裏口(うらぐち)

うらぐち
noun
back door, rear entrance
1. back door, rear entrance
A door or entrance at the back of a building, as opposed to the main entrance.
裏口(うらぐち)から入(はい)ってください。
Please enter through the back door.
正面(しょうめん)玄関(げんかん)が閉(し)まっていたので裏口(うらぐち)を使(つか)った。
The front entrance was closed, so I used the back door.
裏口(うらぐち)から荷物(にもつ)を運(はこ)び入(い)れた。
I carried the luggage in through the back door.
2. backdoor, illicit means
Figuratively, an unofficial or illegitimate way of achieving something, often implying bribery or unfair advantage.
裏口(うらぐち)入学(にゅうがく)は問題(もんだい)になっている。
Backdoor admissions have become a problem.
Refers to gaining admission through bribery or connections
裏口(うらぐち)で仕事(しごと)を取(と)るのはよくない。
Getting work through backdoor connections is not good.
彼(かれ)は裏口(うらぐち)から政治(せいじ)の世界(せかい)に入(はい)ったと言(い)われている。
It's said that he entered the world of politics through the back door.

USAGE: 裏口(うらぐち) has both literal and figurative meanings.

LITERAL:

  • 裏口(うらぐち)から入(はい)る (to enter from the back)
  • 裏口(うらぐち)を開(あ)ける (to open the back door)

FIGURATIVE (illicit means):

  • 裏口(うらぐち)入学(にゅうがく) (backdoor admission - through bribery/connections)
  • 裏口(うらぐち)営業(えいぎょう) (illicit business)

CONTRAST:

  • 表口(おもてぐち)/正面(しょうめん)玄関(げんかん) - front entrance
  • 勝手口(かってぐち) - kitchen entrance, service entrance
general
Added 2026.1.13 21:42 · Revised 2026.3.3 11:49
04000/04101_uraguchi