Meaning and Usage
灰 (はい) primarily means "ash," referring to the powdery residue left after something burns, such as wood or tobacco. It is commonly used in everyday contexts involving smoking or fire aftermath.
Common Collocations
- 灰皿 (はいざら): ashtray, used for collecting cigarette ash.
- 灰になる: to turn to ash, often describing something completely burned down.
- たばこの灰: cigarette ash, a frequent phrase in daily conversation.
Usage Notes
灰 is a noun and appears in both literal and figurative contexts. It is often used in formal and informal speech. When talking about cigarette ash, 灰 is almost always paired with 灰皿 or directly mentioned as 灰. Learners should not confuse 灰 with 灰色 (はいいろ), which means "gray" color.
Common Mistake
A common learner mistake is confusing 灰 (ash) with 灰色 (gray). Remember 灰 refers to the residue after burning, while 灰色 is a color adjective/noun.