煙突
entotsu[ẽ̞nto̞t͡sɨ]
In Japanese, the word for chimney is 煙突 (entotsu). Wiktionary also lists 煙出し (kemudashi) and 煙り出し (kemuridashi).
Meaning: vertical tube or hollow column, a flue (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 煙突 | entotsu | [ẽ̞nto̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 煙出し | kemudashi | |
| 煙り出し | kemuridashi |
The term refers to a vertical tube, hollow column or a flue. While 煙突 is the standard way to describe the object, you may also encounter 煙道 in technical or architectural contexts to describe a chimney or flue.
Which one should you use?
Use 煙突 to refer to the physical structure of a chimney. In contrast, 煙出し or 煙り出し are used to refer more to the outlet of smoke or the act of smoke escaping.
How do you pronounce it?
entotsu
Did you know?
- Traditional Japanese houses historically lacked a 煙突 because they used an open hearth called an irori, where smoke filtered naturally through the thatched roof.
- The term 煙突 is most commonly associated with industrial 'factory chimneys' in Japanese media, often used as a visual shorthand for the rapid modernization of the Meiji era.
- The word 煙突 is composed of two characters meaning 'smoke' and 'piercing' or 'punching through'.
Examples in context
- 煙突掃除が必要ね。The chimney needs to be cleaned.This sentence shows how to talk about the necessity of cleaning a 煙突.Tatoeba #11491022 by small_snow, translation #10457077 by AlanF_US
- 煙突は煙を出し始めた。The chimney began to give out smoke.This sentence illustrates the action of a 煙突 starting to release smoke.Tatoeba #188731 by small_snow, translation #25877 by carlosalberto
- 煙突から煙が出ている。Smoke is rising from the chimney.This sentence describes the observation of smoke rising from a 煙突.Tatoeba #188734 by bunbuku, translation #25880 by CK
- 「この建物の煙突は非常に効率的です。」The chimney of this building is highly efficient.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple looks at an old house through a window.
- 蓮 Renあの古い家の煙突は大きいね。Ano furui ie no entotsu wa ookii ne.That old house's chimney is big, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当。少し怖い感じがするわ。Hontou. Sukoshi kowai kanji ga suru wa.True. It feels a little scary.
- 蓮 Ren壊れていなければいいけれど。Kowarete inakereba ii keredo.I hope it isn't broken.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、あまり近づかないで。Ren-kun, amari chikazukanaide.Ren, please don't get too close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chimney” translations and entries 煙突, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
