門(もん)

もん
noun
gate; gateway
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)

KANJI NOTE:
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)
general
Added 2026.3.2 17:25
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