軒

• Reading: のき
• Romaji: noki
• Kanji breakdown: 軒 (noki/ken) — eaves, counter for houses
• Pronunciation: /no.ki/

Meaning

Eaves; edge of a roof. Also used as a counter for houses and buildings (read as けん).

When read as のき, it means the overhanging edge of a roof that protects walls from rain. The expression 軒先 (nokisaki) refers to the area just under the eaves. As a counter (read けん), it counts houses and shops: 一軒家 (detached house), 三軒隣 (three doors down).

Examples

1. 雨が降ってきたので軒の下で待った。 It started raining, so I waited under the eaves.
2. この通りには小さい店が何軒もある。 There are many small shops along this street.
3. 祖父は一軒家に住んでいます。 My grandfather lives in a detached house.

Usage Guide

Context: housing, architecture, counting

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 軒 originally meant the protruding part of a roof (eaves). The radical 車 (vehicle) is a phonetic component, while 干 adds to the meaning of something extending outward.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal