門(もん)

もん

noun

gate; gateway

See also: 紋(もん) (crest, family crest)

1. gate; gateway

A large entrance structure, typically at the entrance to a temple, shrine, castle, estate, or other significant building. Larger and more formal than a door (ドア) or a garden gate (戸(と)).

寺(てら)の門(もん)をくぐる。

Pass through the gate of a temple.

城(しろ)の正門(せいもん)は朝(あさ)の六時(ろくじ)に開(ひら)かれる。

The main gate of the castle opens at six in the morning.

赤(あか)く塗(ぬ)られた大(おお)きな門(もん)が、神社(じんじゃ)の入(い)り口(ぐち)に堂々(どうどう)と立(た)っていた。

A large gate painted red stood imposingly at the entrance to the shrine.

Usage

門(もん) refers to a substantial gate structure, typically at temples, shrines, castles, or traditional estates. It is not used for ordinary house doors.

Common collocations

門(もん)をくぐる (to pass through a gate)
門(もん)を開(ひら)く (to open a gate)
門(もん)を閉(し)める (to close a gate)
正門(せいもん) (main gate)
裏門(うらもん) (back gate)
校門(こうもん) (school gate)
山門(さんもん) (temple gate)

Writing

門(もん) is itself a radical (門構(もんがま)え) that appears in many kanji related to openings, enclosures, or barriers: 間(あいだ), 開(ひら)く, 閉(し)める, 関(かん), 聞(き)く.

Similar words

門(もん): gate (large, formal entrance structure)
戸(と): door, small gate (house entrance)
ドア: door (Western-style hinged door)
鳥居(とりい): torii gate (Shinto shrine gate)

Related Words

Compare: 戸(と) (door, small gate)

Compare: ドア (door)

Compare: 鳥居(とりい) (torii gate)

Compare: ゲート (gate)

general

Added 2026.3.2 17:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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