Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ドア | doa | [do̞a̠] (narrow) |
| 戸 | to | [to̞] (narrow) [ko̞] (narrow) |
| 扉 | tobira | [to̞bʲiɾa̠] (narrow) |
| 戸口 | toguchi | [to̞ɡɯ̟t͡ɕi] (narrow) [ko̞ko̞ː] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term you choose for 'door' depends on whether you are referring to a modern object, a traditional structure or a metaphorical concept. ドア is the standard term for doors found in cars, houses or buildings. 戸 is used for traditional Japanese-style doors, such as wooden or sliding doors. 扉 is a more poetic or formal term used in literature to describe doors, gates or metaphorical openings like the 'door to the heart'. 戸口 refers specifically to the entrance or the doorway itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 戸口 is a compound consisting of 戸, meaning door and 口, meaning mouth or opening, which together form the meaning 'doorway'.
Which one should you use?
ドア is the most common and modern way to refer to a door in daily life. 戸 is a more traditional term and is frequently used in compound words. 扉 carries a literary or formal tone, often used for gates or metaphorical doors. 戸口 differs from the others by focusing on the entranceway rather than the door itself.
How do you pronounce it?
doa
Did you know?
- You might find yourself using 戸 to refer to an entire household, as it is sometimes used in compounds to mean 'family' or 'house'.
- The word 戸 is related to the 'Kara' word 梁, which is one of the few certainly attested words from an ancient language spoken in the region.
- In Japanese, the word for 'mouth' 口 is so versatile that it can turn the word for 'door' into 'doorway' or even be used for a 'port' or 'outlet'.
Examples in context
- 戸を閉めろ。Shut the door.This sentence demonstrates how to use 戸 to tell someone to shut the door.Tatoeba #174533 by wat, translation #38992 by CK
- ドア閉めて。Close the door.This sentence shows an informal way to ask someone to close the ドア.Tatoeba #4804656 by tommy_san, translation #405379 by brauliobezerra
- 半ドアだよ。Your door isn't closed.This sentence uses the specific term for a door that is not fully closed with ドア.Tatoeba #11883259 by small_snow, translation #12303649 by CK
- 605 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a cafe, a woman is trying to enter a room.
- 陽葵 Himariこのドア、開かないよ。Kono doa, akanai yo.This door won't open.
- 大翔 Hirotoあ、鍵がかかっているみたい。A, kagi ga kakatte iru mitai.Ah, it looks like it's locked.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ、残念。Hontou da, zannen.You're right, that's too bad.
- 大翔 Hiroto別のドアを探そう。Betsu no doa o sagasou.Let's look for another door.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “door” translations and entries ドア, 戸, 扉, 戸口, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ドア, 戸, 扉, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
