门
mén
Inside up to here; one step past it and you are outside
The picture Two leaves hung side by side between posts, splitting inside from outside. 门 is where a body crosses; 窗 is where only light and air come through.
Where the picture shows up in 门
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the moment the leaves swing
银行九点开门。
yínháng jiǔ diǎn kāimén
The bank opens at nine.
Two shut leaves swinging inward on the stroke of nine
开门 means open for business; 关门 means closed for the day, or closed for good.
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the spot right at the door
我在门口等你。
wǒ zài ménkǒu děng nǐ
I'll wait for you at the entrance.
Someone standing in the doorway's own square of ground, peering in while waiting
门口 is the point where the door is — the default place to arrange a meeting.
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crossing out of the house
出门别忘了带钥匙。
chūmén bié wàng le dài yàoshi
Don't forget your keys when you go out.
A foot over the threshold, the door swinging shut behind, keys in hand
出门 is to leave the house — one 门 divides in from out.
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the price of crossing
门票多少钱？
ménpiào duōshao qián
How much is a ticket?
A ticket held out, the barrier at the door lifting, a body passing through
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an entrance of its own
这件事要问别的部门。
zhè jiàn shì yào wèn bié de bùmén
You'll have to ask another department about this.
A corridor lined with doors, each one wearing a different name plate
部门 is a branch given its own door — an office is split up by doorways.
All of it in one picture
门 is two leaves hung side by side. Swing them open and a shop is in business; stand in front of them and you have the spot where people meet; step past them and you have gone out. Charge for the crossing and it is a ticket; give a group its own entrance and it is a department. So any word built on 门 keeps that one line between inside and out.