下駄箱

• Reading: げたばこ
• Romaji: getabako
• Kanji breakdown: 下 (ge/shita) — below, under; 駄 (da) — pack horse, burden; 箱 (bako/hako) — box, case
• Pronunciation: /ge.ta.ba.ko/

Meaning

A shoe rack or shoe cupboard placed at the entrance of a building.

Originally a box for storing geta (traditional wooden clogs), now used to refer to any shoe storage furniture at entryways. Found in homes, schools, workplaces, and public facilities throughout Japan. In schools, 下駄箱 are iconic — students change from outdoor to indoor shoes there, and in manga and anime, they are a classic location for love letters.

Examples

1. 学校の下駄箱に手紙が入っていた。 There was a letter in the school shoe cubby.
2. 玄関の下駄箱がいっぱいで新しい靴が入らない。 The shoe rack by the front door is so full that I can't fit any new shoes.
3. 下駄箱の上に鍵と花瓶を置いている。 I keep my keys and a vase on top of the shoe rack.

Usage Guide

Context: school, home, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 下駄 (geta, wooden clogs) + 箱 (box). Though geta are rarely worn today, the name persists for modern shoe storage.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal