庭

• Reading: にわ
• Romaji: niwa
• Kanji breakdown: 庭 (tei/niwa) — garden, yard, courtyard
• Pronunciation: /ni.wa/

Meaning

Garden; yard; courtyard. An outdoor area around a home, often with plants or landscaping.

Refers to both Western-style gardens with flowers and traditional Japanese gardens (日本庭園 — nihon teien) with rocks and water features. Common phrases: 庭で遊ぶ (play in the yard), 庭に花を植える (plant flowers in the garden). In apartment living, ベランダ (veranda/balcony) often substitutes for a proper 庭.

Examples

1. 庭にきれいな花が咲いています。 Beautiful flowers are blooming in the garden.
2. 子供たちが庭で遊んでいます。 The kids are playing in the yard.
3. 週末に庭の掃除をします。 I'll clean the yard on the weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: home, nature, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 庭 combines 广 (shelter/roof) with 廷 (courtyard), representing an open space associated with a dwelling — a sheltered outdoor area beside a building.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal