玄関

Japanese

Kanji in this term
玄	関

Wikipedia

Etymology 1

genkwan > genkan.

Noun

玄関 (hiragana げんかん, romaji genkan, historical hiragana げんくわん)

1. the entrance to a profound path; in particularly an introduction to the Zen Buddhist discipline
2. the entrance to a Zen Buddhist temple
3. the place of entrance / exit in a Japanese home; usually recessed into the floor
   • 1603–1604: Nippo Jisho (page 296)

     Guenquan. ゲンクヮン (玄関) 茶の湯 (Chanoyu)へ行くのに通る道の入り口、または、門. また、ある人の家の中に入るのに通る奥の入口.

See also

• 玄関 (genka)

Derived terms

• 玄関帳 (genkanchō)
• 玄関番 (genkanban)

Etymology 2

From earlier genkan. genkwan > genkwa > genka. The final /a/ was likely nasalized. Common during the Edo period.

Noun

玄関 (hiragana げんか, romaji genka, historical hiragana げんくわ)

1. same as genkan
   • 1686: Shika no Makifude (鹿の巻筆) (page 182)

     浪人、「さてはいまのももんぐわあゆへ」と思ひながら、是非なく座敷をたちけり。玄関(げんくわ)口へ出ければ、又かのいたづらがき、玄関（げんか）のわきに居けり。

References

• 1980 May 18 [1603–1604], Tadao Doi, Hōyaku Nippo Jisho (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 4-0008-0021-3:
• 1966 May 18, Toshio Odaka, Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 100: Edo Shōwashū, Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, ISBN 4-0006-0100-8: