埃

• Reading: ほこり
• Romaji: hokori
• Kanji breakdown: 埃 (ai/hokori) — dust
• Pronunciation: /ho.ko.ɾi/

Meaning

Dust; fine particles of dirt or debris that settle on surfaces.

A noun referring to household dust or airborne particles. Often written in hiragana as ほこり since the kanji 埃 is not commonly used. Key phrases: 埃をかぶる (hokori wo kaburu, to gather dust/be neglected), 埃を払う (hokori wo harau, to dust off). A homophone of 誇り (hokori, pride), so context is essential for distinguishing them.

Examples

1. 部屋の棚に埃がたまっている。 Dust has been building up on the shelf in the room.
2. 引っ越しの準備で埃だらけになった。 I got covered in dust while preparing for the move.
3. 古い本の埃を払ってから読んだ。 I dusted off the old book before reading it.

Usage Guide

Context: cleaning, daily life, household

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 埃 combines 土 (earth/soil) and 矣 (exclamation particle), suggesting fine particles of earth floating in the air.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal