港

• Reading: みなと
• Romaji: minato
• Kanji breakdown: 港 (kou/minato) — harbor, port
• Pronunciation: /mi.na.to/

Meaning

A harbor; a port. A place where ships dock and cargo is loaded or unloaded.

Can refer to both commercial shipping ports and smaller harbors. The word also appears in place names, most famously 港区 (Minato-ku), a ward in Tokyo. Often associated with seaside cities and international trade.

Examples

1. 横浜の港はとても大きいです。 The port of Yokohama is very large.
2. 港に大きな船が止まっていた。 A big ship was docked at the harbor.
3. 友達と港の近くのレストランで食事をした。 I had a meal with a friend at a restaurant near the harbor.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, geography, transportation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 港 combines 氵 (water radical) and 巷 (a phonetic element meaning alley/lane), suggesting a waterway where ships enter and gather.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal