棚

• Reading: たな
• Romaji: tana
• Kanji breakdown: 棚 (hō/tana) — shelf, rack
• Pronunciation: /ta.na/

Meaning

A shelf; shelves; a rack. A flat surface fixed to a wall or frame for storing or displaying items.

A common household word for any type of shelf or rack. Appears in many compounds: 本棚 (hondana, bookshelf), 食器棚 (shokkidana, dish cupboard), 戸棚 (todana, cabinet). The proverb 棚からぼたもち means an unexpected piece of good luck, literally a rice cake falling from a shelf.

Examples

1. 本棚に新しい本を並べました。 I lined up new books on the bookshelf.
2. その皿は上の棚に置いてください。 Please put that plate on the upper shelf.
3. 棚を買って部屋を片付けたい。 I want to buy a shelf and tidy up my room.

Usage Guide

Context: home, furniture, organisation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 棚 combines 木 (ki, wood) with 朋 (hō, companion/row), suggesting wooden boards arranged in rows — the basic structure of a shelf.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal