窓
window, pane
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
- ス
Kun'yomi
- まど
- てんまど
- けむだし
Meaning
窓 centers on an opening that lets light or air through: a window or pane. It is the physical framed opening in a wall, not an abstract concept.
Most common words using 窓
20 of 102- 窓まどN5
window
- 窓口まどぐちN3
counter; window; teller window; ticket window
- 同窓会どうそうかいN1
alumni association; graduates' association; alumni meeting; class reunion
- 窓際まどぎわN1
at the window; by the window; next to the window
- 車窓しゃそう
train window; car window
- 窓辺まどべ
by the window
- 天窓てんまど
skylight
- 同窓どうそう
being a graduate of the same school; person who went to the same school; fellow alumnus
- 同窓生どうそうせい
graduate of the same school; fellow alumnus; (former) schoolmate
- 窓側まどがわN3
window-side; window (seat, e.g. on a plane)
- 出窓でまど
bay window
- 深窓しんそう
secluded inner room
- 裏窓うらまど
back window; rear window
- 窓越しまどごし
viewing through a window; passing through a window; going through a window; doing through a window
- 窓外そうがい
outside a window
- はめ殺し窓はめごろしまど
fixed window; window that doesn't open
- みどりの窓口みどりのまどぐち
JR ticket office; JR ticket counter; green ticket window
- アーチ窓アーチまど
arched window; arch window
- オヴァートンの窓オヴァートンのまど
Overton window
- ガラス窓ガラスまど
glass window
Study
Etymology
窓 combines 穴 (hole, cavity) with a lower part that historically represented a window frame or lattice. The modern form uses 厶 and 心, but these are simplified shapes and do not reflect the original components.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 穴 is a hole, and below it the shapes 厶 and 心 look like a framed opening with a heart-shaped latch. Picture a window cut into a wall, with a small heart-shaped lock keeping it closed.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, imagine looking through a window and seeing the soul (ソウ) of the house outside: soul -> ソウ, and the window reveals it.