Translation guide
The English word 'smoke' can be a noun (visible vapor) or a verb (to inhale/exhale tobacco, to cook with smoke, or to emit smoke). This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each use.
Referring to the gray/black cloud produced by burning something.
The most common word for smoke from fire, cigarettes, etc.
煙が目にしみる。
The smoke is stinging my eyes.
火事でたくさんの煙が出ている。
A lot of smoke is coming from the fire.
Loanword used in compounds like 'smoke screen' or 'smoked food', but not for general smoke.
スモークサーモンが好きです。
I like smoked salmon.
The act of smoking a cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.
The standard verb for smoking. Object is typically タバコ (cigarette).
彼は一日に一箱タバコを吸う。
He smokes a pack of cigarettes a day.
ここでタバコを吸ってもいいですか。
Is it okay to smoke here?
Explicit phrase meaning 'to smoke a cigarette'. Very common.
タバコを吸う人は減っている。
The number of people who smoke is decreasing.
Formal verb for smoking, often used in signs and rules.
このエリアでは喫煙できません。
You cannot smoke in this area.
Cooking method where food is exposed to smoke for flavor and preservation.
The standard phrase for 'to smoke (food)'. Literally 'make into smoked product'.
サーモンを燻製にした。
I smoked the salmon.
Verb meaning 'to smoke (food)' or 'to fumigate'. Less common in daily cooking.
肉を燻して保存する。
Smoke meat to preserve it.
Describing something that produces smoke as a byproduct.
General phrase meaning 'to emit smoke'. Works for chimneys, engines, fires.
その工場は黒い煙を出している。
That factory is emitting black smoke.
Intransitive version: 'smoke comes out'. Often used for accidental smoke.
エンジンから煙が出た。
Smoke came out of the engine.
The loanword スモーク is mainly used in compounds like スモークサーモン (smoked salmon) or スモークガラス (smoked glass). For visible vapor from fire, always use 煙 (けむり).
吸う (すう) is the everyday verb for smoking. 喫煙する (きつえんする) is formal and often seen on signs or in official contexts. In casual speech, タバコを吸う is most natural.