パイプ

• Reading: パイプ
• Romaji: paipu
• Pronunciation: /pa.i.pɯ/

Meaning

Pipe; a tube for conveying water or gas; also a smoking pipe or an unofficial channel of communication.

A katakana loanword from English 'pipe' with multiple meanings. Physical: a tube or conduit (水道パイプ, suidou paipu, water pipe). Smoking: a tobacco pipe (パイプをくわえる, to hold a pipe in one's mouth). Figurative: a channel of connection or influence, especially unofficial ones (パイプ役, paipu-yaku, intermediary/go-between). The figurative usage is common in business and politics.

Examples

1. 古いパイプが壊れて水が漏れている。 An old pipe broke and water is leaking.
2. 彼は両社のパイプ役として活躍している。 He plays an active role as a go-between for both companies.
3. 祖父は夕方になるとパイプを吸っていた。 My grandfather used to smoke a pipe in the evening.

Usage Guide

Context: plumbing, business networking, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'pipe,' from Old English 'pīpe,' ultimately from Latin 'pipare' (to chirp/play a pipe). The figurative 'channel' meaning developed in Japanese business culture.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal