扉(とびら)

とびら

noun

door

literaryfurniture

1. door; gate (hinged, swinging)

A hinged door that swings open and shut, as opposed to a sliding one; also the doors of cupboards, gates and safes.

扉(とびら)を開(あ)けると、広(ひろ)い庭(にわ)が見(み)えた。

When I opened the door, I saw a spacious garden.

重(おも)い扉(とびら)を押(お)して中(なか)に入(はい)った。

I pushed the heavy door and entered inside.

新(あたら)しい扉(とびら)を開(ひら)くことを恐(おそ)れないでください。

Don't be afraid to open new doors (figurative).

扉(とびら) specifically refers to a hinged door that swings open, as opposed to sliding doors. It often has a more literary or formal nuance than ドア.

Distinctions

扉(とびら): hinged door (literary, includes gates)
ドア: door (casual loanword, common in daily speech)
戸(と): general term for door/sliding door
障子(しょうじ): paper sliding door
襖(ふすま): opaque sliding door

Figurative usage

新(あたら)しい扉(とびら)を開(ひら)く (open new doors/possibilities)
心(こころ)の扉(とびら) (the door of one's heart)

Related Words

Compare: ドア (casual loanword)

Related: 戸(と) (door, sliding door)

Compare: 開(ひら)き戸(ど) (hinged door)

general

Added 2026.1.15 3:54 · Revised 2026.10.2 11:09

04000/04494_tobira