タバコ
tabako[ta̠ba̠ko̞]
The Japanese phrase for cigarette is タバコ (tabako). Wiktionary also lists 煙草 (ensō) and 紙巻き煙草 (kamimaki tabako).
Meaning: thin roll of tobacco made for smoking (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| タバコ | tabako | [ta̠ba̠ko̞] (narrow) |
| 煙草 | ensō | [ẽ̞ɰ̃so̞ː] (narrow) |
| 紙巻き煙草 | kamimaki tabako |
The word タバコ is the most common way to refer specifically to a cigarette in daily conversation, although it can also refer to tobacco in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 紙巻き煙草 literally means 'paper-rolled tobacco'. It is used to distinguish cigarettes from other forms of tobacco, such as pipes or rolling tobacco.
Which one should you use?
The katakana form タバコ is the standard everyday spelling for the word. In contrast, the kanji form 煙草 is more formal or literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to smoke a cigarette', you use the verb phrase タバコを吸う.
How do you pronounce it?
tabako
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake the stress in 'tabako'. In Japanese, the pitch is relatively flat or follows a specific pitch accent rather than the heavy stress on the second syllable found in English.
Did you know?
- The Japanese word タバコ arrived in the 16th century via Portuguese traders, who had borrowed the term from the indigenous Taíno people of the Caribbean.
- Smoking in Japan is heavily regulated by local ordinances, and you will often see dedicated 'smoking areas' called 喫煙所 (kitsuenjo) to keep smoke away from pedestrians.
- In Japanese media and manga, a character lighting a タバコ is a common visual shorthand to signify stress, maturity or a 'hard-boiled' personality.
Examples in context
- あなた、タバコ臭い。You reek of cigarette smoke.This sentence is useful for describing the smell of cigarette smoke.Tatoeba #10536842 by small_snow, translation #10536844 by CK
- 煙草を消してください。Please put your cigarette out.This sentence is useful for asking someone to extinguish their cigarette.Tatoeba #188736 by KK_kaku_, translation #25883 by CK
- トムはタバコを吸った。Tom smoked a cigarette.This sentence is useful for stating that someone smoked a cigarette.Tatoeba #8662228 by bunbuku, translation #8583004 by CK
- 私はタバコを吸いません。I don't smoke cigarettes.
- この場所ではタバコを吸うことはできません。Smoking is not allowed in this area.
- あの人タバコを吸ってるよ。That person is smoking a cigarette.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui結衣：陽太、タバコを吸ってもいい？Yota, tabako o sutte mo ii?Yota, is it okay if I smoke a cigarette?
- 陽太 Yota陽太：外ならタバコを吸っても大丈夫だよ。Soto nara tabako o sutte mo daijoubu da yo.It's okay to smoke a cigarette if it's outside.
- 結衣 Yui結衣：じゃあ、外でタバコを吸ってくるね。Jaa, soto de tabako o sutte kuru ne.Then, I'll go outside to smoke a cigarette.
- 陽太 Yota陽太：わかった、ここで待ってるよ。Wakatta, koko de matteru yo.Okay, I'll wait here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cigarette” translations and entries タバコ, 煙草, 紙巻き煙草, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries タバコ, 煙草, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
