Door
How this kanji evolved
Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
- 2026
The character 戸 evolved from a pictograph of a single-leaf door or entrance. In ancient China, it originally depicted a wooden door with hinges, representing a household entrance. Over time, the character simplified from its more detailed bronze script forms to the modern kanji 戸, which retains the basic shape of a door panel. The character carries meanings related to 'door,' 'household,' and 'family,' and is used in words concerning entrances and residences. Arrived in Japan: The character 戸 arrived in Japan during the 5th-6th centuries CE, when the Japanese writing system was being developed through cultural exchange with China. It was incorporated into the Manyōgana system and later became part of standard Japanese kanji, used in words like 戸口 (toguchi - doorway) and 戸棚 (todana - cabinet).