Meaning
玄关 refers to the entrance area or foyer of a home, the transitional space between the outside and the main interior. It's where people remove their shoes, hang coats, and prepare before entering or leaving. In traditional Chinese architecture, this space also served as a buffer for privacy and energy flow according to feng shui principles.
Usage
This word is commonly used in interior design, real estate, and home decoration contexts. Most Chinese apartments and houses have a designated 玄关 area. Native speakers often discuss 玄关 design when talking about home organization, as it's considered an important functional and aesthetic space that creates the first impression of a home.
Examples
- 01我在玄关处摆了一个鞋柜和穿衣镜。.I placed a shoe cabinet and a full-length mirror in the entryway.
- 02这套房子的玄关设计得很巧妙，既实用又美观。, .The entryway of this apartment is cleverly designed, both practical and beautiful.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个玄关
Common collocations
- 玄关设计entryway design
- 玄关柜entryway cabinet/console table
- 玄关处at the entryway
- 进门玄关entrance foyer upon entering
Origin
Originally a Buddhist and Daoist term meaning 'mysterious gate' or 'profound barrier,' referring to the threshold between the mundane and spiritual worlds. In architecture, it came to mean the entrance area that separates the outside world from the private interior space.