鬼門|きもんkimon[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounthe northeastern (unlucky) direction; person or thing to be avoided; the demon's gate
2. nounweak point; Achilles' heel

• Synonym泣き所なきどころCasualColloquial. A soft spot everyone can be attacked at, often bodily like 「弁慶の泣き所」; narrower than 「鬼門」, which covers things one personally dreads.
• Synonym苦手にがてNeutralNeutral. Being poor at or averse to something, as in 「数学は苦手だ」; milder than 「鬼門」, and the everyday word for things or people you are not good with.
• Synonym弱点じゃくてんNeutralNeutral. The most general word for a weakness or shortcoming; unlike 「鬼門」 it stresses imperfection rather than something you avoid or dread.
• Synonym欠点けってんNeutralNeutral. A fault or deficiency that needs correcting; about flaws to fix, not people, places or subjects you find daunting like 「鬼門」.
• Synonym難点なんてんWrittenWritten/formal prose. A difficult point to handle, or a flaw; more formal than 「鬼門」 and used for problems in plans or arguments.
• Synonym弱みよわみCasualColloquial. A weakness others can hold over you, a lever for blackmail; 「鬼門」 is something you yourself avoid, not leverage for others.
• Synonym短所たんしょNeutralNeutral. A shortcoming where a person or thing falls short of others; often paired with 「長所」, unlike the personal, superstitious shade of 「鬼門」.
• RelatedデメリットNeutralNeutral loanword. A drawback or downside, common in business talk about pros and cons; no link to unlucky directions or things you dread.
• Related傷きずNeutralNeutral. A wound, scratch or figurative flaw and stain; concrete or image-based, whereas 「鬼門」 is a direction or a thing you avoid.
• RelatedウィークポイントNeutralNeutral loanword. Simply a weak point or vulnerable area; plain and modern, without 「鬼門」's sense of an unlucky direction or personal bogey.
• Related付け目つけめCasualColloquial. An opening in an opponent that can be exploited; points at the other party's gap, while 「鬼門」 is your own weak or dreaded spot.
• Related痛いところいたいところCasualColloquial. A sore spot you would rather not have pointed out; more emotional and conversational than 「鬼門」.
• Antonym裏鬼門うらきもんWrittenWritten/formal prose. The unlucky southwest quarter in onmyodo and feng shui, the counterpart to the northeast 「鬼門」.
• Antonym恵方えほうWrittenWritten/formal prose. The year's lucky direction, the opposite of the inauspicious 「鬼門」; famous from setsubun's 「恵方巻」.

Use 「鬼門」 for the unlucky northeast quarter, or for people, places and subjects you personally dread, as in 「数学は鬼門だ」. For simply being bad at something say 「苦手」; for weaknesses in general 「弱点」 or 「泣き所」 fit best.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 鬼おにが出入でいりするされる方角ほうがく。丑寅うしとら。北東ほくとう。
2. 本人ほんにんにとってにがてとする事柄ことがらや人ひと、場所ばしょ。