門もん外がい不ふ出しゅつ

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Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

never taken out of the premises; kept strictly within the family/group; not for public viewing

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

Used for treasured items, documents, or secrets that are never allowed to leave a place or be shown to outsiders. Often appears in the pattern 門外不出の〜.

この絵えは門もん外がい不ふ出しゅつの秘ひ宝ほうだ。
This painting is a treasured heirloom that is never taken off the premises.
門もん外がい不ふ出しゅつのレシピを教おしえてもらった。
I was taught a recipe that is normally kept strictly within the family.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Kanji

門gate, counter for cannons
外outside
不negative, non-, bad
出exit, leave, go out

Related words

秘ひ蔵ぞう
秘蔵 means 'treasured' or 'cherished' and focuses on the act of keeping something precious, while 門外不出 emphasizes the rule that it must not leave the premises.
非ひ公こう開かい
非公開 is a broader term for 'not open to the public' or 'private', used for events, information, etc., whereas 門外不出 specifically implies a physical object or secret that is never taken outside a specific place.

Built from

門もん外がい+不ふ出しゅつ

Etymology

A yojijukugo composed of 門外 (outside the gate) and 不出 (not taken out). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it has been used since at least the Edo period to describe items or knowledge kept strictly within a household or institution.