お風呂

• Reading: おふろ
• Romaji: ofuro
• Kanji breakdown: 風 (fuu/kaze) — wind, style; 呂 (ro) — spine, backbone
• Pronunciation: /o.ɸɯ.ɾo/

Meaning

Bath; bathtub. Refers to both the act of bathing and the bath itself.

Almost always used with the polite prefix お. The base form 風呂 (furo) is less common in everyday speech. Essential daily life vocabulary in Japan, where bathing culture is deeply valued. Key phrases: お風呂に入る (take a bath), お風呂を沸かす (heat the bath). Japanese baths are for soaking after washing — never soap in the tub.

Examples

1. 毎晩お風呂に入ります。 I take a bath every night.
2. お風呂のお湯が熱いです。 The bathwater is hot.
3. お風呂に入ってから寝ます。 I take a bath and then go to bed.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, home, hygiene

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 風 (wind) and 呂 (spine/backbone) together originally referred to a steam bath where hot air circulated, later evolving to mean any bathing facility.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal