About
The character "门" originates from a pictographic representation of a double-door gate, with its traditional form "門" visually capturing the symmetrical structure of two hinged panels within a frame. Over time, the pictorial elements became stylized into a more abstract symbol, yet the fundamental concept of an entrance was retained. Semantically, the term initially denoted a physical doorway or gateway but gradually acquired broader applications, extending to metaphorical entrances such as those to knowledge or tradition, and even coming to represent familial houses, academic schools, or categories in compound words. The structural evolution involved a simplification that reduced the stroke count while maintaining the recognizable outline of a door, allowing the character to endure as a functional logograph with an expanded range of meanings rooted in its original architectural reference.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
门开着呢。
学校的大门很漂亮。
请随手关上这扇门。
他按响了邻居的门铃。
我走到门前，敲了敲门。
知识是通往成功的大门。
他站在门口犹豫了一会儿。
语言学是研究人类语言的门类。