戸

• Reading: と
• Romaji: to
• Kanji breakdown: 戸 (ko/to) — door, counter for houses
• Pronunciation: /to/

Meaning

Door, especially a Japanese-style sliding door. Also refers to shutters and panels.

Refers to traditional Japanese doors and shutters, particularly sliding types (引き戸 — hikido). Less common in everyday speech than ドア for modern doors, but appears frequently in compounds: 戸棚 (todana — cupboard), 雨戸 (amado — storm shutter). Also used in the counter 一戸 (ikko — one house/unit).

Examples

1. 朝になったら雨戸を開けます。 I open the storm shutters in the morning.
2. この戸は左に引いてください。 Please slide this door to the left.
3. 古い家の戸がきしんでいます。 The doors of the old house are creaking.

Usage Guide

Context: traditional homes, architecture, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 戸 is a pictograph of a single-leaf door or gate panel, representing one side of a traditional entrance. The double-door form is 門 (mon — gate).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal