Readings: ボク (Onyomi), まく, とばり (Kunyomi)
Meaning: curtain, act (of a play), camp
形声文字 (Keisei moji). This character combines 巾 (kin/hatahoko, meaning “cloth” or “napkin”) and 莫 (baku, which provides the sound and originally meant “evening” or “darkness,” implying something that covers or obscures). Thus, 幕 literally means “a cloth that covers or hides.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 幕 has 13 strokes. Start with the left radical 巾 (cloth), then complete the right side, starting with the top grass radical, followed by the sun, and finally the big radical.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 巾 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 13 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ボク (Boku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- まく (maku)
- とばり (tobari)
Common Words Using 幕
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 幕府 | ばくふ | shogunate, feudal government |
| 開幕 | かいまく | opening (of a play, event, season, etc.) |
| 閉幕 | へいまく | closing (of a play, event, season, etc.) |
| 序幕 | じょまく | prologue, opening act |
| 終幕 | しゅうまく | final act, epilogue |
| 内幕 | うちまく | inside story, behind-the-scenes |
| 帷幕 | いばく | military headquarters, camp curtain |
| 帳幕 | ちょうまく | tent, curtain |
| 幕僚 | ばくりょう | staff (e.g., general staff, military staff) |
| 鉄幕 | てつまく | iron curtain (figurative) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 幕 | まく | curtain, screen, act (of a play) |
| 幕間 | まくあい | intermission, interval |
| 幕内 | まくうち | top division (in sumo) |
| 黒幕 | くろまく | wirepuller, mastermind (lit. black curtain) |
| 大幕 | おおまく | main curtain, grand curtain |
| 一幕 | ひとまく | one act (e.g., 劇の一幕 – a scene from a play) |
| 幕を引く | まくをひく | to draw the curtain, to bring to an end |
| 幕を開ける | まくをあける | to raise the curtain, to start |
| 幕を閉じる | まくをとじる | to close the curtain, to end |
| 幕が下りる | まくがおりる | the curtain falls, the end comes |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 芝居の幕が上がった。
Kana: しばいのまくがあがった。
Romaji: Shibai no maku ga agatta.
English: The curtain of the play went up.
Japanese: 政治の黒幕が逮捕された。
Kana: せいじのくろまくがたいほされた。
Romaji: Seiji no kuromaku ga taiho sareta.
English: The political mastermind was arrested.
Japanese: 江戸幕府は260年以上続いた。
Kana: えどばくふは260ねんいじょうつづいた。
Romaji: Edo Bakufu wa nihyaku rokujuu-nen ijou tsuzuita.
English: The Edo Shogunate lasted over 260 years.
Japanese: 会議は静かにその幕を閉じた。
Kana: かいぎはしずかにそのまくをとじた。
Romaji: Kaigi wa shizuka ni sono maku o tojita.
English: The meeting quietly drew to a close.
Japanese: オリンピックの開幕式が盛大に行われた。
Kana: オリンピックのかいまくしきがせいだいにおこなわれた。
Romaji: Orinpikku no kaimaku-shiki ga seidai ni okonawareta.
English: The opening ceremony of the Olympics was grandly held.
Japanese: 劇の終幕で主人公は死んだ。
Kana: げきのしゅうまでしゅじんこうはしんだ。
Romaji: Geki no shuumaku de shujinkou wa shinda.
English: The protagonist died in the final act of the play.
Japanese: この事件の内幕は複雑だ。
Kana: このじけんのうちまくはふくざつだ。
Romaji: Kono jiken no uchimaku wa fukuzatsu da.
English: The inside story of this incident is complicated.
Japanese: 幕間には軽食が提供されます。
Kana: まくあいにはけいしょくがていきょうされます。
Romaji: Makuai ni wa keishoku ga teikyou saremasu.
English: Light refreshments are served during the intermission.
Japanese: 土俵入りでは、幕内力士が登場する。
Kana: どひょういりでは、まくうちりきしがとうじょうする。
Romaji: Dohyou-iri de wa, makuuchi-rikishi ga toujou suru.
English: In the sumo ring entrance ceremony, top division sumo wrestlers appear.
Japanese: 彼は人生の新たな幕を開けた。
Kana: かれはじんせいのあらたなまくをあけた。
Romaji: Kare wa jinsei no arata na maku o aketa.
English: He opened a new chapter in his life.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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