煙

• Reading: けむり
• Romaji: kemuri
• Kanji breakdown: 煙 (kemuri/en) — smoke, fumes
• Pronunciation: /ke.mɯ.ɾi/

Meaning

Smoke; fumes. Visible vapor rising from something burning or heated.

A noun used for smoke from fires, cigarettes, cooking, and similar sources. Also appears in figurative expressions and proverbs like 火のないところに煙は立たない (where there is no fire, there is no smoke). Related words include 煙突 (entotsu, chimney) and 煙草 (tabako, cigarette).

Examples

1. 台所から煙が出てきて慌てた。 Smoke started coming from the kitchen and I panicked.
2. 山火事の煙が遠くからも見えた。 The smoke from the wildfire was visible even from far away.
3. バーベキューの煙が目にしみる。 The smoke from the barbecue is stinging my eyes.

Usage Guide

Context: fire, cooking, environment

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 煙 combines 火 (fire) with elements suggesting rising vapor. It has been used since ancient times to describe the visible byproduct of combustion.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal