Translation guide
A sliding wooden bolt is a simple door fastener made of wood, common in traditional Japanese architecture. The most natural Japanese term depends on the context: a small latch on a sliding door, a larger bar for a gate, or a general wooden bolt.
The user wants to refer to a small wooden bolt that slides to lock a sliding door (like a shoji or fusuma) or a window.
Literally 'monkey', this is the most common term for a small wooden sliding latch used on traditional Japanese sliding doors (shoji, fusuma) or windows. It is a simple wooden piece that slides into a catch.
The latch on the shoji broke.
A more specific term combining 'monkey' (猿) and 'lock' (錠). It refers to the same small wooden sliding latch, often used in technical or descriptive contexts.
This door has a sliding wooden latch.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'wooden slide lock'. It is understandable but less idiomatic than 猿. Use when you need to be explicit about the material and mechanism.
I installed a wooden sliding bolt.
The user wants to refer to a larger, heavier wooden bolt used to secure a gate, barn door, or traditional storehouse.
A horizontal wooden bar or beam that slides across to lock a gate or door. It is commonly used in traditional Japanese gates (門) and storehouses (蔵).
I slide the wooden bolt down on the gate.
Specifically a wooden bolt for a gate. 門 means 'gate' and 闩 means 'bolt'. It is a clear term but less common in everyday speech than 貫.
I fasten the gate bolt.
A general term for a wooden bolt or bar. 閂 (かんぬき) means 'bolt' or 'bar'. Adding 木の specifies it is wooden. It can be used for various doors, but 貫 or 門闩 are more specific for traditional settings.
I close the door with a wooden bolt.
The user needs a generic word for a sliding bolt, and the material is not the focus.
A loanword from English, commonly used for modern sliding bolts, often made of metal. It is widely understood.
I lock it with a sliding bolt.
A traditional Japanese word for a bolt or bar used to lock a door or gate. It can be made of wood or metal, but often implies a horizontal sliding bar.
猿 (さる) is specifically a small wooden latch on sliding doors like shoji. 貫 (ぬき) is a larger horizontal wooden bar for gates or heavy doors. 閂 (かんぬき) is a general term for a sliding bolt, often metal, but can be wooden. Use 猿 for interior sliding doors, 貫 for traditional gates, and 閂 or スライドボルト for modern or generic contexts.
Directly translating 'sliding wooden bolt' as 滑る木のボルト (すべるきのボルト) is unnatural and will not be understood. Use the specific terms above depending on the context.
閂をかける。
I bolt the door.