Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of a 'foyer' is expressed through several terms that refer to entrance areas or lobbies, with the most common being 玄関 (genkan) for residential entryways and ロビー (robī) for public building lobbies.
The area just inside the front door of a house or apartment where shoes are removed.
The entrance area of a hotel, theater, office building, or similar public space.
The most common term for a lobby or foyer in hotels, theaters, and office buildings. It implies a spacious area where people can wait or meet.
The shared entrance area of an apartment building, often with mailboxes and an intercom.
玄関 (genkan) is specifically the entrance area of a house or apartment unit where shoes are removed. ロビー (robī) is a lobby in a hotel, theater, or office building. エントランス (entoransu) often refers to the shared entrance of an apartment building. Using 玄関 for a hotel lobby would sound odd.
家の玄関は狭いですが、ホテルのロビーは広いです。
The entrance of the house is narrow, but the hotel lobby is spacious.
玄関 implies a residential or private entrance. For public buildings, use ロビー, エントランス, or エントランスホール.
The standard term for the entrance hall in a Japanese home. It is a distinct area, often with a step up, where people remove their shoes before entering the main living space.
玄関で靴を脱いでください。
Please take off your shoes at the entrance.
玄関に傘立てがあります。
There is an umbrella stand in the foyer.
ホテルのロビーで待ち合わせましょう。
Let's meet in the hotel lobby.
ロビーにはソファが置いてあります。
There are sofas in the foyer.
A more formal term for an entrance hall, often used for large buildings like concert halls or corporate headquarters. It emphasizes the grandeur of the space.
美術館のエントランスホールはとても広いです。
The museum's entrance hall is very spacious.
Borrowed from French, this term is used specifically for the foyer of a theater or concert hall, often where people gather during intermissions.
開演前のホワイエは人でいっぱいだった。
The foyer was crowded before the performance.
Commonly used for the entrance of an apartment building or condominium. It often refers to the area just inside the main door with mailboxes and an intercom system.
マンションのエントランスに宅配ボックスがあります。
There is a delivery box in the apartment building's foyer.
エントランスで友達を待っています。
I'm waiting for my friend in the entrance hall.
Also used for the lobby of larger apartment buildings, especially if it has seating areas or a front desk.
このマンションのロビーは広くてきれいですね。
The lobby of this apartment building is spacious and nice, isn't it?