1.
school gate
The main gate or entrance to a school campus. A prominent feature of Japanese schools, often the site of morning greetings by teachers and the backdrop for graduation photos.
校門 is the main gate or entrance to a school campus. It holds both practical and symbolic significance in Japanese school culture.
Etymology
校 (school) + 門 (gate).
Cultural note
The 校門 serves as a symbolic boundary between the school and the outside world. Common scenes at the gate:
- Teachers standing at the gate in the morning to greet students (朝の挨拶)
- Uniform and appearance checks at strict schools
- Graduation photos taken in front of the gate
Common patterns
- 校門の前で: in front of the school gate
- 校門をくぐる: to pass through the school gate
- 校門を出る: to leave through the school gate
Watch out
- 肛門: anus (same reading, very different meaning — be careful!)
- 顧問: adviser (similar but different reading)