rùkǒu: 入口 - Entrance, Entryway, Way In

• Keywords: rùkǒu, 入口, Chinese for entrance, entrance in Chinese, Chinese entry point, way in, login page Chinese, subway entrance, mouthfeel in Chinese, 入口 meaning, 入口 vs 出口, 入口 vs 门
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 入口 (rùkǒu), which means “entrance,” “entryway,” or “way in.” This versatile term is found everywhere in China, from subway signs and building entrances to its modern use in computing as an “entry point” or “input.” Discover its figurative meanings, including the “mouthfeel” of food and the “gateway” to a new skill, making 入口 (rùkǒu) a fundamental word for any beginner learner to master.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rùkǒu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A place for entering, such as a doorway or gate; an interface for input or the start of a process.
• In a Nutshell: 入口 (rùkǒu) is a highly practical and literal word. It combines the characters for “to enter” and “opening/mouth” to mean “entrance.” You'll see it on signs all over China pointing you where to go in. Beyond physical places, it's used metaphorically for the starting point of an experience, like the initial taste of food or the login page of a website.

• 入 (rù): This character is a pictograph that looks like a wedge or arrow pointing downwards and inwards. It means “to enter” or “to go into.”
• 口 (kǒu): This character is a simple pictogram of an open mouth. By extension, it means any kind of “opening,” “hole,” or “entrance.”
• Combined Meaning: When you put 入 (rù - to enter) and 口 (kǒu - opening) together, you get 入口 (rùkǒu), the “entering opening”—a very logical and easy-to-remember word for “entrance.”

While 入口 (rùkǒu) itself isn't a deeply philosophical term like 关系 (guānxi), its widespread use reflects modern China's rapid development. The clear labeling of entrances for subways, malls, and public facilities with 入口 is a sign of a society built for efficiency and public navigation. In a cultural sense, it's a very functional, almost sterile term compared to the more traditional and aesthetically rich word for a gate, 门 (mén). A grand temple might have a beautiful 门 (mén), but the functional point where you scan your ticket is the 入口 (rùkǒu). This contrast highlights the difference between a physical object (a door/gate) and its function (an entrance). Furthermore, the concept of “what enters the mouth” is culturally significant in China, as captured by the famous proverb 病从口入 (bìng cóng kǒu rù) - “sickness enters through the mouth.” While this proverb uses the characters of 入口 separately, it reinforces the cultural importance of the “kǒu” (mouth/opening) as a gateway, whether for food, illness, or information.

入口 (rùkǒu) is an everyday word with several key applications:

• Physical Locations: This is its most common use. You will see 入口 on signs everywhere.
  • Public transport: Subway stations, train stations, bus stations.
  • Buildings: Malls, offices, museums, apartment complexes.
  • Venues: Parks, tourist attractions, concert halls, parking garages.
• Technology and Computing: In the digital world, 入口 refers to the point of entry for data or users.
  • Login/Portal: The login page of a website or app is often called the “登录入口 (dēnglù rùkǒu).”
  • API/Data: It can refer to an “entry point” in programming or the place to “input” data.
• Culinary/Food: 入口 describes the sensation of food as it first enters your mouth.
  • Mouthfeel/Taste: Used to describe the initial taste and texture. For example, “这块巧克力入口丝滑 (zhè kuài qiǎokèlì rùkǒu sīhuá)” means “This piece of chocolate is silky smooth as it enters the mouth.”
  • Famous Idiom: The phrase 入口即化 (rùkǒu jí huà), meaning “melts in your mouth,” is extremely common in food advertising and reviews.

