also: かく
noun
General term for a demarcated area or quarter within a larger settlement, often historical.
城下町には武家の廓があった。
There was a samurai quarter in the castle town.
noun
enclosure; earthwork enclosure
Specifically refers to an area enclosed by earthen walls or moats, common in Japanese castle architecture.
本丸は城の中心の廓だ。
The honmaru is the central enclosure of the castle.
noun
Historical term for a licensed pleasure quarter, such as Yoshiwara in Edo.
江戸時代、吉原は有名な廓だった。
In the Edo period, Yoshiwara was a famous red-light district.
prefix, suffix
wide and empty
Only when written 廓 · Only with reading かく
Rare prefix or suffix meaning 'wide and empty', used only with the kanji 廓 and reading かく. Found in a few compounds like 廓然.
「廓然」は、かくぜんと読み、広く何もない様子を表す。
廓然 is read かくぜん and describes a wide, empty state.
Variant kanji for くるわ, often used in historical contexts.
Rare reading かく for the prefix/suffix sense, restricted to the kanji 廓 or 郭.
Ateji spelling for くるわ, mainly seen in historical documents.
The reading くるわ is likely derived from くる (to wind, turn) + わ (circle, ring), referring to an enclosed area. The kanji 廓 and 郭 both carry meanings of 'outer wall' or 'enclosure'. The rare reading かく is the on'yomi of these kanji.