ごみ

ご

み

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

rubbish; trash; garbage; refuse; litter

usually written using kana alone

General term for waste, discarded items, or litter. Can also be used figuratively for something worthless.

ごみを分ぶん別べつして捨すててください。
Please separate your rubbish before throwing it away.

道みちにごみを捨すてないでください。

Please don't litter on the street.

Written forms

ごみUsage55%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ゴミUsage41%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in signage.
塵ごみUsage4%
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.
芥ごみ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

塵dust, trash, garbage
芥mustard, rape, dust

Similar words

くず
くず refers to scraps, waste, or dregs, often implying something broken or useless; ごみ is the general term for household trash or litter.
廃はい棄き物ぶつ
廃棄物 is a formal term for waste or discarded materials, often used in legal or industrial contexts; ごみ is the everyday word.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the verb 込む (こむ, 'to be crowded') or an old mimetic root suggesting small, scattered things. The kanji 塵 and 芥 are assigned for their meanings but are not etymologically connected.