幕

• Reading: まく
• Romaji: maku
• Kanji breakdown: 幕 (maku/baku) — curtain, act, shogunate
• Pronunciation: /ma.kɯ/

Meaning

Curtain; act (of a play). A large cloth screen, or a division of a theatrical performance.

A noun with two main uses. As a physical object, it means a large curtain or screen, especially in theatres and traditional settings. As a unit, it divides plays and performances into acts: 第一幕 (dai-ichi-maku, Act 1). Key expressions: 幕を開ける (maku wo akeru, to raise the curtain/begin), 幕が下りる (maku ga oriru, the curtain falls/end). Also used in historical terms like 幕府 (bakufu, shogunate).

Examples

1. 芝居の第二幕が始まった。 The second act of the play began.
2. お祭りの会場に大きな幕が張られていた。 A large curtain was hung at the festival venue.
3. 長い試合がついに幕を閉じた。 The long match finally came to a close.

Usage Guide

Context: theatre, events, history

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Classical Chinese 幕. The kanji combines 莫 (setting sun/nothing) and 巾 (cloth), originally depicting a cloth canopy used at dusk.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal