入る
hairu[ha̠iɾɯ̟]
The Japanese verb for 'to enter' is 入る (hairu).
入る is used to describe the act of going into a space, such as a room or a house. Use the formal term 入場する specifically when referring to entering a venue or a location where an event is being held.
Meaning: to go into (a room, etc.) (verb)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the intransitive verb 入る, which describes a subject entering a place and the transitive verb 入れる, which means 'to put something into' something else.
How does it change in a sentence?
入る is an intransitive verb, meaning it focuses on the person or thing that is doing the entering. Its past tense form is 入った.
How do you pronounce it?
hairu
When do people say it?
In Japan, it is customary to take off your shoes when you enter a house.
Did you know?
- The phrase 入る is used for taking a bath, such as お風呂に入る. In English, you 'take' a bath, but in Japanese, you 'enter' the bath.
- Entering a room in a traditional Japanese house involves stepping over a threshold called a 敷居. Crossing this 'shikii' is a distinct physical and social boundary.
- While 入る means to enter, it is also used in Japanese to describe things like a person 'entering' a certain age or a specific season 'entering' its peak.
Examples in context
- 彼が家に入るのを見た。I saw him enter the house.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 入る when describing someone entering a house.Tatoeba #154512 by small_snow, translation #260029 by CK
- 彼が店に入るのが見えた。I saw him enter the store.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 入る when describing someone entering a store.Tatoeba #119628 by bunbuku, translation #284034 by CK
- 日本では家に入る時に靴を脱ぐ。In Japan people take off their shoes when they enter a house.This sentence illustrates the cultural practice of removing shoes when using 入る in a house.Tatoeba #122786 by small_snow, translation #281216 by orge
- 教室に入ってください (Kyōshitsu ni haitte kudasai)Please enter the classroom
- ご入場はこちらからお願いします (Go nyūjō wa kochira kara onegaishimasu)Please enter through here.
- ここに入るんだよ (Koko ni hairunda yo)You should enter here.
- 入ろう (Hairou)Let's enter.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “enter” translations and entries 入る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
