Usage patterns 〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 の 奥おく に 〈 物もの 〉 がある there is a 〈物〉 at the back/depths of 〈場所〉
There is a bookshelf at the back of the room.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 の 奥おく へ 進すす む to go further into the depths of 〈場所〉
We went deeper into the forest.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 の 奥おく から 〈 物もの 〉 が 聞き こえる a sound is heard coming from the depths of 〈場所〉
A voice could be heard from deep inside the house.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 の 奥おく にしまう to put something away at the back of 〈場所〉
I put it away at the back of the drawer.
心こころ の 奥おく で 〈 事こと 〉 と 思おも う to think/feel 〈事〉 deep in one's heart
Deep in my heart, I had been sad the whole time.
Expressions 奥おく の 手て ace up one's sleeve; trump card; last resort · secret skill; hidden technique · left hand 奥おく まって secluded; tucked away; innermost 奥おく の 手て を 使つか う play one's trump card; use one's last resort Related words 内 refers broadly to the inside or interior of something, while 奥 emphasizes the deep, far, or hidden part reached only after going further in.
裏 refers to the back side or reverse of something (often hidden from view), whereas 奥 is about depth and interiority rather than being on the opposite side.
奥 is the general word for the inner or back part of anything, while 奥地 specifically denotes a remote inland region far from towns or coasts.
Opposites 入り口 is the entrance of a place, the opposite end from 奥 , the deep interior.
手前 is the near side, close to the speaker or entrance, opposite of 奥 which is the far, deep side.
表 refers to the front, public-facing rooms of a traditional house, in contrast to 奥 , the private inner living quarters.
Don't confuse with 奥 (inner depths) and 億 (the number one hundred million) are pronounced identically but have completely unrelated meanings.
底 means the lowest point (like the bottom of a container), while 奥 means the deep interior or far end (like the back of a room), a distinction learners often blur in phrases like 心の底 vs 心の奥 .
Word family· 43 wife; married lady; madam
wife; married lady; madam
profound; deep · deep (of a cave, etc.); innermost; interior
inner palace of Edo Castle; shogun's harem
deep in the mountains; mountain recesses
Show 22 more Show fewer depths; deep interior · bottom of one's heart; innermost feelings
depth; length (front to back)
back tooth; molar
remote mountain; mountain recesses
interior; hinterland; remote back region
late-growing rice · late-ripening crops; late-blooming flowers · late bloomer; late developer
lady; nobleman's wife
refined; elegant; graceful; cultivated · modest; reserved; restrained; self-effacing
colophon; imprint; publication information
inner sanctuary; inner shrine; holy of holies
lie deep inside; extend far back
rear shrine; inner shrine
inner palace area of Edo Castle; shogun's living and working quarters
rear right; right-hand back
innermost secrets of a discipline; esoteric teachings
official seal
inner wall; inner rockface
inner garden; backyard garden
true intention; real motive
colophon; postscript; publication details
rear shrine
left back; left rear
See all 43 in Explore →
Written forms 奥おく Usage 96%
Standard kanji form; high priority.
オク Usage 2%
おく Usage 2%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for abstract senses.
奧おく Usage <1%
Etymology The kanji 奥 combines 宀 (roof) and 釆 (ancient component suggesting depth or interior). The word おく is native Japanese, and its exact derivation is uncertain.
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