1.
shop curtain, noren
A fabric divider hung at shop entrances, often bearing the shop name or logo.
暖簾をくぐる。
To pass through the shop curtain.
お店の暖簾が風に揺れている。
The shop curtain is swaying in the wind.
店先に新しい暖簾を掛けた。
A new curtain was hung at the shop front.
暖簾を下ろして、店を開く準備をする。
To put up the noren and prepare to open the shop.
Putting up the noren signals the shop is open
この通りには色とりどりの暖簾が並んでいて、昔ながらの商店街の雰囲気がある。
Colorful noren are lined up along this street, giving it the atmosphere of a traditional shopping district.
2.
goodwill, reputation
A business's established reputation and brand value.
暖簾を守る。
To protect the shop's reputation.
暖簾に傷がついた。
The reputation was damaged.
暖簾分けで独立する。
To become independent through noren-wake.
Traditional way of letting employees start their own branch under the same name
百年以上の暖簾を守り続けている老舗だ。
It's a long-established shop that has maintained its reputation for over a hundred years.
創業者が築いた暖簾を次の世代に引き継ぐのは簡単ではない。
It's not easy to pass on the reputation built by the founder to the next generation.
暖簾 is a traditional split fabric curtain hung at shop entrances in Japan.
SENSE 1 - PHYSICAL CURTAIN:
- 暖簾をくぐる: to pass through (enter a shop)
- 暖簾を下ろす: to put up the noren (open shop)
- 暖簾を上げる: to take down the noren (close shop)
SENSE 2 - REPUTATION/GOODWILL:
- 暖簾を守る: to protect the reputation
- 暖簾分け: branch shop (traditional franchising)
- 暖簾に傷がつく: to damage one's reputation
IDIOM:
暖簾に腕押し: wasted effort (lit. pushing against a curtain = no resistance, pointless)
CULTURAL NOTE:
Noren display the shop name/logo and signal the business is open. They're iconic in traditional shopping districts.