廊下

• Reading: ろうか
• Romaji: rouka
• Kanji breakdown: 廊 (rou) — corridor, gallery; 下 (ka) — below, under
• Pronunciation: /ɾoː.ka/

Meaning

Corridor; hallway; passageway. A long narrow space connecting rooms in a building.

Used for hallways in homes, schools, offices, and hospitals. In Japanese schools, the phrase 廊下を走らないでください (don't run in the hallway) is iconic. 廊下に立つ (to stand in the hallway) was a classic school punishment in older times.

Examples

1. 廊下を走ると危ないですよ。 It's dangerous to run in the hallway.
2. トイレは廊下の突き当たりにあります。 The restroom is at the end of the hallway.
3. 夜中に廊下を歩く音が聞こえた。 I heard the sound of someone walking in the hallway in the middle of the night.

Usage Guide

Context: school, home, buildings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 廊 (corridor, gallery) and 下 (below, under). Originally referred to covered walkways in palaces and temples.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal