Japanese word

障子

Pronunciation

Romajishōji

Meaning

  • nounshoji

Example

夜は障子を閉めます。yoru wa shō ji o shi me ma su

I close the shoji at night.

Illustration for 障子 (shoji)

More examples

和室の障子から柔らかな光が入ります。wa shitsu no shō ji ka ra yawa ra ka na hikari ga hai ri ma su

Soft light comes through the shoji in the Japanese-style room.

Core concept

Provides a translucent partition that divides a room without cutting it off from light or visual spaciousness.

Common phrases

  • 障子を閉めるshō ji o shi me ru

    close the shoji

  • 障子を開けるshō ji o a ke ru

    open the shoji

  • 障子越しに見るshō ji ko shi ni mi ru

    look through the shoji

Similar words

襖fusuma: An opaque sliding screen used to divide rooms or close wall openings.
屏風byōbu: A freestanding folding screen used to divide space or create a backdrop.

Definition in Japanese

紙を張った木製の格子戸で、部屋を区切りながら光を通す建具。kami o ha tta moku sei no kō shi to de heya o ku gi ri na ga ra hikari o tō su tate gu

Word origin

障子 (shōji) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 障 (shō, "barrier") and 子 (ji, "a suffix used in names of things"); the original meaning was a screen or partition.

Usage tips

  • The loanword shoji is established in English interior-design writing, where it commonly describes both the traditional screen and screens modeled on it.

Word lists with this word