噴煙
hun'en
In Japanese, the English word 'plume' is translated as 噴煙 (hun'en).
The Japanese term 噴煙 is used for a column or plume of smoke, steam or gas. If you are referring to a bird's feather or any broad, flat appendage like a writing quill, the word 羽根 is used instead.
Meaning: feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one used as a decoration (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 噴煙 literally means a plume of smoke or steam. It is composed of the characters for 'spurt/emit' and 'smoke'.
How do you pronounce it?
hun'en
Did you know?
- While 噴煙 refers to smoke, the word for a bird's plume 羽根 is used in the common Japanese idiom 羽根を伸ばす, which means to relax and be oneself.
- If you look at the kanji for 'spurt' in 噴煙, it contains the radical for 'water', reflecting the fluid-like way smoke or steam is perceived to burst forth.
- The character 噴 in 噴煙 is also used in the word for 'fountain' 噴水, linking the visual of a smoke plume to the upward spurt of water.
Examples in context
- 筆記用具には羽根ペンがあります。There is a plume pen among the writing instruments.
- この着物の柄は鳥の羽根をイメージしています。The design of this kimono is inspired by bird plumes.
- コスチュームパーティーで、彼女は大きなフェザーのヘッドドレスをつけていました。At the costume party, she wore a large plume headdress.
- 彼はきれいな色の鳥の羽を拾って、友達に見せてくれました。He picked up a beautiful colored bird plume and showed it to his friends.
- 工場の煙突から噴煙が見える。Koujou no entotsu kara funen ga mieru.Plumes of smoke can be seen from the factory chimney.
- 遠くに火事の噴煙が上がっていた。Tooku ni kaji no funen ga agatte ita.A plume of smoke from a fire was rising in the distance.
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are looking at a distant volcano.
- 美咲 Misaki見て、あの山の噴煙すごすぎるよ。mite, ano yama no funen sugosugiru yo.Look, the plume from that mountain is incredible.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当に。噴火したのかな。hontou ni. funka shita no kana.Really. I wonder if it erupted.
- 美咲 Misaki噴煙の方向が変わったみたい。funen no houkou ga kawatta mitai.It looks like the direction of the plume changed.
- 大翔 Hiroto風が強いからだろうね。kaze ga tsuyoi kara darou ne.It's probably because the wind is strong.