• Example 1:
  • 地铁的入口在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Dìtiě de rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Where is the subway entrance?
  • Analysis: A classic and essential sentence for navigating a Chinese city. This demonstrates the most common, literal use of the word.
• Example 2:
  • 请从南门入口进入。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng cóng nán mén rùkǒu jìnrù.
  • English: Please enter from the south gate entrance.
  • Analysis: This shows how 入口 (rùkǒu) can be combined with other words like “south gate” (南门) to be more specific. `进入 (jìnrù)` is the formal verb “to enter.”
• Example 3:
  • 这块牛肉入口即化，太好吃了！
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuài niúròu rùkǒu jí huà, tài hǎo chī le!
  • English: This piece of beef melts in your mouth, it's so delicious!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the culinary idiom 入口即化 (rùkǒu jí huà). This highlights its use in describing food texture.
• Example 4:
  • 我们公司的网站入口设计得非常简洁。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de wǎngzhàn rùkǒu shèjì de fēicháng jiǎnjié.
  • English: Our company's website portal (entrance) is designed very simply.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the modern, technical use of 入口 to mean a digital portal or homepage.
• Example 5:
  • 停车场有两个入口，一个在东边，一个在西边。
  • Pinyin: Tíngchēchǎng yǒu liǎng gè rùkǒu, yīgè zài dōngbiān, yīgè zài xībiān.
  • English: The parking garage has two entrances, one on the east side and one on the west side.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence showing the use of measure words (`个 ge`) with 入口.
• Example 6:
  • 这道甜点入口有一股淡淡的清香。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dào tiándiǎn rùkǒu yǒu yī gǔ dàndàn de qīngxiāng.
  • English: This dessert has a light, fresh fragrance when you taste it (upon entry to the mouth).
  • Analysis: Another culinary example focusing on the initial taste or scent, not just the texture.
• Example 7:
  • 对于初学者来说，这本书是了解中国历史的绝佳入口。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú chūxuézhě lái shuō, zhè běn shū shì liǎojiě Zhōngguó lìshǐ de juéjiā rùkǒu.
  • English: For beginners, this book is an excellent gateway (entrance) to understanding Chinese history.
  • Analysis: This is a great example of the figurative use of 入口 to mean a “gateway” or “starting point” for learning something new.
• Example 8:
  • 这个软件的数据入口在哪里？我找不到。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn de shùjù rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ? Wǒ zhǎo bú dào.
  • English: Where is the data input for this software? I can't find it.
  • Analysis: A clear example of its use in computing, referring to the interface for data entry.
• Example 9:
  • 别走错了，那是出口，入口在这边。
  • Pinyin: Bié zǒu cuò le, nà shì chūkǒu, rùkǒu zài zhèbiān.
  • English: Don't go the wrong way, that's the exit, the entrance is over here.
  • Analysis: This directly contrasts 入口 with its antonym, 出口 (chūkǒu - exit), which is a crucial distinction for learners.
• Example 10:
  • 每个景区的入口都有安检。
  • Pinyin: Měi gè jǐngqū de rùkǒu dōu yǒu ānjiǎn.
  • English: The entrance of every scenic area has a security check.
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for tourists in China, combining 入口 with another practical concept, security checks (`安检 ānjiǎn`).

• 入口 (rùkǒu) vs. 门 (mén): This is a key distinction.
  • 门 (mén) refers to a physical object: a door, a gate. It's something you can touch. “The door is red.” (门是红色的。)
  • 入口 (rùkǒu) refers to a function or area: an entrance, a way in. An 入口 might be a 门, but it could also be a set of turnstiles or just an open archway. You use 入口 to describe the place you go in, and 门 to describe the physical barrier itself.
  • Incorrect: `这扇入口是开着的。 (Zhè shàn rùkǒu shì kāi zhe de.)` → `扇 (shàn)` is the measure word for doors.
  • Correct: `这扇门是开着的。 (Zhè shàn mén shì kāi zhe de.)`
  • Correct: `这个入口是开着的。 (Zhège rùkǒu shì kāi zhe de.)`
• 入口 (rùkǒu) vs. 进口 (jìnkǒu): Learners often mix these up.
  • 入口 (rùkǒu): General purpose “entrance.”
  • 进口 (jìnkǒu): Specifically means “to import” (verb) or “import/imported goods” (noun). It's about international trade.
  • Incorrect: `我喜欢吃入口的苹果。` (This would sound like “I like to eat apples that are entrances.”)
  • Correct: `我喜欢吃进口的苹果。 (Wǒ xǐhuān chī jìnkǒu de píngguǒ.)` - “I like to eat imported apples.”

• 出口 (chūkǒu) - The direct antonym of 入口. It means “exit.”
• 门 (mén) - A related concept. Refers to the physical “door” or “gate,” whereas 入口 is the function of entry.
• 进入 (jìnrù) - The formal verb “to enter” or “to get into.”
• 进口 (jìnkǒu) - A common point of confusion. It means “to import” or “imported.” Not a general entrance.
• 门口 (ménkǒu) - “Doorway” or the area immediately in front of a door/gate. It's more specific than 入口.
• 入门 (rùmén) - A metaphorical “entrance” into a skill or field of study, meaning “introductory” or “to learn the basics.” (e.g., 入门课程 - introductory course).
• 口感 (kǒugǎn) - A related culinary term meaning “mouthfeel” or the texture of food in the mouth.
• 入口即化 (rùkǒu jí huà) - A very common idiom using 入口, meaning “melts in your mouth.”