レンガ
renga
The Japanese word for the building material brick is レンガ (renga).
レンガ refers to the physical building material known as a brick. In a different context, specifically regarding electronics, the slang term 文鎮化する is used to describe the act of 'bricking' a device, which means rendering it non-functional.
Meaning: a building material (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The slang term 文鎮化する literally means 'to turn into a paperweight'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
renga
Did you know?
- The word レンガ is a loanword derived from the Dutch word 'ringsteen', introduced to Japan during the Edo period.
- Because Japan is prone to earthquakes, the use of レンガ in construction declined rapidly after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
- The Kanji used in the formal version, 煉瓦, are composed of characters related to 'refining' and 'tiles', visually describing the manufacturing process.
Examples in context
- 彼はどうしても聞こうとしない。レンガの壁に話しかけるようなものだ。He won't listen. I might as well talk to a brick wall.This sentence uses レンガ to illustrate the idiom of talking to a brick wall.Tatoeba #237089 by mookeee, translation #291959 by sundown
- そして、とりわ、この国の再建に加わるように尋ねよう、221年間アメリカにおいて行われたきた唯一の方法-硬くなった手で一つずつブロックを積み上げ、レンガを積み上げるように。And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.This sentence uses レンガ to describe the process of building something block by block.Tatoeba #330773 by sugisaki, translation #330417 by sugisaki
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are looking at a construction site.
- 美咲 Misakiあの赤いレンガは、とてもおしゃれですね。Ano akai renga wa, totemo oshare desu ne.Those red bricks are very stylish.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当ですね。レンガ造りの建物は温かい雰囲気があります。Hontou desu ne. Renga zukuri no tatemono wa atatakai fun'iki ga arimasu.You're right. Brick buildings have a warm atmosphere.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんは、レンガの壁が好きですか？Hiroto-san wa, renga no kabe ga suki desu ka?Hiroto, do you like brick walls?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、クラシックな感じがして好きです。Hai, kurashikku na kanji ga shite suki desu.Yes, I like them because they feel classic.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
