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港 (みなと) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

港みなと

み

な

と

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

General term for a harbor or port where ships dock.

横よこ浜はまは大おおきな港みなとがあることで知しられています。
Yokohama is known for having a large port.
船ふねが港みなとに入はいってきた

。

A ship came into the harbor.

Written forms

港みなとUsage81%
Standard kanji spelling, very common.
湊みなとUsage13%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
みなとUsage5%
ミナトUsage1%

Kanji

港harbor
湊port, harbor

Similar words

空くう港こう
空港 means airport, while 港 refers to a sea or river port.
港こう湾わん
港湾 is a more formal or technical term for harbor/port facilities, often used in compound words.

Etymology

The kanji 港 combines 氵 (water) and 巷 (street/alley), suggesting a water passage or gathering place. The reading みなと is of native Japanese origin, possibly from 水 (mi, 'water') + な (genitive particle) + 戸 (to, 'gate'), meaning 'water's gate'.