鳥居

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 鳥居 is read as とりい and is a noun for a torii, a gate at a shrine entrance or approach that marks sacred space.
• Basic usage: Describing a torii standing at an approach entrance appears in 鳥居が立っている, while passing through a torii appears in 鳥居をくぐる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction from 門
  • 鳥居 marks the sacred area of a shrine, whereas 門 is a general gate for a building or enclosed area.