aka i tobari ga ka ka tte i ma su

A red curtain hangs on the stage.

Core concept

Treats a curtain as something that separates spaces or covers what lies beyond, including the darkness of night.

Common phrases

  • 帳を上げるtobari o a ge ru

    raise the curtain

  • 帳が掛かるtobari ga ka ka ru

    a curtain hangs

Similar words

幕maku: A sheet of material that hangs to divide a space or cover an opening.
カーテンkāten: A cloth covering used at a window or doorway to block sight or light.

Definition in Japanese

窓や出入り口などに垂らして、光や視線をさえぎる布。また、あたりを覆う夜の暗がり。mado ya de i ri kuchi na do ni ta ra shi te hikari ya shi sen o sa e gi ru nuno ma ta a ta ri o ō u yoru no kura ga ri

Word origin

The native Japanese word とばり (tobari, "curtain") has an uncertain older origin, while its conventional kanji 帳 (chō, "hanging screen") reflects an older Chinese sense.

Usage tips

  • 帳 (tobari) is a literary noun, so it appears more often in written descriptions than in casual conversation about household curtains.

Word lists with this word