障子
しょうじ · shouji · JLPT N2 · noun
door
🚪 Compound: 障 (obstruct, barrier) + 子 (thing) = a barrier-thing; sounds like show-gee, a screen that lets light show through
障 means barrier or obstruction and 子 means thing or item, so the word names a movable barrier. Shouji (shoh-jee) is close to show-gee, which fits a paper screen that shows light but blocks the view.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.