Japanese word

タバコ

Pronunciation

Romajitabako

Meaning

  • nouncigarette

Example

私はタバコを吸いません。watashi wa ta ba ko o su i ma se n

I do not smoke cigarettes.

Illustration for タバコ (cigarette)

More examples

この店ではタバコを売っていません。ko no mise de wa ta ba ko o u tte i ma se n

This shop does not sell cigarettes.

Core concept

Describes tobacco made into a form that is burned and inhaled, most commonly a cigarette.

Common phrases

  • タバコを吸うta ba ko o sū

    smoke cigarettes

  • タバコをやめるta ba ko o ya me ru

    quit smoking

  • タバコの煙ta ba ko no kemuri

    cigarette smoke

Definition in Japanese

乾燥させた葉を加工し、紙に巻くなどして火をつけ、煙を吸う嗜好品。kan sō sa se ta ha o ka kō shi kami ni ma ku na do shi te hi o tsu ke kemuri o sū shi kō hin

Word origin

The Japanese word タバコ (tabako) comes from Portuguese tabaco, the name for tobacco.

Usage tips

  • A person who says タバコ (tabako) in Japanese may mean either tobacco itself or a cigarette, but English usually keeps these meanings separate.

Other meanings

  • tobacconoun

Word lists with this word