@study.sumi: It doesn't say closed. This plaque hangs on shop doors in Japan. One side says 営業中, open. Turn it over and it says 準備中 (じゅんびちゅう): in preparation. It goes up before opening, during a break, and after closing. 中 means middle. After a word, it means in the middle of it. So even after the last customer leaves, the sign says the shop is getting ready. Day 2 of 5: five signs you walk past in every Japanese station. #learnjapanese #japanese #kanji #japantravel #japanesesigns