genkan

[ˈɡɛŋkɑn]

Etymology

From Japanese 玄関(げんかん) (genkan), from Middle Chinese 玄關 (MC hwen kwaen, literally “front door”).

noun

  1. The entryway to a Japanese house, where street shoes are removed and houseshoes put on before entering the house, and houseshoes removed and street shoes put on before leaving the house.