Meaning and Usage
"埃" (ほこり) means "dust" in Japanese. It refers to the fine particles of dirt that accumulate on surfaces, often indoors. This word is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about cleaning or describing the state of a room or object.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "埃" when discussing household chores, such as dusting furniture or cleaning rooms. It can also describe the atmosphere of a place, for example, a room that feels dusty or stale.
Collocations and Patterns
- "埃がたまる" (ほこりがたまる): dust accumulates
- "埃を払う" (ほこりをはらう): to dust off
- "埃っぽい" (ほこりっぽい): dusty (adjective)
These expressions are useful for talking about cleaning or describing environments.
Register and Nuance
"埃" is a neutral word suitable for both casual and formal contexts. It is a straightforward term without strong emotional connotations.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "埃" with "塵" (ちり), which also means dust but is less common in daily conversation and can sound more literary or formal. Stick with "埃" for everyday use.