Japanese word

玄関

Pronunciation

Romajigenkan

Meaning

  • nounentrance

Example

家の玄関で靴を脱ぎます。ie no gen kan de kutsu o nu gi ma su

I take off my shoes at the entrance.

Illustration for 玄関 (entrance)

More examples

雨の日は玄関が滑りやすいです。ame no hi wa gen kan ga sube ri ya su i de su

The entrance is slippery on rainy days.

Core concept

Refers to the entry point that connects the outside with the interior of a home or building.

Common phrases

  • 玄関の鍵gen kan no kagi

    front door lock

  • 玄関を開けるgen kan o a ke ru

    open the front door

  • 玄関を閉めるgen kan o shi me ru

    close the front door

Similar words

入口iriguchi: The place where a person goes into a room, building, or other area.
出入口deirikuchi: A doorway or passage that allows people to go in and out.

Definition in Japanese

家や建物の出入り口に設けた、戸口とその内側の場所。ie ya tate mono no de i ri kuchi ni mō ke ta to guchi to so no uchi gawa no ba sho

Word origin

玄関 (genkan) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 玄 (gen, "profound") and 関 (kan, "barrier or gate"); it first described the entrance to a Zen temple.

Usage tips

  • The genkan is a familiar feature in descriptions of Japanese homes because it separates the place where outdoor shoes are removed from the raised indoor floor.

Other meanings

  • front doornoun

Word lists with this word